Whole Foods Brooklyn Comes Under Attack from Local Artists

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A toxic site couldn't stop Whole Foods from trying to open in Gowanus, but a group of local artists and manufacturers are hoping they'll succeed where environmental disaster has failed. The Brooklyn Paper talked to members of the coalition who believe small businesses are better for the area than one giant health-food store.

Whole Foods promises to bring more jobs to the neighborhood, but Gowanus Institute researchers argue that factory spaces attract three times more jobs than retail spaces. As for the artists, Whole Foods really might not have too much to offer them. Spokesman Michael Sinatra tells the paper, "The art community is near and dear to us—we employ in-house artists to do signage on our chalkboards. We often use cafe spaces to showcase art." Compared with cheap studio space, though, that doesn't sound like such a perk.
· ‘Whole’ food fight! Dissent sprouts against grocery's plans [Brooklyn Paper]
· All Whole Foods Gowanus coverage [Racked NY]