I've been wondering what's to become of the four Albertson's markets closing in the Sacramento area, especially the one in midtown, where we live. Wouldn't it be nice, I sometimes muse, if a Whole Foods Market were to move into that space.
Thus, I perked up earlier today while reading an Associated Press article about the latest quarterly revenue report for Whole Foods Market. Overall, the report was pretty rosy, but an oblique reference deep in the story is what really caught my attention.
"Company officials said they have 86 stores under development and will offer bids this week for an unspecified number of Albertson's locations being closed by Cerberus Capital Management LP, the private-equity group that bought the grocery chain's stores in several states, including California and Texas," says the AP article.
Hmmm, Cerberus is the investment firm dumping the four Albertson's in the Sacramento area. Might Whole Foods Market get them and convert one or more into new branches? Representatives of Whole Foods aren't saying anything other than to note that any news of new stores only is announced when the company files its quarterly reports. So it looks as if we have to wait at least three more months to learn whether a Whole Foods Market might be coming to midtown, though if such a project were to materialize I suspect word would leak well before then.
Nonetheless, if one or more of the old Albertson's stores were to morph into Whole Foods Market it isn't likely to happen soon. Earlier, Whole Foods revealed plans for a branch in Roseville, but that store isn't expected to open until late next year, and it's the only additional outlet the company is planning for the Sacramento area right now, said a Whole Foods spokeswoman.
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