Locals Outraged After Closure Of Historic CA Whole Foods

MILL VALLEY, CA — Hundreds of Mill Valley residents are calling for the reopening of one of the oldest Whole Foods stores in the U.S. after it was closed by Amazon recently.

A grassroots petition had gathered 1,411 signatures as of Monday morning to save the store that first opened in 1989.

"For over three decades, this store has been more than just a grocery store—it has been a community hub, a place with character, and an essential resource for local families, seniors, and workers," the Change.org petition reads.

The store, which has operated in a Quonset hut for the past 36 years, was closed temporarily in July for maintenance, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. However, later assessments of more involved repairs prompted Whole Foods, which is owned by Amazon, to close the store permanently, with all employees reassigned to other stores.

The Mill Valley petition is calling on Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to reopen the store:

"We urge Whole Foods and Amazon to listen to the community: reinvest in and reopen the Miller Avenue store instead of closing it permanently."

Petitioners say the Miller Avenue store was a special place for the community and was more than a grocery store. Locals also knew the store as one that provided an elevated Whole Foods experience compared with the nearby Blithedale location.

Shoppers say the store had a superior deli, hot bar and bread selection. Plus, the market was located in a central area that was easy for shoppers to bike and walk to, the petition says.

"Closing Miller pushes people toward longer drives and chains like Safeway, or even online orders, undercutting Whole Foods’ stated commitment to sustainability."

If Amazon doesn't reopen the store, locals are threatening to stop shopping at Whole Foods altogether.

"Miller built lasting ties with shoppers and staff; many residents say they won’t simply 'transfer' to Blithedale but will instead go to Mill Valley Market, Good Earth, or Nugget. Whole Foods risks losing an entire customer base," the petition says.

Organizers of the effort are urging locals to call the Whole Foods regional office at 510-428-7400 and press 0 to leave a message for the receptionist. The petition can be found here.

Whole Foods has cited extensive repairs needed inside the historic Quonset hut for its closure. The hut has a post-WWII history.

"Residents find it hard to believe that Amazon—one of the richest companies in the world—can’t afford building updates. Many see this as a lack of loyalty to both employees and customers," petitioners say.

Mayor Stephen Burke told the Chronicle that the city did not impose regulations that would have forced the store's closure.

“The City regrets the potential closure of the Whole Foods, which is an important community resource," Burke said. "Other than issuing a permit for roof repairs, the City has imposed no further requirements or restrictions upon the property."