FYI: The new Whole Foods on Green Bay Road and beer

[AstroCat]

As you may (or may not) be aware, the new Whole Foods on Green Bay road opened on July 29. This store is on the intersection of Green Bay Road and Isabela, in the renovated Dominick's space. I was in there recently and noticed that they have a dining area with a bar. The bar has roughly 20 beers on tap, including several local brews. Bar service starts at 11:00 AM most days. It was something I did not expect to find there. Interesting.

Now, I am skeptical if many people will go to Whole Foods for a beer. If Mrs. Astro wants to shop there, I certainly would not mind tagging along for a little impromptu beveraging. Having a bar in a grocery store may be the greatest thing since sliced bread, or it may be a space-wasting white elephant that rarely gets used. I suppose time will tell.

Anyway, the location has possibilities, as it is about a 20 minute walk to Ryan Field, and it is not far from the places where a lot of fans find street parking. I know that Bluestone gets overwhelmed with fans before a 2:30 kickoff or an evening game. I suspect the same will be true for Ten Mile House. For a quick beer after the game, this would be an option.

Another nice thing about this store is that their packaged liquor section is very large and they have an impressive selection of craft beers. I know that most grocery stores have beefed up their beer offerings in the last couple of years, but this one is ahead of the curve and very nicely located for anyone who wants to pick up something to drink while on their way to the stadium lots.

 

[shakes3858]

As you may (or may not) be aware, the new Whole Foods on Green Bay road opened on July 29. This store is on the intersection of Green Bay Road and Isabela, in the renovated Dominick's space. I was in there recently and noticed that they have a dining area with a bar. The bar has roughly 20 beers on tap, including several local brews. Bar service starts at 11:00 AM most days. It was something I did not expect to find there. Interesting.

Now, I am skeptical if many people will go to Whole Foods for a beer. If Mrs. Astro wants to shop there, I certainly would not mind tagging along for a little impromptu beveraging. Having a bar in a grocery store may be the greatest thing since sliced bread, or it may be a space-wasting white elephant that rarely gets used. I suppose time will tell.

Anyway, the location has possibilities, as it is about a 20 minute walk to Ryan Field, and it is not far from the places where a lot of fans find street parking. I know that Bluestone gets overwhelmed with fans before a 2:30 kickoff or an evening game. I suspect the same will be true for Ten Mile House. For a quick beer after the game, this would be an option.

Another nice thing about this store is that their packaged liquor section is very large and they have an impressive selection of craft beers. I know that most grocery stores have beefed up their beer offerings in the last couple of years, but this one is ahead of the curve and very nicely located for anyone who wants to pick up something to drink while on their way to the stadium lots.

I love my craft beers, but before a game I'm trying to drink in bulk which means I'll take my light, cheap, crappy beers. Can't stand around for 3 hours drinking 9% beers.

 

[stpaulcat]

As you may (or may not) be aware, the new Whole Foods on Green Bay road opened on July 29. This store is on the intersection of Green Bay Road and Isabela, in the renovated Dominick's space. I was in there recently and noticed that they have a dining area with a bar. The bar has roughly 20 beers on tap, including several local brews. Bar service starts at 11:00 AM most days. It was something I did not expect to find there. Interesting.

Now, I am skeptical if many people will go to Whole Foods for a beer. If Mrs. Astro wants to shop there, I certainly would not mind tagging along for a little impromptu beveraging. Having a bar in a grocery store may be the greatest thing since sliced bread, or it may be a space-wasting white elephant that rarely gets used. I suppose time will tell.

Anyway, the location has possibilities, as it is about a 20 minute walk to Ryan Field, and it is not far from the places where a lot of fans find street parking. I know that Bluestone gets overwhelmed with fans before a 2:30 kickoff or an evening game. I suspect the same will be true for Ten Mile House. For a quick beer after the game, this would be an option.

Another nice thing about this store is that their packaged liquor section is very large and they have an impressive selection of craft beers. I know that most grocery stores have beefed up their beer offerings in the last couple of years, but this one is ahead of the curve and very nicely located for anyone who wants to pick up something to drink while on their way to the stadium lots.

Seriously, sitting in a grocery store drinking beer? Will the let you take brew over to the frozen food aisle where you can peruse the frozen pizza? Maybe sit on the linoleum floor and contemplate which handi-wipes to buy under some nice florescent lighting? Personally, I prefer dense cigarette smoke, a bar to belly up to and a juke box with some old Ray Charles tunes on it.

 

[Turk]

As you may (or may not) be aware, the new Whole Foods on Green Bay road opened on July 29. This store is on the intersection of Green Bay Road and Isabela, in the renovated Dominick's space. I was in there recently and noticed that they have a dining area with a bar. The bar has roughly 20 beers on tap, including several local brews. Bar service starts at 11:00 AM most days. It was something I did not expect to find there. Interesting.

Now, I am skeptical if many people will go to Whole Foods for a beer. If Mrs. Astro wants to shop there, I certainly would not mind tagging along for a little impromptu beveraging. Having a bar in a grocery store may be the greatest thing since sliced bread, or it may be a space-wasting white elephant that rarely gets used. I suppose time will tell.

Anyway, the location has possibilities, as it is about a 20 minute walk to Ryan Field, and it is not far from the places where a lot of fans find street parking. I know that Bluestone gets overwhelmed with fans before a 2:30 kickoff or an evening game. I suspect the same will be true for Ten Mile House. For a quick beer after the game, this would be an option.

