Ideal Market - Markets of Change
Feb 28th, 2008 by rlsorbe
The Ideal Market, a quaint neighborhood fixture for over 65 years will be undergoing modern day changes in order to get back to their 1960’s roots. Located in the Ideal Broadway Shops and Community Plaza, Ideal Market is known nationally as an innovator for being the first to bring parking lots in close proximity to stores. Having two owners prior to the market being bought by Wild Oats and then to Whole Foods after the merger this past August, Ideal Market is ready to make building and design changes.
This August marks the 68th birthday of the market, and they will be celebrating with an Ideal grand re-opening, which will pay tribute to the 1960’s Ideal Market Décor. With original photos, fixtures, and upgrades, this will become the first modern market of the past with unique style and flare. In addition to their décor they will be upgrading the salad bar, adding two soup bars and an olive bar. The Ideal Market will also be implementing a greener mission, and will work with Eco Cycle to cut down their waste and increase their recycling program (similar to the one instilled at Whole Foods on Pearl Street). They have already begun with hiring a green mission representative for their store.
When talking with Bruce Green, Store Team Leader, he was interested in learning what the Ideal customers would like to see more of (or less of) as they are undergoing change later this summer. Many of the store’s original customers still come into Ideal Market, on a regular basis. I am excited to hear their thoughts on the Market’s renovations, and if it brings them back in time.
Whole Foods has three other store locations in addition to the Ideal Market in Boulder. These locations (Whole Foods – Pearl Street, Wild Oats – Broadway and Baseline) will be undergoing development changes over the next couple of years. Expansions, renaming and remodeling, service and environmental upgrades, expanded community space, and the customer service experience are all being discussed. As food plays such a vital role in our lives, I applaud Whole Foods for their commitment to create a community oriented, healthier, and better shopping experiences. I look forward to seeing what these changes bring.
The above are some little details that truly make the Ideal Market a unique place.
To learn more about the Ideal Broadway Shops and Community Plaza, check out the post: I like lots of neon (Ideal Market will be refurbishing and painting their neon sign found above the produce).
Sounds like an interesting project — although I assume Ideal Market is NOT going back to 1960s-style energy consumption.
What are they doing in this project to improve energy efficiency? And how much difference will that make compared to the store’s current energy consumption?
- Amy Gahran
Boulder Carbon Tax Tracket (bouldercarbontax.org)
[…] Ideal Market - Markets of Change (Boulder Space) Major retrofit happening soon at North Boulder’s Ideal Market — a local cultural landmark. Wonder what they have planned to improve energy efficiency? (tags: buildings commercial projects retrofits) […]
We are re-designing the refrigeration system for a parallel compressor rack system with energy management controls, this will be much more efficient than the previous single system that is serving the store prior to remodel. The new systems will be charged with R-404A refrigerant, which should be very efficient and the right move for the environment. In addition we are updating the HVAC systems and adding some controls to reduce energy consumption. The new refrigerated cases and equipment we have specified are definitely more efficient overall than what is currently in place.
The new lighting package will be more energy efficient as well. We would like to add a few skylights, this would work well especially in the office areas. This will save on lighting requirements and help make the associates happier and more productive. Skylights will be dependent on how other remodel costs evolve.
We won’t have hard data on reduced energy usage until the we have some history of utility bills post-remodel.
I was in your store(Alpine & Broadway) today looking for a cat toy. I did not see them and upon chceck out with a bag of organic cat treats I asked the clerk, a tall late 20’s young man if the store had any cat toys. I was informed that no, there were no cat toys as Ideal/Whole Foods was an upscale store.
I could not help but reply, that upscale people have upscale cats that like to play with upscale toys. I paid for my upscale and organic cat treats and left the store.
I have been mentioning this incident to others and they have implied that they are not happy with some of the changes occuring in your upscale store and do not feel that all changes are desirable changes.
I might add that some of the staff that have been in the store for quite some time remain friendly, courteous and not too upscale.
Kreeta Haffner
I was just in IDEAL yesterday, and they have done a tremendous amount of change already. it looks good, and I like their new feel. I am looking forward to checking out the completed project.