First Brewery Blocks Business Goes Live

PORTLAND-The organic supermarket chain Whole Foods Market Inc. opened one of most expansive stores this week in Portland. In so doing, the Austin, Texas-based public company became the first business to open in Portland’s Brewery Blocks, a five-block redevelopment project by Gerding Edlen Development Co. that is adding 1.7 million sf of office and retail space on the northwestern edge of Downtown Portland.

The upscale supermarket at 11th and West Burnside stocks only natural and organic foods and features a deli, grill, pastry shop, nutrition center and wine shop in 34,000 sf. Its competitors could be considered to be other natural food stores such as the Nature’s chain owned by Wild Oats Corp. Its closest competitor is the Fred Meyer store at 20th and West Burnside.

The grocery store is one of the largest in the Whole Foods chain, which now totals 129 locations. Another 20 stores are in development of similar size. Including storage and administrative space, Whole Foods leases 43,000 sf.