design:retail - March 2018 - 54

054

"We are always pushing the envelope
for food, so we wanted to likewise
push the envelope of design."
-STACEY LANDINO, WHOLE FOODS MARKET

↑ Materials used in the
traditional grocery
areas give the store an
industrial, urban feel.

have something delicious to sip while shopping.
While the typical existing Whole Foods Markets offer a long rectangular floor plan and a food-court
style prepped foods area, the new space plan returned to a more traditional square shop.
"The store space plan was streamlined, so the customer hits produce, seafood and meat on a square
perimeter, an easy shopping experience," Landino
describes. "It is so simple that it adds to the success of
the store-clean, bright and easy to navigate. Over the
years, people have tried to do innovative things with
the grocery layout, but customers respond best to
quick, intuitive navigation for easy daily shopping."
While a typical center store with standard Whole
Foods endcaps was maintained in this location, a
wider-than-normal perimeter loop wraps the store.
It encourages customers to dive deeper into the different venues or allows them to move quickly past
to get to their desired location. Soffit details, unique
tile patterns, color combinations, innovative material
MARCH 2018

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selections and other strategies call attention to special areas that break up the square plan. These venues
invite customers to explore, guiding them through
the store, as well as creating memorable spaces and
in-store shop experiences.
Industrial and area-familiar materials, such as
reclaimed oak and steel, were combined to create
clean lines and modern applications. Dramatic
soffits, ceiling transitions and shops within shops
invite visitors to explore. "Structures built from
metal I-beams, wood trusses, glass and corrugated
metal reflect the historic, industrial and urban feel
of the Lakeview area," O'Connor says. Metal channel or oversized marquee letters, painted murals,
neon signs and pendant lights create a mood within
each area. Whether a standalone shop or specialty
department, there is a cohesiveness within the
design in addition to a distinct sense of place.
"The Whole Foods Market brand encourages a
lifestyle-centric shopping experience filled with

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unique décor elements, buildouts and offerings,"
O'Connor says. "Instagram-worthy moments and
in-store shops excite visitors and make the shop
truly unique. Branded spaces within the store excite shoppers, encourage exploration and serve as
local gathering spots."
As with all Whole Foods locations, Lakeview
was designed to reflect the community it serves.
"We were able to have fun with Lakeview," Landino
says. "It is an old but artsy neighborhood that has
a youthful vibe; the people are full of life and
ready to try new things. They have an appreciation
for melding modernism with traditional and embrace change."
One of the community elements that the team
drew from was the popularity of artistic expression
through murals. Several murals in the store
create distinct destinations. At the first-floor
parking garage entry, a mural by local artist Jeff
Zimmerman is a definite conversation starter.

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