Whole Foods to Open on Second Avenue

Whole Foods has signed as the anchor tenant for a new development at 57th Street and Second Avenue, making it the sixth outlet for the Austin-based food retailer in foodie-laden New York City.

The World-Wide Group announced this evening that Whole Foods would, starting in 2012, occupy 47,000 square feet in its mixed-use development.

“We are pleased to sign such a strong anchor tenant for this pioneering mixed-use project,” said David Lowenfeld, executive vice president of the World-Wide Group, in a statement. “Whole Foods has a proven track record of success in New York City as well as an established reputation for giving back to the community.”

According to a 2006 New York Sun article:

Robert K. Futterman & Associates represented the World-Wide Group and Northwest Atlantic Real Estate Services represented Whole Foods Market in the deal. The full release is below.

New York, NY (Aug. 5, 2008) – New York City-based real estate developers The World-Wide Group has secured Whole Foods Market® (NASDAQ: WFMI), the world's leading natural and organic foods supermarket, as the anchor tenant for its mixed-use project at 57th Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan. The Whole Foods store, scheduled to open in 2012, will occupy 47,000 square feet out of a total of 170,000 square feet being developed by World-Wide in two phases.

“We are pleased to sign such a strong anchor tenant for this pioneering mixed-use project,” said David Lowenfeld, Executive Vice President of The World-Wide Group. “Whole Foods has a proven track record of success in New York City as well as an established reputation for giving back to the community.”

In addition to the upscale retail center, the 1 million-square-foot development site will include two new public schools, the High School of Art and Design and PS 59, and a 59-story residential tower with a mix of rental and for-sale units. The World-Wide Group has leased the project site from the Educational Construction Fund, an arm of the New York City Board of Education. The unique mixture of uses being developed advances 57th Street as a world-class shopping district whole also accommodating the growing residential population of this neighborhood.

Robert K. Futterman & Associates represented The World-Wide Group and Northwest Atlantic Real Estate Services represented Whole Foods Market in the deal.

The World-Wide Group

The World-Wide Group and its affiliates are privately held investment companies, based in New York City. They are headed by Victor Elmaleh, Chairman; and James Stanton, President, who have been engaged in real estate development and venture capital investing for over half a century. With a reputation for successfully tackling complex urban development opportunities, the group has developed over $3 billion worth of new luxury residential properties in New York City. Its projects include 255 East 74th Street, Milan, 50 Murray Street, 53 Park Place, 88 Greenwich Street, 71 Broadway, The Steiner Building in Chelsea and The Reade Street Condominiums in Tribeca.

About Whole Foods Market®

Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/) is the world’s leading natural and organic foods supermarket and America’s first national certified organic grocer. In fiscal year 2007, the company had sales of $6.6 billion and currently has more than 270 stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The Whole Foods Market motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”™ captures the company’s mission to find success in customer satisfaction and wellness, employee excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Whole Foods Market, Fresh & WildTM, and Harry’s Farmers Market® are trademarks owned by Whole Foods Market IP, LP. Wild Oats® and Capers Community MarketTM are trademarks owned by Wild Marks, Inc. Whole Foods Market employs more than 53,000 Team Members and has been ranked for 11 consecutive years as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by FORTUNE magazine.

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