2013

  • September 4 – Whole Foods Market and City of Chicago announce future Englewood store; Whole Kids Foundation pledges $20,000 to support garden projects at schools in Englewood
  • November 20 – Whole Foods Market holds first community meeting to introduce Whole Foods Market and hear what is important to residents for their store

2014

  • April 9– Whole Kids Foundation awards garden grants to 8 Englewood schools
  • June 30– Whole Foods Market holds community meeting to continue to listen to what is important for residents to see in their store
  • July 1– Whole Foods Market and City of Chicago break ground on future Englewood store
  • October 24– First of three-part business education workshops series with the Greater Englewood CDC and the City of Chicago begins with “Business 101”
  • November 7- Second of three-part business education workshop continues with “Product Packaging, Labeling and Safety”

2015

  • January 23 – Final of three-part business education workshop “Getting Product on the Shelf” and first time local businesses meet with Whole Foods Market buyers to discuss their products
  • February 16 – Whole Foods Market holds community meeting to continue to learn what the community hopes for their store
  • July 9 – Whole Foods Market holds community meeting to hear what culinary influences and product assortment the community wants to see in their store
  • August 6 – Whole Foods Market holds community meeting to hear what inspirations from the community are important to include in the design and décor of their store
  • August 22 – Whole Foods Market Co-sponsors “Crop Circles” event with Tessamae's in Englewood. Healthy eating cooking demonstrations, non-profit gathering and bags of free produce for over 3,000 Englewood residents distributed.
  • September 22 – Whole Foods Market holds community meeting to present store plan based on previous conversations and hear community feedback
  • November 1- Whole Foods Market hires Community Engagement Specialist

2016

  • January 6 – Whole Foods Market holds community meeting to present updated store plan and hear community feedback
  • February 11 – Whole Foods Market hires Store Team Leader (Store Manager)
  • March 8 – Whole Foods Market holds Public Call for Local Artist interested in submitting artwork for inside future store
  • March 17 – “WFM 101: Recruiting Process and Introduction to Whole Foods Market,” first of three-part employment educational series
  • April, 1- Providence Englewood Elementary school kids create art to be displayed inside future store
  • April 16 – Whole Foods Market hosts supplier fair for local South Side-based food businesses and entrepreneurs
  • April 20 – “WFM 102: Day in the Life at Whole Foods Market,” second of three-part employment educational series
  • April 25 – Whole Foods Market holds community meeting to provide update, vote on local artists submissions, see Health Starts Here cooking demonstration and Whole Cities Foundation announcement of food access and healthy eating grant competition for Englewood nonprofits.
  • May 1 – Kennedy King College Students present social media campaign for future store to Whole Foods Market digital team
  • May 19 – “WFM 103: Getting the Job,” final of three-part employment educational series
  • June 21- Customer Service Training and Employers Panel Discussion
  • June 24 -25 – Whole Cities Foundation Healthy Eating Summit
  • July 25 – “Eating for Optimal Health,” healthy eating education class
  • July 26 – “Kitchen Makeover,” healthy eating education class
  • July 29 – 30 – Whole Foods Market Retail Job Fair
  • August 1 – “Detox Challenge,” healthy eating education class
  • August 15 – “Detox Challenge Celebration,” healthy eating education class
  • August 16 – Englewood community votes for organizations applying for the Whole Cities Foundation’s food access and healthy eating grant competition
  • September 8 – Whole Foods Market holds final community meeting to thank everyone for support
  • September 28 – Whole Foods Market Englewood opens