The wait for Whole Foods Market goes on
STAMFORD — Two years ago, Whole Foods Market announced a plan to open a store in Stamford. Since then, it has shared hardly any additional information about the project with local officials.
Whole Foods’ lack of communication about its progress toward opening a supermarket on High Ridge Road, in a building that once housed a Lord & Taylor, has stoked uncertainty about when the store will debut. In the meantime, High Ridge Road is bustling, as its roster of national chains continues to grow.
“The length of time between the initial announcement and the lack of detailed updates regarding the opening of the Stamford store may indeed raise questions among stakeholders,” Wayne Pesce, president of the Connecticut Food Association, said. “While it’s not uncommon for companies to maintain discretion regarding project specifics until closer to the opening date, transparency in communication always fosters goodwill and manages expectations among all interested parties. It’s beneficial for any incoming
brick-and-mortar retailer to provide periodic updates to the community, demonstrating its commitment to the project and addressing any concerns or inquiries from local officials that may arise along the way.”
Messages left for Whole Foods were not returned.
A spokesperson for Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons confirmed receiving an email from Hearst Connecticut Media inquiring about Simmons’ knowledge of Whole Foods’ plans, but no answer was given.
In April 2022, Whole Foods disclosed a plan to expand to Stamford, with a spokesperson saying, “a Stamford store is in development.” The spokesperson did not disclose the address of the new store. But city records later showed that Whole Foods was planning to open a store at 110 High Ridge Road. Lord & Taylor had operated a
store at 110 High Ridge from 1969 until its closing in 2021, part of the shutdown of all Lord & Taylor stores following its bankruptcy filing in 2020.
Since then, representatives of Austin, Texasheadquartered Whole Foods have declined to provide additional information about the Stamford store. In response to some inquiries, they have indicated that they would share more information at a later date. But the company still has not announced a tentative or expected opening for the new grocer.
A store in Connecticut’s second-most-populous city — where the median annual household income has totaled about $100,000 in the past few years, according to Census data — would fit into Whole Foods’ strategy of opening stores in communities with many affluent customers. The nearest
Whole Foods stores to Stamford are in two of the wealthiest towns in the state, Darien and Greenwich. Among other new locations, Whole Foods opened a store in January in South Windsor. In Cheshire, it will be an anchor of a new retail center.
“Stamford already hosts a diverse array of supermarket options, including ShopRite, Stop & Shop and Trader Joe’s, catering to the varied preferences of residents,” Pesce said. “The introduction of another major player like Whole Foods complements the existing market landscape by offering a distinct range of products and services. Whole Foods’ focus on organic, sustainable and specialty items will appeal to a segment of the population seeking alternatives to conventional grocery options. Additionally, competition in the marketplace often spurs innovation, encourages competitive pricing and benefits consumers by providing greater choice and variety.”
In Stamford, Whole Foods will have a neighbor within the same building. In October 2022, about 30,000 square feet of the approximately 160,000square-foot edifice at 110 High Ridge was filled with the opening of a Saks Off 5th department store. It marked a return to the city for Saks Off 5th, which had operated a store from June 2015 to December 2021 at Stamford Town Center.
Saks Off 5th’s parent company, Hudson’s Bay Co., which is part of a joint venture that owns 110 High Ridge, declined to comment on the new Whole Foods store.
After Whole Foods opens, there would be space for additional tenants at 110 High Ridge, according to listings for the property. The website of brokerage Royal Properties lists 4,000 square feet to 58,000 square feet available on the building’s second level. In an apparent reference to Whole Foods, Royal’s listing mentions a “high-end grocery anchor.”
Messages left for Royal Properties were not returned.
As Whole Foods and others involved with 110 High Ridge stay quiet about the new store, local residents and prospective customers can only surmise about when the supermarket will open. There are hints that a store could open in the foreseeable future — such as fresh striping in the parking lot and a sign attached to a movable barricade at the top of the entrance that reads, “No thru traffic, active construction site.”
While the wait for Whole Foods goes on, High Ridge Road continues to attract newcomers. At 64 High Ridge, which is located at the intersection of High Ridge and Long Ridge roads, the construction of a new commercial complex appears to be nearly complete. The tenants at 64 High Ridge will include Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, Starbucks and Shake Shack.
At 1008 High Ridge, Panera Bread opened a bakery-café on March 21, taking a storefront formerly occupied by a GymSource store. There is another new establishment, Attune MedSpa, in an adjacent storefront, at 1018 High Ridge.
“The Chamber has welcomed many of these businesses with grand openings, bringing visibility and partnerships for all to prosper,” Heather Cavanagh, CEO and president of the Stamford Chamber of Commerce, said. “With the addition of Whole Foods and the many new businesses that have opened in the vicinity, the positive economic impact will benefit increased employment opportunities and business growth for all.”