Whole Foods Gets Into The Spa Business

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Dec 13th 2006 at 7:02PM

Whole Foods Markets is getting into the spa business. The natural supermarket opened Refresh--The Everyday Spa at Whole Foods Market last week in a Dallas store. The 4,500-square-foot spa has seven treatment rooms and offers scrubs, massages and other treatments. There is also a private balcony where lunch from a special spa menu is served and a shop which sells beauty products and organic clothing. The spa is on a second floor removed from the hubbub of the grocery store and for $20 per hour you can ditch your shopping list at the concierge desk and get a massage while someone else picks up your groceries. If the spa works out well in Dallas then the concept will be rolled out to other stores.

[via Marketing Daily]

Tags: dallas, spa, supermarket, whole foods, WholeFoods

Filed under: Spas

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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)

sharon Dec 19th 2006 9:57AM

I think the idea is great. I see my massage therapist every week or every two weeks. My insurance pays for all but $15 of it. Heck I'd pay someone $20 to do my grocery shopping for me. I'd probably save twice that by not buying those impulse things that you always see.

I understand the mom and pop point of view. We have a small Christmas Tree Farm, and we can't buy things as cheaply as Walmart or other retailers. For me to get the same Christmas Tree stands they sell at Walmart for about $8.00, I'd have to pay the wholesalers more than that because I can't buy the quantity required for the lower price. So I have to buy what's left over at the 50% off sales, and look around at thrift stores where I can pick them up for 99 cents. Mom and Pop grocery stores sell perishable stuff and don't even have any options like that.

Pat Dec 19th 2006 10:05AM

Suzanne # 13 is right,the $20 is for shopping,not the massage.I have gotten massages for my health and only wish they were $20 and not $50 or $60 an hr.
This service is for the rich and famous...it belongs in Hollywood...

binky king Dec 19th 2006 10:19AM

Regarding the $20 hr. rate...this is great and at that rate I will spend a lot of money supporting massage therapist. At the current rates around here of $50 hour I spend nothing. Yes...I'd spend $20-25 a week (maybe twice a week ) on a regular basis, but I refuse to pay someone $50 hr. for a massage. I hope the massage therapy industry takes a good look at this column.

amy Dec 19th 2006 10:20AM

To Chris,do you know what you are eating? Obviously not! Whole Foods is a necessity,not a splurge.I travel 50 miles to shop there,and Iam not well to do or a yuppy,you need to do some reading.Anything that you see on the news about "research" is a blantant lie.Eat more whole foods!Wake up people.

Pam Dec 19th 2006 10:13AM

There are PLENTY of us that NEVER go to Wal-Mart/Sam's/Target. I had rather buy less groceries and eat frugally than patronize them. Whole Foods isn't always more expensive than Wal-Mart.

Deborah Dec 19th 2006 10:16AM

Love it, Love it, Love it! Send someone over to clean my house and make diiner with the whole foods, food and they can have my soul

sam Dec 19th 2006 10:20AM

Why did you censor my comment?

michelle Dec 19th 2006 10:28AM

I think it's a great idea. I hope they put their spa in West Bloomfield next!

Willy Dec 19th 2006 10:30AM

I Think they have come up with a Great Idea.
Do they offer Happy Endings??

Sandy Dec 19th 2006 10:53AM

Sorry to say ....it really is just about the money...
the $20 is a promotion...trust me it will change...I hope therapist stand together against one!!!

My personal massage therapist has nothing to worry about...

Nana Dec 19th 2006 10:50AM

If only Whole Foods treated their employees as well as they treat their customers and the chickens they sell. At one time my two eldest children and their spouses worked at Whole Foods. One by one as they tried to finish college, relocate to another area or move up to a better paying position they were manipulated into quitting. Whole Foods likes the turnover. It saves them a bundle in wages and benefits.

This is the first Christmas in years where we can sit around the table without hearing the Dickensian woes of being a Whole Food employee. And now some poor soul is going to be giving massages for $20/hour...way below market value...wonder how much the masseuse will actually get out of that...?

When it gets down to where the rubber meets the road, they aren't any different than any other money-grubbing corporation. The only difference is the well-to-do don't mind paying their high prices so they don't have to deal with the unwashed masses as they shop. This massage gimmick just takes it to another level.

Bah humbug, Whole Foods!

Susan Dec 19th 2006 10:54AM

After a wonderful therapeutic massage, the last thing I want to do is go home and put away groceries. I like to rest at home to try and prolong the benefits of the massage, and the calm atmosphere. Who wants to deal with crowds and groceries after that? I wouldn't have a massage at the grocery store no matter what.

Kathi/ Dallas, TX Dec 19th 2006 12:38PM

The new spa at Whole Foods in Dallas is beautiful and a full service spa. Prices are the same as any other spa. I had a massage there this past Saturday with Clarissa. It was one of the best massages I have ever had. I am one to frequently get massages so I know a good massage from a bad one. Whole Foods does everything first class and this spa is no exception.
And I'd put Clarissa up against any other massage therapist any day of the week!

carolyn Dec 19th 2006 11:02AM

Oh my gosh, I love it !! I will be there twice a week getting my massage while someone picks up the groceries... This is a great idea... They will have happy relaxed shoppers, and one of them will be ME!!!

Mike Dec 19th 2006 11:07AM

What's next? Topless deli servers? Perhaps bottomless cashiers!

iwillbecauseiam Dec 19th 2006 5:15PM

Hooray for Whole Foods! If I want
a massage while shopping for organic fruits and veggies
then so be it.Not everyone in America wants to slog
around Wal-Mart staring at dirty kids and single moms
squeezed into tiny stretch pants. Every time I shop
at Safeway I have to email off a comment to the CEO
and beg them to get the filthy bathrooms cleaned up.
Whole Foods offering massages seems to bring out a lot
of comments from the beeraholics but do these same
people care that WalMart is the Godfather of the
Cheap Retail Mafia?

Karl Farben Dec 19th 2006 11:43AM

I think Whole Foods should offer financial planning services as well. Then, maybe, I could stand a flying chance at actually leaving their store with some money in my pocket.

Debbie/San Diego Dec 19th 2006 11:51AM

We have a Whole Foods out here in La Jolla, California who are biased on who shops there, so I refuse to even step in the store. My girlfriend was escorted out of the building because she wore a conservative commenting t-shirt one day. Wow!! I guess I'll take my business to Trader Joe's...I wonder if they will be offering any spa treatments..lol

Susan Dec 19th 2006 11:49AM

I think this is a wonderful idea and I would certainly participate in the spa program.

commonsense Dec 19th 2006 11:58AM

Whole Foods is one of the nicest grocery chains. they are always clean,and the food is very fresh. Employees seem to like working there, and are always smiling and ready to be helpful. I like the concept of offering "Whole foods w/Whole services", yes they pick more upscale areas to put their stores since they know those are the areas where educated, well earning shoppers live, and personal health is a priority too. Other than Trader Joes, this is my next favorite place to shop. It is enjoyable, the food is fabulous.

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