Whole Foods has come under quite a bit of fire lately for daring to make inroads in Jamaica Plain, where skeptical, gentrification-wary residents have insisted that the chain jump through all kinds of hoops to prove itself worthy of staking claims in the neighborhood. Luckily, they’re also opening a newly expanded store someplace that really doesn’t need to worry about gentrification whatsoever: the mean streets of Wellesley!
Next Friday, the store will host guided tours of the space from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. (and yes, there will be food samples). The market officially opens on August 22, but you can register for the sneak preview ahead of time. Donations go to Wellesley Friendly Aid.
This Whole Foods is particularly chic: It’ll offer a community gathering room and culinary center, where cooking classes will take place. Plus: a charcuterie, indoor and outdoor seating, space for a farmers’ market, a self-service bike repair station, and a walk-up ice cream window.
Meanwhile, in JP, residents drew up a 69-page document outlining their concerns about the market moving into their neighborhood. Something tells us “extensive charcuterie selection” wasn’t on the list of demands. [Earlier]
