Whole Foods fans aims to bring chain to North Raleigh

Some North Raleigh residents are doing their best to ensure that Whole Foods signs on to open a store in North Raleigh.

Rumblings that the gourmet grocer was hunting for a second Raleigh location turned into a roar last month when a developer submitted a rezoning request for a new shopping center near Six Forks and Strickland roads that included a "gourmet grocery store" anchor.

In response, Debra Hooper created a Web site, www.bringwholefoods.org, which invites supporters to sign an online petition urging Whole Foods to take the space.

"Whole Foods is an entirely different option for shopping, in my opinion," said Hooper, who lives just a few miles from the proposed site. "I just kind of feel like if Whole Foods doesn't go there, someone else will. ... We want to bring businesses to our area that will enhance where we live. To me, having the option of shopping at a Whole Foods is a great opportunity and a great addition to the North Raleigh community."

So far, about 600 people have signed Hooper's petition.

But Hooper may be getting a bit ahead of herself. So far, the center's landlord and Whole Foods representatives say there is no signed lease for the site.

There will be a public hearing in October on the rezoning of the land, but not for specific tenants or a specific site plan.

If a lease is signed soon, the anchor tenant -- Whole Foods or someone else -- would likely open in 2010. Stay tuned.

In Wake Forest, The Tipsy Gourmet is open at 11721 Retail Drive. The store was modeled after big-city gourmet food shops, selling wine, dry goods and packaged meats and cheeses. The owners are already considering opening stores in Raleigh and Cary.

At Raleigh's Crabtree Valley Mall: Robeks smoothie stand has opened in the food court; Alumni Hall, which sells collegiate-themed clothing, will open soon; natural cosmetics retailer Bare Escentuals will open in early September next to bebe; another cosmetics retailer, Lush, will open its first store in the state in mid-August; tea retailer Teavana should also open by the end of the month; running store TrySports will open Aug. 15; and The Buckle is moving to the old Zales spot this fall.

In North Raleigh, the old Prime Only at 13200 Strickland Road was leased by the company that owns Village Draft House, Falls Tap Room, MacGregor Draft House and Sawmill Tap Room. Not surprisingly, plans are to turn it into the Leesville Tap Room. It will open in September.

OTHER ITEMS: In Durham, on the American Tobacco Campus, Saladelia Cafe is open. ... In Rolesville, Domino's is open at 6110 Rogers Road. ... In Knightdale Crossing II at Knightdale Boulevard and Smithfield Road, Las Brazas Mexican Restaurant is open. ... In North Raleigh, Haverty's is planning to open a new store in October on Capital Boulevard, next to HHgregg.

PREPARE FOR TAX-FREE SHOPPING: Finally, a reminder that the state's sales tax holiday is next weekend, from 12:01 a.m. Friday to 11:59 p.m. Sunday. You can find the list of tax-exempt items on my blog.