Just a few quick updates about the Whole Foods Market on Victory Drive here in Savannah, which is scheduled to open on Tuesday, August 13th.
For whatever reason, the Savannah store was very late getting to the corporation’s page of Stores in Development, but we’re there now. On the page for the local store, you can register for newsletters, see sales flyers (none there at the moment), and contact the store directly.
The store is offering sneak previews for a $5 charitable donation this coming weekend, but all those slots have been taken. (I’ve got one and will likely say something about the store for my City Talk that will be published on opening day.)
The Savannah Whole Foods Facebook page is especially interesting. Here we have a major corporation, but they’re bending over backward to try to personalize consumers’ experiences by including tidbits of history, noting the community service work by the startup team, and introducing some of the key employees. If I had to trade places with anyone, I guess I’d want to be the guy in charge of cheese, beer, wine, and chocolate.
Say what you want about “Whole Paycheck” and the rest, but it seems pretty clear that Whole Foods has a customer service approach that makes people want to shop there and feel like they’re being invited to shop there.
Today the local Facebook page posted this calendar of events for the first month. Click on through for more info: