No GR Trader Joe's, Whole Foods planned

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Trader Joe's and Whole Foods Market are not coming to Grand Rapids in the near future.

A spokesperson for the popular California-based grocery store chain Trader Joe's told 24 Hour News 8 that officials are not looking at opening a store in Grand Rapids in the next two years.

"Grand Rapids is not in Trader Joe's two-year plan," Alison Mochizuki, director of public relations for Trader Joe's, told 24 Hour News 8.

On Tuesday, Mike Murray of Colliers International, a commercial real estate agency, told 24 Hour News 8 Trader Joe's was actively looking to secure locations in metro Grand Rapids.

Mochizuki would not comment further about any future plans involving West Michigan.

On Wednesday night, Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods also confirmed it isn't coming to Grand Rapids, at least for now.

"While we're always on the lookout for great sites in communities where we believe we can be of service, we don't have a site in the Grand Rapids market at this time," said Whole Foods spokesman Keith Stewart.

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Meanwhile Wednesday, it was difficult to get answers about trendy retailer H&M's entry into the Grand Rapids market.

24 Hour News 8 contacted the company's world headquarters in Sweden. After navigating the language barrier, we were given two phone numbers for public relations contacts in the United States. Despite leaving six separate voicemails, 24 Hour News 8 did not hear back from the global retailer.

So 24 Hour News 8 turned to Colliers International, the firm that dropped the development bombshell Tuesday.

"They are in those negotiations with Woodland Mall," said Earl Clements of Colliers International. "To my knowledge, nothing is signed, but they have been looking at it for quite some time, and that is where they are telling me that is where they want to go."

24 Hour News 8 also left three voicemails with a contact at Woodland Mall, all of which were unreturned. The mall office Wednesday was closed. Security officials called the contact, but said he was "off site and unavailable."

24 Hour News 8's Joe LaFurgey and Steve Kelso contributed to this report.