Red shows the epicenter of toxic plume: credit to Brooklyn Paper

We used to live in Chelsea above the Whole Foods building and that store became my very own expensive refrigerator.  I used to go down there and get brownie mix in my pajamas before they closed at 11 pm.   I have really missed it in Brooklyn. However, I like Trader Joe’s prices and prepared foods much better than Whole Foods, Fairways selection much better and our green market’s meat and produce much better. But, because of nostalgia, I would like to see a Whole Foods open here and I think other Brooklynites would welcome it.

Rumors have been circulating about Whole Foods opening and not opening at 3rd Street and 3rd Ave for so long.  Dangerously high levels of benzene found in 2006 in the soil, from a nearby Verizon property, created an obstacle for the Whole Foods.  The Brooklyn Paper and Gothamist reported today that Whole Foods will finally be cleaning up the toxic location. The work will begin on January 11th and they hope to finish in 3 months.   A spokesman for the grocery store said, “There hasn’t been any determination when — or if — we will open a store. We’re focused on the present, the clean-up of the property. Then we’ll take it from there and identify what we’ll do next.”

However, minutes after  The Brooklyn Paper reported the story, someone from Whole Foods wrote in:

Hi, Whole Foods Market here, I’m Libba — I’d like to correct the misinformation in this story. Whole Foods Market DOES continue to pursue plans for a future store at the Gowanus site in Brooklyn. Our spokesperson’s statement that we have “no immediate plans” to open a store DOES NOT mean that we are not actively progressing towards plans for development. Since the fall, we have been working to identify potential development partners for a Brooklyn store, and we are continuing these efforts. In making these plans, nothing has been finalized and we can’t provide extra details yet, but we’ll be sure to let everyone know when there are more developments to report. As most people understand, this is a complicated process, but rest assured that we are committed to Brooklyn, and we look forward to bringing our products and services to this community.

Then this response:

To Libba:
So does that mean Whole Foods is retracting its comment to reporter Mike McLaughlin? If so, I think Whole Foods needs to issue a new statement, this time not criticizing The Brooklyn Paper for an error that Whole Foods is now admitting it made.
Thank you
GERSH KUNTZMAN
Editor
The Brooklyn Paper

I can’t imagine that Whole Foods is going to do the expensive cleanup without hopes of eventually opening a store with a partner.

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