It is biodynamic kale at 20 paces!
The long-awaited Whole Foods Market in Gowanus is finally open, but some residents say the multi-billion dollar fancy-food empire will poach organic granola-munching customers away from locally-grown neighborhood stores. Yet for all its roof-top bars and ramen stands, is Whole Foods really better? We cycled down with some canvas bags to see how it stacks up against nearby outlets of Fairway Market and Pathmark in the areas that really matter (to Brooklyn yupsters).
Whole Food Market [214 Third Street at Third Avenue in Gowanus, (718) 907–3622, www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/brooklyn]; Fairway Market [500 Van Brunt St. near Reed Street in Red Hook, (718) 254–0923, www.fairwaymarket.com/store/red-hook-brooklyn-ny]; Pathmark [1-37 12th St. at Hamilton Place in Gowanus, (718) 788–5100, pathmark.apsupermarket.com].
