Chesterfield County is set to welcome its first Whole Foods store as part of the upcoming Midlothian Depot project, spearheaded by Atlanta-based developer SJC Ventures. Located at the corner of Midlothian Turnpike and Alverser Drive, the project is expected to feature a 36,000-square-foot Whole Foods alongside 60 town homes.
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SJC Ventures principal Jeff Garrison confirmed Whole Foods' involvement, noting that the company plans to break ground on the mixed-use development this week. Alongside the grocery store, Midlothian Depot will include additional retail space and 87,000 square feet of commercial space across five buildings.
Although it remains unclear when Whole Foods plans to open, a company spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment. Currently, Whole Foods operates two stores in the region—one in West Broad Village, Henrico, and the other in Sauer Centre, Richmond.
Previously, SJC Ventures hinted at securing a "premier organic grocery anchor" for the project but did not confirm Whole Foods until now. SJC's portfolio includes similar developments with Whole Foods as anchor tenants, such as The Marketplace at Tech Centre in Newport News and out-of-state projects.
The Midlothian Depot project site, which spans 13 acres, was acquired by SJC last month for $16 million. It comprises three parcels—951 Alverser Drive, 11621 Old Buckingham Road, and 11706 Midlothian Turnpike. The land, currently mostly wooded, was valued at $4.3 million, according to property records.
Andrew Thacker and Larry Agnew of S.L. Nusbaum represented SJC in the land acquisition. The main sellers were the Haywood and Claudette Hyman Family Limited Partnership, with additional smaller parcels owned by Shirley Waller, Donna Hulshoff, and Carol Waller.
The Midlothian Depot project, costing an estimated $70 million, is expected to feature town homes and various retail spaces. Construction of the commercial spaces, including the Whole Foods, is anticipated to be completed by the third quarter of 2026, with the development expected to open by mid-2027.
Alongside Whole Foods, Lovesac and MyEyeDr. are expected to lease commercial space at Midlothian Depot, with more tenants anticipated but not yet confirmed. Bryan Davis and Ray Schupp of H&R Retail are handling leasing for the project.
On the residential side, 60 luxury town homes are planned, complete with garages, located along Old Buckingham Road. A developer has been identified for these town homes, but Garrison declined to provide further details at this time.
Midlothian Depot, which has been in development for several years, has seen changes from its original plans, including the addition of town homes replacing earlier apartment proposals. The Chesterfield Board of Supervisors approved the current version of the project last year, following its rezoning in 2022.
Overall, the Midlothian Depot project marks a significant addition to Chesterfield County's commercial and residential landscape, with Whole Foods playing a central role in bringing the community a new grocery store experience.
Source: richmondbizsense.com