This is awesome, awesome, awesome news.

Can't wait! Even with wegman's in town id still much rather shop at whole foods

Lower parking lot off of LPP or upper parking lot off of LPP?

Hooray!!!! I drive to Annapolis now to shop at WF. Wish it was sooner...

I am delighted! I now travel 30-40 minutes to go to Whole Foods. In talking with employees at Wegmans about increasing their organic produce, they indicated that they could not compete with Whole Foods - either in quality or quantity of organic produce. I am counting the days till Whole Foods comes.

Awesome. I hope hop e they have the cooking classes for kids at this one also.

Columbia Town Center really needs a grocery store. There is a growing population there and I don't know where they do their grocery shopping. Columbia is large enough to support Whole Foods, Wegmans, Giant, Trader Joes, etc.

"Howard Hughes will undertake the restoration, which will include 'creating a spectacular double height space for the store by removing the floor above the main level in the building,' according to a release."

I wonder how "removing the floor above the main level in the building," will "honor and enhance" Frank Gehry's original design. Let's hope the apprehension is misplaced, or try to imagine how the Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum in Balbao might be "enhanced."

Oh good! Town Center could really use a grocery store, and WF would definitely fit well into their plan for revitalizing downtown. Plus, that building is just way too cool to let sit. :)

It's about time that conglomerate called Giant who has held us hostage for decades with their outrageous prices and not so great quality finally has some real competition. I do feel bad for the little guys like David's & Roots, though. Hope they'll be able to stay in business.

Excited for Whole Foods in Columbia!! I am concerned for David's market and my hope is that they will continue to flourish even with the addition of Whole Foods. This would be a definite plus for our area.
Tricia

I think its sad that the best we can put on our lakefront is a supermarket and good luck trying to get there during the holiday shopping and Merriweather concerts.

Whole Foods is a scam. I mean, I live across the street from one and still shop there occasionally, but you really have to watch what you're getting. It's NOT all organic, locally sourced, etc. and is often confusingly labelled.

That said, nice to see options, as long as they don't put the MOM's in Jessup out of business (since Wegmans will do just fine I'm sure).

There goes the neighborhood! (as we know it). For "Columbians" who have lived here since the early days the arrival of a Whole Foods in the former Rouse Company headquarters building is a radical departure from the use of this iconic space so embedded in our psyche. For this building to become a "general store" is comparable to Symphony Woods becoming a Drive-in Theater. It would save some drive time, but is it truly the maximum use of this space and footprint?; and thats before you consider the fact that unless Whole Foods includes in its interior design photos, a small permanent exhibit of James Rouse memorabilia, or something to atleast remind visitors of the hallowed ground they are standing in and on.

I dread the loss of the historical significance of the building and location to current and future Columbians.

First we learned the company did not own the building but was leasing it. Then we learned the company was being sold to General Growth Porperties. Then we learned the company was in bankruptcy. The we learned the company was being sold to the Howard Hughes Corporation. Now we learn the building is becoming a grocery store. For "old timers" like me who have really read Joshua Olsen's "A biography of James Rouse" , such cumulative blows to Rouse's "dream" are disorienting.

This is wonderful - a great way to "repurpose" the existing, beautiful structure.

BUT...What about the other "things" that were in the re-development of downtown? A "transportation center" was to go in BEFORE or AS development was happening to stop the unpleasant history of this county of building and afterward thinking about how to get people around. Transportation is a fundamental part of infrastructure - once again it's being overlooked.

John Milton Wesley - everything changes and evolves. That's the way of the world. Before there was "Columbia" this was farmland, it was sad to see that change, but it had to come. And, surely Columbia has to change and evolve or this will increasingly be a ghost down w/ fewer and fewer residents and homeowners

Thank Heaven!!! This made my day!!! Super excited, but i agree, I wish it was sooner.

I don't mind Whole Foods coming to the area but the location is a terrible idea! Right at the lakefront? really? its going to ruin that area. Who's stupid idea was this?

I realize the area needs a grocery store. Whats wrong with the location where Giant was? Why do they need to ruin our lakefront? It will also impact the 4th of July activities. Don't forget, grocery stores don't close on this holiday.

Whoo hoo...they not only listened But heard. I proposed this to them and why a while ago But for Wilde Lake village centre they were too big for that space. They said they will look intto it for somewhere in Columbia. I told them my churches would shop frequent it for we advocate a vegan diet . I said columbians are health concious too. ;-) sibil

Still think its a terrible location. Its going to ruin the lakefront !

I just hope that if or when whole food builds this store they use local contractors and local people
Mike

LWLora
A grocery store will be the heart of Columbia?...and specially Frank Gehry's
building? Why not relocating the central library and making the heart of Columbia for all to enjoy. Converting this magnificent landmark into a grocery store is an absolutely disgrace!

I love Whole Foods. Been in DC. Love that one is coming to this area. BUT, I would have loved it more if Catonsville could have had it. I'm sure it would fit in either of the rt 40 shopping centers that are razing and remodeling.

A few years ago I would have been thrilled to think that Wholefoods was coming to Columbia (although I too question the lakefront location) -- but I am now so disgusted with the political statements of the WF CEO (comparing Obamacare to fascism) that I will not be able to shop there. I'll stick with MOMs and Davids and the organic section of the bigger stores.