There are more renovations on the way. In addition to the bakery, parts of the area adjacent to the salad bar region were recently boarded up ... the sign promises more prepared foods...
I recall a sushi station here... and a pizza stand, which is still there... and what else was back here?
Anyway, some Whole Foods Market® Bowery regulars and semi-regulars have noted the 10-year-old store is seeming a little tired these days.
Back in January, the Post went in for a look at the dining area on the second level.
Substance abusers, drug dealers and homeless people are turning the sunny cafe area, where shoppers can dine on pulled pork or Vietnamese sandwiches, into their own private social club for the cost of a cup of coffee or nothing at all.
During five visits to the store in recent weeks, a reporter saw a modern-day Bowery bum sleeping in the fetal position, another nodding out in an obvious drug-induced haze, a few who appeared to be drunk, and one smearing toothpaste on his face and mumbling to himself.
"Substance abusers, drug dealers and homeless people are turning the sunny cafe area, where shoppers can dine on pulled pork or Vietnamese sandwiches, into their own private social club for the cost of a cup of coffee or nothing at all."
ReplyDeleteIt is so nice that Whole Foods is "embracing" local residents, you know the people that lived on the footprint of where that building now stands. Sorry privilege complainers, this is what happens with hyper gentrification, putting up shiny new buildings with high end shopping does not solve addiction, hunger and poverty, deal with it.
Hyper gentrification has provided NYC with enough revenue to have an annual budget over 80 billion dollars and a homeless services budget approaching 1.5 billion dollars. The Bowery Mission and food stamps ensure these folks aren't hungry. When do people take responsibility for their choices and additions? Telling employed taxpaying law abiding NYers to 'deal with it' is ridiculous. The presence of junkies who have TB, scabies, body lice etc in a supermarket is a public health hazard and the employees who are forced to ' deal with it' every day should have some recourse. It a disgusting situation.
ReplyDeleteIt's a sad comment on how politically correct we have become. We allow homeless people to invade businesses/private property/public spaces and are even too afraid to call the police for fear that some advocacy group will shame/sue you.
ReplyDeleteBut on the other hand... we have rallies to help illegals/legals to stay/enter the country but we don't give a damn about the lost/starving/mentally ill people roaming our streets and taking shelter in Whole Foods/libraries/sidewalks.
And we elect people to solve these problems for us! WHERE ARE THE LEADERS!?
Its also important to point out that the folks who hang out at Whole Foods are the ones who refuse to go to shelters or enter rehab programs. NYC is the only US city that guarantees you some kind of shelter. Food, clothes, shelter, medical services and dental benefits are all available. This notion that these people have nowhere to go and no assistance available is not accurate. If you sit in Whole Foods buying, using, and selling heroin all day every day you aren't a victim. You're a junkie who refuses help. Stop with the pity and blaming other people. They can go get into a shelter anytime they choose. I know firsthand what this is like. If you put as much effort into getting your life together as they do complaining and getting high they wouldn't be in this situation.
ReplyDeleteSeeming a little tired? This is my regular grocery store, and it seems as it ever was. The checkout lines are long as ever. Not trying to stick up for the place or anything, but if it's doing badly that's news to me.
ReplyDelete"A little tired" isn't a comment on business, it's a comment on the state of the store--it's looking a little worn. After 10 years of business, it's not surprising it's looking a little worse for wear. Tattered around the edges. Thanks to consistently being busy.
ReplyDeleteThere was also a hot food/carving board section here (think entree plus two sides). Having just recently visited the new Whole Foods in Williamsburg, I can see the need for Bowery WF to undergo some improvements.
ReplyDeleteI hope they will stop renovating their baked goods with their increase in chemical adulterations such as Mono and Diglicerides.
ReplyDeleteMmmm. I love me some Mono.
ReplyDelete"A little tired" and here I thought it was a winking allusion to the nodding-off problem in the upstairs area. Huh.
ReplyDeleteif u choose to eat from their "open air" salad bar you are on your own.
ReplyDeleteLOL @ the day Whole Foods gives people dollar tickets for blocking aisles with foodcarts.
ReplyDelete"It's a sad comment on how politically correct we have become"
ReplyDeleteYeah it's terrible how we've done away with race or gender based discrimination or bias...I hate that!