Whole Foods in Talks for Gallery Place Space

Once again Penn Quarter Living is on the ball with a newsworthy neighborhood post. They link to a Downtown Neighborhood Association announcement that Douglas Development has been negotiating with Whole Foods Market to lease them store space on 7th Street between E and D Streets NW.

This is the same space that Balducci's was briefly considering before deciding against the move last year. Balducci's retreat from the location was met with a lot of desperate pleas from neighborhood residents who have long complained that they do not have a convenient food market anywhere close to them. A new prototype "urban lifestyle" Safeway is also planned at Davis Construction's 5th and K Street project, which is scheduled for completion in early 2008.

The neighborhood association has put together an online petition that Douglas Development may use to help convince Whole Foods that a sufficient and enthusiastic customer base exists for the store. Head over there if you'd like to encourage Whole Foods to come to Gallery Place/Penn Quarter.