Custom Clothes: Whole Foods Potrero Hill

Whole Foods Potrero Hill

Potrero Hill Whole Foods at 17th & Rhode Island, a tipster sent this image via her iPhone:

No lines. Nobody seems to give a rat's ass. Mention that your source was accosted and told that "unless I clear it with a regional manager" there's no photog allowed. More to follow

OK. We were hoping for more reportage direct from the ice cream case, but we may have to content ourselves with heirloom tomatoes and avocado.Featuring approx 170 new units (some condos, some rentals) above a new Whole Foods Market at 17th and Rhode Island. According to the Mark Company, they will be starting in the 400″s. From the Planning Department:

170 dwelling units, ~40,000 sf retail, and 323 off-street parking spaces on a vacant lotWhen Whole Foods isn't scaring the bejeezus out of us with clown signage, they're stealing our hard-earned American dollars. See, the Portreo Hill Whole Foods now required a "donation" of $5 to use wi-fi. Enter one angry customer who plans on boycotting the artisan store.

Boycott Whole Foods' Facebook page fumes:Whole Foods Potrero Hill (San Francisco) recently began a policy to show disrespect for its customers by "requiring" a $5 donation for "free wifi." While we don't encourage people to abuse free wifi anywhere, this policy demonstrates mistrust of loyal customers. If they want to charge for wifi, what about air, electricity and water?It is crucial to note that Whole Foods, like more markets and beverage purveyors, already charges for water -- especially the bubbly kind we regularly enjoy.

SFist called the Potrero Hill Whole Foods to find out more. We spoke with the very friendly Nathan who told us that, yes, they now charge $5 for wi-fi access. "You can purchase something to get it too," he explained to us. When asked if it was a companywide policy, he said that, no, the new "donation" system is done on a "store-by-store basis." (The SOMA Whole Foods, for example, still offers free wi-fi.)