Whole Foods Effect

This is when a Whole Foods supermarket moves into a typically poor or low-income neighborhood, leading to a change in the community. It turns from minorities to young adults who yuppify the area, driving up rents and changing the personality of the community. Places like Starbucks and hipster clothing stores tend to follow in Whole Foods.

Jim: "Where did all these vegetarians and hipsters come from?"
Tom: "Remember when that Whole Foods took over Alex's Groceries?"
Jim: "Yeah.."
Tom: "Well they all started showing up like a month later. It's the Whole Foods effect bro."

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Whole Foods Effect

When a Whole Foods grocery store moves into an urban neighborhood, catalyzing economic development and gentrification. Often, this means middle-class, “hipster” young adults moving in, pushing up rents and pushing out long-time residents.

Shana: “Since when have the rents in this neighborhood been so expensive? Who are all these artsy, vegetable-loving yuppies hanging around?”

Sean: “Well, you can blame it on the new Whole Foods store that opened last year - it’s the Whole Foods Effect. "

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