The following letter was sent to Peg Cancienne, John Mackey, April Pierson and Dave Gonzalez at Whole Foods corporate offices.
Hello, Peg. Your name has been given to me by Brentwood resident Marcia Young, who shares my concern at the impending “eviction” of the Brentwood Newsstand by the management of the San Vicente Boulevard Whole Foods market in West Los Angeles.
We have been steady customers of this Whole Foods branch, as well as the two on Wilshire Boulevard. in Santa Monica, since their opening. Recently, we’ve learned of Amy [LaBoube]’s – the San Vicente branch manager’s – decision to not renew the lease of the Brentwood Newsstand, located at the market’s west side. A number of people have spoken to Amy, who has expressed amazing insensitivity to widespread community unhappiness at this action.
Ms. Cancienne, the callous attitude of your management flies in the face of all that’s expressed in Whole Food’s supposed “Core Values”. Your customers, you say, are the lifeblood of your business. Only by satisfying your customers, you say, do you satisfy the needs of your stakeholders. You want to turn customers into advocates who talk about Whole Foods to their friends and others. You want, you say, to create inviting and fun store environments.
Really? To be polite, hogwash! What Amy and her bosses are doing flies in the face of all you supposedly advocate. You are disregarding the community that you serve. As you must know, Brentwood is an unusual neighborhood, the residential heart of the Los Angeles business and entertainment industries. Do you really want to anger these people? Because if you do, to quote one of its former residents, “You ain’t seen nuttin’ yet!”
Ms. Cancienne, I and literally thousands of Westside residents, beg you to reconsider this foolish action. The Brentwood Newsstand has been here far longer than Whole Foods. It has a passionate following. They — we — are very, very supportive of this small, family-owned business. So again, please stop. Leave the newsstand alone. Cancel this foolish action.
Sincerely,
Len Frank
