Do you know where the original Whole Foods Market was?
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Whole Foods Market started in Austin over 40 years ago and has since expanded as a major grocer across the country.
Many Austinites drive past the original building—now vacant—on their daily commutes on North Lamar Boulevard. Do you know where the original Whole Foods Market was?
The first store opened in 1980 in the 900 block of North Lamar. The building was likely where a now-closed Goodwill store stands today.
Whole Foods Market was the creation of four Austin business owners—John Mackey, Renee Lawson, Craig Weller and Mark Skiles—and a merger between Clarksville Natural Grocery and SaferWay.
On Memorial Day in 1981, a flood devastated Austin when 10 inches of rain fell on the city within 24 hours, according to the city. The flood caused about $36 million in damages and 13 people died.
The original Whole Foods store was among the businesses destroyed, causing total losses of inventory and damage to most equipment, according to the company.
The relatively new business didn't have insurance and relied on customers and neighbors to help staff clean the damage. The store reopened 28 days after the flood, according to a Whole Foods spokesperson.
The North Lamar store with a staff of 19 people was the start for the supermarket chain. In 2017, Amazon acquired the company for $13.7 billion.
Whole Foods Market is still headquartered in downtown Austin with its flagship store blocks away from the original store on North Lamar.
