Whole Foods approved for north Redlands center

REDLANDS, