Sponsored message
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Food

It's Getting Fake in the Whole Foods Parking Lot: Is the Silver Lake Location a Hoax? [UPDATED]

wholefoods-silverlake-vert.jpg
Photo by @atwatervillage via Twitpic

Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.

On Monday evening, it was hard to discern what was funnier: The angry readers who thought we were pot-kettle-black hipsters for cracking wise about hipsters in Silver Lake saving their imaginary paychecks to shop at a Whole Foods market, or the gleeful readers excited to spend their paychecks on fancy cheese and organic produce at the just-revealed location in the vacated Circuit City on Sunset Blvd.Around that time came the first inkling that the whole thing might be a hoax. Yes, a hoax.

It's an odd thing to joke about, isn't it?

KCET Food's Tumblr suggests they've deemed it a hoax, and they think they know who is behind it (possibly Nick Thune, whose exuberant Tweeted photo next to the Whole Foods banner on the fence is the Tweet heard 'round the Eastside in this case). The Eastsider LA cautions we ought not get our hopes up, either.

Meanwhile, we tried to get a hold of someone at Whole Foods' corporate offices yesterday afternoon, and still haven't heard back. We'll let you know as soon as we hear from the horse's mouth.

In any case, hipsters, you should still save your paychecks. Those skinny jeans aren't going to buy themselves.

UPDATE 10:35 AM: Whole Foods corporate has confirmed it is, indeed, a hoax. Here's their email to us:

Thanks for reaching out to clarify this rumor. Whole Foods Market has plans to open several stores over the next few years in the Southern Pacific Region, but none in L.A.'s Silver Lake neighborhood as of right now. The stores we have set to open are: Kailua, HI
Laguna Niguel, in Orange County
Newport Beach, in Orange County
Del Mar, in San Diego
Tucson, AZ

New stores are announced four times per year on our quarterly earnings calls. Upcoming calls and transcripts of those calls can be found at: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/investor/index.html).

Sponsored message
UPDATE 2:21 PM: Nick Thune says it wasn't him: "I didn't post the #Wholefoods signs in Silverlake. Happened to drive by it and grab a picture thinking it was funny. @LAist"
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.

Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.

If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.

Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible year-end gift today

A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right