Schumer: Whole Foods Market “interested” in Armory Square, will visit in the fall

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Whole Foods Market (NASDAQ: WFM) is “interested” in a possible location in Armory Square and will visit the area in the fall.

That’s according to U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D–N.Y.), who provided an update on his call for an Armory Square supermarket during his visit to the Empire Brewing Company on Monday.

“It’s a good second step,” Schumer said to those gathered at the Armory Square restaurant.

The Democrat had announced his push for such a supermarket during a July 2 visit to Syracuse’s Clinton Square.

Since then, Schumer spoke with Walter Robb, the CEO of Whole Foods, who directed him to the firm’s regional president Christina Minardi.

The lawmaker described Minardi as the Texas–based company’s “top decision maker” for the Northeast.

Whole Foods recently opened a new location in the Albany area, and “it’s one of their most successful [stores] already,” Schumer said, citing the information from Minardi.

The location generated “30 percent more sales” than Whole Foods “imagined” in its first few months of operation in the Capital Region, the lawmaker added, again citing information from the grocer’s regional president.

“So that gives them even greater interest in upstate New York and Syracuse and Armory Square,” Schumer said.

The Democrat also plans to call Williamsville–based Tops Markets, which already operates several locations in Central New York, and Greensboro, N.C.–based The Fresh Market (NASDAQ: TFM).

Just like Whole Foods, The Fresh Market also has operations in the Capital Region, with store in Latham (near Albany) and Saratoga Springs, according to its website.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com