Franky Benítez

Dear Jamaica Plain Residents,

I want to thank you for being so engaged in the discussion around our new Jamaica Plain Whole Foods Market. Many of you took the time to attend the June 2nd community meeting or write to me with your feedback. I want you to know that your letters have been read and your input has been heard.

Though the meeting did not end the way that any of us had hoped, we still feel that it was a productive evening filled with valuable dialogue with our future neighbors. We look forward to the meetings we will be having with community groups in the coming weeks. We are also awaiting the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council Ad Hoc Committee’s report. We are appreciative of all of the feedback that we receive as it helps us to create the store that best serves the community.

Those of you who attended the meeting got the opportunity to meet our Jamaica Plain Store Team Leader, Mike Walker, and Associate Store Team Leader, Wanda Hernandez. The emails that they have been receiving have offered great suggestions for ways we can support the local community as well as what products you are eager to find on our shelves.

SITE UPDATE: Over this summer you will see a lot of activity at the store site as we continue the extensive project of bringing the building up to code. The interior of the building has been cleared out and we will be completing the new roof in the coming weeks. It is very exciting to see the store beginning to take shape!

HIRING: As we approach the late fall opening, we will host our hiring event in the store parking lot. This event will be advertised in the local media as well as on Facebook and Twitter. As was mentioned in the community meeting, the Jamaica Plain store will have very limited employee parking, therefore we are hopeful that our store presents employment opportunities for folks who live within walking or biking distance of the store, or via public transportation.

COMMUNITY: It has been wonderful to hear from a number of non-profit organizations and community groups in Jamaica Plain. We are looking forward to the opportunity to support them with our community give-back programs.
We are also continuing to pursue the possibility of hosting a farmers market in our parking lot this summer. We love to support our local farmers and the opportunity to offer easy access to healthy, local produce is at the heart of who we are! Stay tuned for more updates on that.

FEEDBACK: I want to encourage you to continue sharing your feedback with us. Email us your product suggestions at JP_Products@wholefoods.com, or contact Mike and Wanda directly at na.jmp.stl@wholefoods.com or na.jmp.astl@wholefoods.com. Follow us on Twitter @wfm_jp.

Wishing you a happy and healthy summer!

Regards,
Laura Derba

Regional President
Whole Foods Market – North Atlantic Region