Whole Foods Market takes up approximately 45,000 square feet of the new Oak Creek Marketplace at the intersection of Miamisburg Centerville and McEwen roads. Fusian, Zoup, Great Clips, Elements Massage, PetPeople, El Rancho Grande and Be Pampered Nails & Spa are also part of the shopping center.
Lee said developer S.J. Collins has already submitted plans to construct an additional 20,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space to the west of Whole Foods.
“Directly to the west of this, where the Chili’s and Golden Dragon restaurants are, has been approved for phase two of the Oak Creek Marketplace,” Lee said.
If plans move forward, developer S.J. Collins would have to purchase the land where the Golden Dragon is located and demolish the restaurant to make room for the new section of the shopping plaza and parking.
“There’s been quite a lot of interest,” Lee said. “We’ve had some new restaurants, renovations of existing commercial space, as well as particular interest farther down toward I-675.”
Whole Foods — the main anchor of Oak Creek Marketplace — is the first store for the specialty grocery chain in the Miami Valley.
“We’re really hoping to kind of raise the bar for all other grocery stores in the area,” said Lauren Romansky, marketing team leader for Whole Foods Dayton. “There are a lot of grocery stores here and a lot of stores are starting to do what we do, so we’re excited to just come into this brand new community and be able to show the community what we do.”
The new grocery will employ approximately 170 people, Romansky said.
Shoppers will find a coffee bar, as well as a pub and growler fill-up station that will serve 13 draft beer and beverage taps daily, including selections from local breweries. Shoppers also will have access to a certified personal trainer who can assist with health food selections in the store.
Approximately 50 local suppliers will have products available at Whole Foods.
Whole Foods joins Costco Wholesale and Fresh Thyme Farmers Market as relatively new entries in the local grocery market. Costco opened late last year at Cornerstone of Centerville, and Fresh Thyme opened stores in Sugarcreek Twp. and Beavercreek.
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