How large of a town is required to support a Whole Foods?

I'm sure it is a combination of size, income, and education level and a bunch of other stuff.
As you will see with the responses in this thread, your city don't be needed no damn hippy BS Whole Foods and shite.

That's backwards.....Whole Foods is successful in many markets that Trader Joes won't even enter.

Shreveport is just now getting a WF. Might be awhile for LC.

One is coming to Mandeville in 2015 in the current Albertson's space.

LC could support one

Don't know, but Lafayette is about to see how it all goes.

Whole Foods is going up near the intersection of Ambassador Caffery and Kaliste Saloom. In this area, we already have a well-established Albertsons, and the relatively new and upscale Fresh Market, just up the road in River Ranch.

Another Rousse's is going up south of Acadiana Mall in what was their original scouted-out location for coming here.

Something's gotta give, and I think the upscale places bear the most risk. Albertsons will lose some business, but remain a mainstay if their prices remain low. I predict Fresh Market suffers the most, because Whole Foods will offer the same products as them and so much more. As it is now, I buy a few things at Fresh Market, and then make a stop at Albertsons for the toilet paper, paper towels, etc ... and alot of other things we prefer that FM does not carry. Whole Foods may very well cover all bases, making Fresh Market less relevant, with Albertsons and Super Target (across the street) just a few blocks away offering perhaps a little greater value, in terms of prices.

In reality, all Albertsons needs to do is pipe in some classical music and dim the lights a bit, and I'd probably shop there more

I used to work at whole foods, and I know as of last summer the Northshore was the only destination on the horizon.

I think LC could support it but I don't see them rushing to build one

not sure about all wf, but the ones here in houston now have a beer/wine bar where you can sit and drink, or take your drink and shop ... that'll probably fair well in lafayette, i would think ...