Houston’s Midtown Whole Foods Market location has officially closed its doors, prompting a rush of shoppers eager to take advantage of steep discounts during its liquidation sale. Just days after announcing the closure, the shelves at the 515 Elgin St. store were largely emptied as Houston residents flocked to the location seeking bargains.
The closure, which comes almost four years after the store’s grand opening, was met with surprise by many in the Midtown community. Word of the impending shutdown and subsequent sales spread quickly over the weekend, drawing crowds to the store. By Monday afternoon, the discounts had deepened to 70 percent off on remaining items, which included vitamins, sparkling water, glass vases, and a limited selection of granola bars. Even the wine aisle, initially stocked with Chardonnay and Rosé at 60 percent off, saw significant reductions.
A spokesperson for Whole Foods Market confirmed to Houston Public Media on Monday that the store was slated to close by October 13th. However, on-site employees indicated the closure could occur sooner, potentially by the end of Monday, depending on how quickly the remaining inventory sold.
The liquidation sale commenced on Saturday with a 50 percent discount, followed by a further reduction to 60 percent on Sunday. Alcohol products were also significantly discounted, starting at 50 percent off.
Whole Foods Market has stated that they are working to support the Midtown Houston team members affected by the closure. Efforts are underway to place these employees at other Whole Foods locations within the Houston area. For team members unable or unwilling to relocate within the company, Whole Foods Market will provide full pay and benefits for a 60-day period following the closure.
In a public statement, the company explained that the decision to close the Midtown location was part of a regular evaluation process. “Like any business, we regularly evaluate the performance and growth potential of each of our stores and make decisions to position the company for long-term success,” the statement read. Despite this closure, Whole Foods Market emphasized its ongoing growth strategy, citing over 55 new stores in development and continuous exploration of new locations.
The reasons behind the Midtown Houston closure remain unclear, leaving questions about the future of the prime retail space. With the departure of Whole Foods, Randalls, located in the 2200 block of Louisiana Street, becomes the sole major grocery store serving the Midtown Houston neighborhood.
