Whole Earth Provision Co. is Set to Reopen After Flooding

Whole Earth Provision Co. is coming back to downtown Austin after flooding shut its doors for five months.

Managers are planning a grand opening celebration for Saturday, but will re-open even earlier if the work is completed. 

Shoal Creek overflowed Memorial Day weekend, sending water into many businesses on North Lamar Boulevard, including Whole Earth. The store has been at 1014 N. Lamar for almost 20 years. According to Austin American-Statesman, Whole Earth has flooded before, but it suffered the most extensive damage with the recent flooding. More than 3 feet of water poured inside the building during the flood.

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“It was a big shock,” Whole Earth Vice President Holland Jones said in a statement to Austin American-Statesman. “It was much worse than any other flood we’ve experienced.”

Other businesses damaged during the flood have started to reopened, such as Shoal Creek Saloon. Several were back in business after a few hours of cleaning, while stores like Whole Earth experienced damages equaling “hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

Repair costs were only partially covered by insurance, but the retailer opted to continue paying employees instead of laying them off by transferring them to other Whole Earth locations.

“That’s a commitment we made at the very beginning,” said Jones. “That’s the way we operate. They were very appreciative.”

The store reopening also comes with some added interior changes. A larger shoe department, product rearranging, and a lack of carpet will greet new and old customers.