Wheatsville Food Co-op, a longstanding health-food grocer in Austin, is set to close its Guadalupe Street store by the end of 2026. The decision comes amid various challenges, including increased competition and rising rents. Bill Bickford, the co-op's general manager, noted that despite its popularity for offering healthy and locally sourced food, Wheatsville has struggled with tight profit margins.
The Guadalupe location will be impacted by construction related to Project Connect light rail project. This disruption and declining sales have led to the closure decision. "UT used to ask you to bring a car," Bickford said, noting changes in transportation habits that have affected customer visits.
The iconic Mangiasaurus Rex statue atop the building remains without a decided future. “Unfortunately, I don’t have an answer to that yet,” Bickford stated regarding the statue's fate.
Wheatsville plans to remain active in Austin through smaller locations aimed at serving specific communities like Hyde Park residents and University of Texas students. “We feel a connection to those in that area,” Bickford said.
The new business model involves a hub-and-spoke system with smaller neighborhood stores supported by the larger South Lamar Boulevard location. The plan includes opening up to 12 smaller stores throughout Austin if demand supports it.
Bickford emphasized that Wheatsville does not aim to compete with larger grocery chains like H-E-B or Whole Foods but rather focus on community impact. "We just want to be a place that is big enough to meet your needs and small enough to meet your neighbors," he said.
Funding for these expansions will require investment from owner-members and possibly other sources. Details on this financial effort may soon be shared with owner-members.