PHOTOS Whole Foods Market and shopping center in Asheville

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Here’s a quick look at the soon-to-open Whole Foods Market on Tunnel Road and surrounding shopping center. Whole Foods will anchor the space (formerly a Kmart shopping center), but there is a slew of new stores set to open.

Back in March, I reported that DSW (Designer Shoe Warehouse), Guitar Center and TrySports were set to open in the revamped shopping center. There’s a Jared jewelry store coming together in a standalone building right on Tunnel Road. Neo Burrito restaurant and locally owned clothing store Elementality have announced they’re moving into the center. And there’s an existing Dollar Tree store there.

Whole Foods will be a 35,000-square-foot store with a second-level beer garden called the Tunnel Road Tap Haus, according to a recent press release about Whole Foods opening on Aug. 26.

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22 Comments

cwaster August 12, 2014 - 5:29 pm

Pretty excited about Guitar Center, the bigger music stores we have could use some competition. Might help them give better customer service.

chris August 12, 2014 - 6:19 pm

Something to look forward to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIgiYvis3OY

Capt. Buyout August 12, 2014 - 4:18 pm

Tattoo-sleeves are the new polo/khaki’s of the WF corporate world. They make you look cool & unique.

Capt. Buyout August 12, 2014 - 4:10 pm

Whole Foods is a great place to work if you have no talent. Regurgitate corporate values and fall in line. Human clones are real, they are ‘leaders’ at Whole Foods.

Nate August 12, 2014 - 7:14 am

In your intro blurb you mention City Mac but then they’re not listed in the article itself . . . . are they actually opening a third Asheville location, or relocating one of the other stores to Tunnel Road? Or were they included by mistake?

Mike August 12, 2014 - 7:49 am

City Mac is relocating their Biltmore Ave store there.

jtroop August 12, 2014 - 1:11 am

The traffic there on Tunnel is going to be comically, ridiculously, fabulously, enormously, fantastically INSANE!

Mike August 12, 2014 - 3:59 pm

you forgot ‘ludicrous speed’

jtroop August 13, 2014 - 10:35 am

PLAID!!!!

Tery August 12, 2014 - 4:41 pm

That is a good way to look at it…of course, come Christmas time, it will be impossible.

weavervilleman August 13, 2014 - 12:19 am

I highly doubt it.

Captain Buyout August 13, 2014 - 8:47 am

weavervilleman, do you work for whole foods?

weavervilleman August 13, 2014 - 9:31 pm

I dont have to answer for you.

smytth August 13, 2014 - 11:37 am

It already is. Do you suspect that a new large shopping center will somehow decrease traffic?

Smytty August 14, 2014 - 1:45 pm

So, you are suggesting that a complete traffic nightmare is going to magically become less congested with the addition of a Food Hole and several popular chain stores?

ashevillain August 14, 2014 - 2:55 pm

Maybe my driving style or route-finding skills are different than most but I have no trouble whatsoever with the S. Tunnel Rd. area except for a few days around Thanksgiving/Christmas. YMMV.

smytty August 15, 2014 - 3:44 am

But see, if you are avoiding it through route finding skills, aren’t you sort of acknowledging the problem? I never have issues with N Merrimon because I always use Charlotte St or Broadway. That doesn’t mean Merrimon isn’t a hot mess.

ashevillain August 15, 2014 - 7:01 am

No. I never said I was “avoiding it.”

whistler August 19, 2014 - 9:57 am

You are so right, Ashevillian. Tunnel Road is actually pretty rarely congested except for your typical peak shopping times, which are easily avoided. (And I would absolutely avoid it in Nov. & Dec.)

smytty August 19, 2014 - 10:54 am

Help yourself. There will be one extra parking space.

Matt August 14, 2014 - 11:02 pm

I’d rate Biltmore and Haywood Rd. mid day as much more annoying and insane that Tunnel – as a motorist. I go by Lowes at all times of day for work and generally can get through that area fine.

Tunnel is NOT pedestrian friendly, tho.

smytty August 15, 2014 - 3:42 am

Guess traffic is in the eye of the beholder. Unless I have no choice, I never drive through the Tunnel Rd mall corridor OR Biltmore Village. Too many drivers who aren’t ready for disappearing turn lanes. Seems like there’s accidents there nearly daily.

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