Both TJ's and Whole Foods are wedging their way into crowded retail environments in Silicon Valley. Due to the geography of the place, there's not that much open space for developers. The hills are largely protected from development, and the valley floors are largely developed already. Lots of residential infill development is going on, e.g. old warehouses and commercial property being knocked down for what passes for "high density" housing out here. For new retail development, big box stores (with their high tax revenue) are favored by planning commissions due to the funky state of CA property taxes. Mostly tax-free grocery stores don't get much promotion by local governments.

California's central valley is a whole different environment. All the farmland hasn't been paved over yet.

Adding: There is plenty of room in underperforming retail strips, but those aren't near the demographic favored by TJ's and WF.
- mark 4-07-2007 6:14 am





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