Wild Oats to close April 13
The Wild Oats store at 8823 Ladue Road is closing April 13 and the approximate 75 employees have been offered jobs either at the Whole Foods store 1601 S. Brentwood Boulevard or the Town and Country store under construction.
Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods bought the Wild Oats chain last year for $565 million and said it would be closing the Ladue store as part of the acquisition. However, it did not have a specific closing date at that time.
The Wild Oats on Ladue Road has about 17,000 square feet and is much smaller than a typical Whole Foods store. The Brentwood store has more than 40,000 square feet, and the Town and Country location will have about 55,000.
About 200 people are expected to be employed at the Town and Country store. Matt Mell, formerly the Store Team Leader at the Brentwood store, is moving to that position at the Town and Country location.
Gail writes about business, health and wine for the Post-Dispatch. She joined the P-D in 2005 after moving from NYC where she covered federal courts and wrote about food and wine. In her free time, Gail lifts weights, and of course, wine glasses. 
I am so sad this is happening. I like Wild Oats so much better than Whole Foods - I was hoping Whole Foods would at least consider keeping that location open. I hope they incorporate some of the Wild Oats prepared foods into their markets (which I think Wild Oats does a much better job with).
Hello Whole Foods…..
…we need a store in Illinois!!!!