Yesterday, November 5, developer Mark Brennan announced that he has entered into a lease with Whole Foods Market to occupy the existing building at Haight and Stanyan, which used to house a Cala Foods grocery store.

Brennan said in an email newsletter that there is no hard timetable yet, but that he anticipates that the store will open in late 2010. The previously planned mixed-use project that would have included 62 apartments and a three-story underground parking lot had been cancelled due to opposition from the neighborhood, other delays, and excessive fees imposed by the City.

Brennan said he regrets the fact that he will not be able to build the mixed-use project, but is happy to announce that the Haight will nevertheless have a full-service grocery store for the first time since Cala closed its doors in May 2006.

When the approved project appeared to be nearing its death, Brennan made contact with Ted Loewenberg and Mike Gerrity and gauged their thoughts on how the neighborhood would feel about simply replacing Cala. Both stated that although they were disappointed, a grocery store alone would be beneficial to the neighborhood.

For more info read the article by the SF Business Times here.

abrody(at)haightbeat.com