Whole Foods is about to woo San Francisco’s millennials. The pricey grocer has plans to bring the next location of 365 by Whole Food Markets, its lower-priced spinoff, to Nob Hill. The organic-oriented chain will submit a proposal to take over the 19,000-square-foot former Lombardi’s Sports store at the corner of Polk and Jackson Streets. According to Whole Foods spokesperson Beth Krauss, the corner is a good space for the concept because of density and foot traffic that’s ideal for a "quick in-and-out versus the full-service discovery experience you get at a Whole Foods."
Before it can move forward, Whole Foods has to get through the Planning Department — which recently shot down Target — which it plans to tackle by first holding two community meetings to garner neighborhood support. This would be Northern California’s first planned location of the 365 concept, which will carry grab-and-go items (rather than employ counter service) and the grocer’s more affordable 365 brand. The first location is set to open in Los Angeles mid-2016.