Recently Opened Whole Foods Closes in Deep-Blue City

Big corporations are finding out the hard truth.

It’s extremely difficult to operate in crime-ridden, deep-blue metropolitan areas in the United States.

Whole Foods is the latest major chain to learn this reality.

The multinational supermarket chain, which is a subsidiary of Amazon, recently opened a location in Downtown San Francisco.

The location is reportedly closing just over one year after opening its doors.

Crime and drug use around the store is forcing the Whole Foods location to shut down.

NEW 🚨 A recently opened Whole Foods Market in San Francisco closed its doors over growing crime in the downtown area – report. pic.twitter.com/J41Y3a4nUq

— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) April 11, 2023

San Francisco Whole Foods closes a year after opening due to crime: report https://t.co/LDfeqm4KIf pic.twitter.com/tYi6UCtm4G

— New York Post (@nypost) April 11, 2023

San Francisco politicians and the local news media say crime isn't increasing, but Whole Foods begs to differ. Today Whole Foods announced that it is abandoning its one-year-old flagship store downtown because of crime and rampant drug dealing. https://t.co/2j4l0sJWc6

— Michael Shellenberger (@shellenberger) April 11, 2023

The San Francisco Standard reports:

One of the largest supermarkets in Downtown San Francisco—the Whole Foods Market at Eighth and Market streets—intends to shut down at the close of business Monday just a little more than a year after the store opened, company officials told The Standard.

“We are closing our Trinity location only for the time being,” a Whole Foods spokesperson said in a statement. “If we feel we can ensure the safety of our team members in the store, we will evaluate a reopening of our Trinity location.”

A City Hall source told The Standard the company cited deteriorating street conditions around drug use and crime near the grocery store as a reason for its closure.

“I’m incredibly disappointed but sadly unsurprised by the temporary closure of Mid-Market’s Whole Foods,” Matt Dorsey, San Francisco’s District 6 supervisor, commented.

“Our neighborhood waited a long time for this supermarket, but we’re also well aware of problems they’ve experienced with drug-related retail theft, adjacent drug markets, and the many safety issues related to them.”

Our neighborhood waited a long time for this supermarket, but we’re also well aware of problems they’ve experienced with drug-related retail theft, adjacent drug markets, and the many safety issues related to them. (2/7)

— Matt Dorsey (@mattdorsey) April 10, 2023

The Standard noted that Downtown San Francisco has seen many small businesses close their doors and has witnessed an increase in extreme poverty, drug use, and mental illness on the street.