A new Whole Foods opened on January 9, 2015 in Boston, MA. Piecing together building permits since May 2014, we were curious: how much does it cost to build a new Whole Foods?
The store is a key feature of the luxury condo development “The Ink Block” being constructed on the former site of the Boston Herald headquarters. (Check out the Ink Block property page at BuildZoom for more details.) The new store occupies 50,000 sf of space at the base of the 131-unit condo building. Permits indicate that the entire building, including the apartments, grocery store, and underground parking, is valued at $34 million.
Here is a breakdown of major construction costs based on permit data:
- Gas pipe installation: $100,000
- Plumbing installation: $800,000
- Major electrical systems installation: $950,000
- Fire alarm installation: $50,000
- Cables and PA system: $45,000
- Low voltage wiring: $42,670
- Internally lit wall sign: $3,420
- Interior fit-out, including partitions, shelves, other mechanical/electrical/plumbing equipment: $5,508,910
This particular Whole Foods location breaks new ground by offering a Milk + Honey day spa, a pretty sophisticated coffee bar (a “mod” bar, with various brews on tap, including cold brews), and a smoothie bar. The amenities are designed to complement the lifestyle of the high-end apartments in the building above.
So how much does it cost to convert a newspaper office into a new (deluxe) Whole Foods? $7,500,000.
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