Whole Foods Toledo location announcement - Feb 2015

my Feb 12, 2015 TT comment

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Actually, Carty supported Whole Foods coming to Toledo back in 2005.

The Westgate redevelopment became somewhat of a political issue during the 2005 mayoral campaign.

Then-mayor Jack Ford and his allies (A-Team Democrats), such as Frank Szollosi supported Costco and opposed Whole Foods because at one time, the Whole Foods CEO compared unions to herpes.

In the fall of 2004, a Columbus Dispatch story said Toledo was the second-most unionized city in the country, so the opposition to Whole Foods was understandable.

Wikipedia : John Mackey :

He is the current co-CEO of Whole Foods Market, which he co-founded in 1980. Mackey is a strong supporter of free market economics. He is one of the most influential advocates in the movement for organic food.

Mackey is known for his strong anti-union views, having once compared unions to herpes in that "it won't kill you, but it's very unpleasant and will make a lot of people not want to be your lover."

During the 2005 mayoral campaign, Carty (B-team Dem) supported Whole Foods coming to Westgate, and he opposed Costco.

Battles over the redevelopment design plans did occur between local officials, including Carty, and property owner Liz Holland, probably related to what enjoyeverysandwich mentioned above. I know the so called 20/20 plan or whatever that's called was referenced.

My August 2005 comment

Liz Holland, CEO of Abbell Credit Corp. of Chicago, the owners of Westgate, gave a 10 minute news conference at Westgate Thursday morning. She presented an artist's sketch of what the new Westgate might look like.

Click to enlarge.

Westgate-related Toledo Talk threads - Aug 29, 2007

• Costco at Westgate - Tue Aug 09, 2005 (82 comments)
• Costco versus Whole Foods - Tue Sep 27, 2005 (20 comments)
• Question about Carty/Westgate - Thu Dec 15, 2005 (9 comments)
• Ford announces Westgate redevelopment - Thu Dec 22, 2005 (36 comments)
• Finkbeiner vs. Holland? - Tue Jan 31, 2006 (22 comments)
• Mayor Strikes Secret Westgate Deal? - Thu Feb 02, 2006 (24 comments)
• Westgate - Tue Feb 07, 2006 (23 comments)
• Finkbeiner living wage veto contested - Mon Apr 24, 2006 (42 comments)
• Demolition Begins at Westgate Shopping Center - Thu May 25, 2006 (7 comments)

In September 2005, then-city councilman Frank Szollosi wrote on his blog:

Carty Finkbeiner threatens Costco and Westgate redevelopment. Carty's choice is Whole Foods, whose CEO has compared unions to herpes. Whole Foods at Westgate would threaten the good United Food and Commercial Workers at Krogers.

9 to 10 years must be long enough for things to change.

My comment in a Januar 2006 thread:

Carty Finkbeiner threatens Costco and Westgate redevelopment. Carty's choice is Whole Foods, whose CEO has compared unions to herpes. Whole Foods at Westgate would threaten the good United Food and Commercial Workers at Krogers.