Another nice thing about this store is that their packaged liquor section is very large and they have an impressive selection of craft beers. I know that most grocery stores have beefed up their beer offerings in the last couple of years, but this one is ahead of the curve and very nicely located for anyone who wants to pick up something to drink while on their way to the stadium lots.

Mariano's have wine bars. The Whole foods bar should get some opposing fans traffic, especially if they are aware of it. Of course many of them miss it as they come in from the L and since there don't seem to be any beer establishments east of Ryan Field, their experience may not involve beer. For me, beer is a part of football. Not sure why but it is the sacred social element we take communion on.

 

[shakes3858]

Seriously, sitting in a grocery store drinking beer? Will the let you take brew over to the frozen food aisle where you can peruse the frozen pizza? Maybe sit on the linoleum floor and contemplate which handi-wipes to buy under some nice florescent lighting? Personally, I prefer dense cigarette smoke, a bar to belly up to and a juke box with some old Ray Charles tunes on it.

I'm not saying I like it, but it's a hell of an idea. You buy a bottle of wine for 9.99 and 2 8 oz filet for 14.99. They probably bought the wine for 4 bucks a bottle and the meat from 6. That's a gross profit margin of 60% on both the wine and the meat. You then pay a uncorking fee of $2 to open the wine and a $4 dollar fee to have them grill the steaks. Now you have a profit margin of 66% on the wine and 68% on the meat. The labor is already there so you're not increasing that.

Space is key when it comes to retail as is the revenue per linear foot. So what's the give and take when it comes to adding the Cafe? I don't know, but I bet they're making a killing.

 

[hdhntr1]

Seriously, sitting in a grocery store drinking beer? Will the let you take brew over to the frozen food aisle where you can peruse the frozen pizza? Maybe sit on the linoleum floor and contemplate which handi-wipes to buy under some nice florescent lighting? Personally, I prefer dense cigarette smoke, a bar to belly up to and a juke box with some old Ray Charles tunes on it.

Probably not but I think you can get a Pizza or the like at the bar. They have one at the Schaumburg store as well.

 

[stpaulcat]

I'm not saying I like it, but it's a hell of an idea. You buy a bottle of wine for 9.99 and 2 8 oz filet for 14.99. They probably bought the wine for 4 bucks a bottle and the meat from 6. That's a gross profit margin of 60% on both the wine and the meat. You then pay a uncorking fee of $2 to open the wine and a $4 dollar fee to have them grill the steaks. Now you have a profit margin of 66% on the wine and 68% on the meat. The labor is already there so you're not increasing that.

Space is key when it comes to retail as is the revenue per linear foot. So what's the give and take when it comes to adding the Cafe? I don't know, but I bet they're making a killing.

Of course it's good for them, they wouldn't do it if it weren't--this is Whole Foods were talking about. I think I'll suggest this to my dentist. Nothing like sitting around the waiting room swapping war stories with other patients over a frosty one.

 

[Hungry Jack]

I love my craft beers, but before a game I'm trying to drink in bulk which means I'll take my light, cheap, crappy beers. Can't stand around for 3 hours drinking 9% beers.

There are some great session beers being made all across the U.S.

 

[Seattle_Cat]

Seriously, sitting in a grocery store drinking beer? Will the let you take brew over to the frozen food aisle where you can peruse the frozen pizza? Maybe sit on the linoleum floor and contemplate which handi-wipes to buy under some nice florescent lighting? Personally, I prefer dense cigarette smoke, a bar to belly up to and a juke box with some old Ray Charles tunes on it.

I take it that you've never been in a Whole Foods store. No, they don't have the atmosphere of a pub, but it's not the usual grocery store either.

They still allow smoking in bars in Illinois?

 

[No Chores]

There are some great session beers being made all across the U.S.

Hungry Jack,

Precisely! I intend to introduce shakes to one of my favorite session IPA's at the Stanford game. You are welcome to stop by in the west lot if you like.

 

[rmndcat]

Probably not but I think you can get a Pizza or the like at the bar. They have one at the Schaumburg store as well.

Or tofu.

Seriously, depending on the particular location, the in-store WFM bars can be pretty popular. There's one near me in SanDiego County that draws quite a crowd at Happy Hour.

 

[stpaulcat]

I take it that you've never been in a Whole Foods store. No, they don't have the atmosphere of a pub, but it's not the usual grocery store either.

They still allow smoking in bars in Illinois?

They have a Whole Foods in St. Paul. It's close enough to a normal grocery that I wouldn't want to sit and drink beer there. The Evanston store is nicer, but please, when I drink beer which isn't often any more, give me smokey and dark with neon lights flickering and blues on the juke box and women scented with jasmine. I really don't want to be anywhere near canned peas. Let there be one bar, somewhere in the state of Illinois where all of this can be true, again....

 

[Mr. Stupor]

Please don't ever tell a fan of any other D-1 football program that your bar of choice before or after NU football games is a Whole Foods! Please, please, please don't do that. We don't have enough football cool cred to be saying things like that out loud...

 

[stpaulcat]

Please don't ever tell a fan of any other D-1 football program that your bar of choice before or after NU football games is a Whole Foods! Please, please, please don't do that. We don't have enough football cool cred to be saying things like that out loud...

Is this the first time I've agreed with you on a post? Go Stupor!!