Tailgaters trump tomatoes

Come football season, it makes sense that such things as chips, grills and team apparel will outsell things like mulch and fertilizer.

Wal-Mart thinks so, too.

Starting this week, the company is planning to temporarily convert the garden centers at 1,700 stores into "Game Time Headquarters," selling tailgate essentials and sports-themed items for sports fans.

On one hand, this is smart because it makes good use of the garden center space during a time the garden center is not the most popular section of the store.

And the potential for profit is big. According to Wal-Mart's news release, 42 percent of tailgaters spend more than $500 a season on food and supplies.

But Wal-Mart also risks confusing shoppers and alienating garden center fans. Garden items will still be available during the promotion, which goes through Sept. 30, but shoppers looking for them may not like the change.

In our area, six stores will have their garden centers converted: 805 Town Center Blvd., Clayton; 1051 E. Broad St., Fuquay-Varina; 10050 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh; 4431 New Bern Ave., Raleigh; 1299 N. Brightleaf Blvd., Smithfield; and 841 E. Gannon Ave., Zebulon.

It's official, Whole Foods fans. The gourmet grocer has signed on to anchor a proposed shopping center in North Raleigh near the intersection of Six Forks and Strickland roads.

In recent weeks, more than 2,000 people signed an online petition at www.bringwholefoods.org urging Whole Foods to sign the lease. Now the 40,000-square-foot store is one step closer.

But the developers must still get rezoning permission from the city and site plan approval. If things move quickly, the Whole Foods could open in 2010.

Several of our area McDonald's stores are going to be undergoing significant changes.

The restaurants in Raleigh on Peace Street and on Western Boulevard at Gorman Street will soon be demolished and rebuilt. They will reopen toward the end of the year. ... Also in Raleigh, the Cameron Village McDonald's is undergoing an overhaul to update its exterior look. ... Finally, in Cary's Saltbox Village on Kildaire Farm Road, McDonald's will be torn down and rebuilt. The work will begin near New Year's, and the store will reopen in May.

In Cary, Gorgeous Gowns and Wedding Dresses Consignment Boutique is under new ownership and has been expanded to include more jewelry, accessories and display areas. The store is at 124-D SW Maynard Road.

OTHER ITEMS: In Wake Forest, Rocco's Italian Grill & Bar is open at 3622 Rogers Road in the Heritage shopping center. ... In Apex, the Blue Rain Cafe has closed at 2125 Ten Ten Road. ... But, in Raleigh's Oak Park shopping center, Loco Lu's Coffeehouse opened at 5210 Hollyridge Drive. ... In Raleigh's Crabtree Valley Mall, Francesca's Collections will open in the old Spencer's space in October. ... And, in Raleigh's Glenwood Village at Glenwood Avenue and Oberlin Road, a store called Calm and Sense will open in three months, selling items for pampering the five senses -- such as aromatherapy supplies, massage oils and relaxation CDs.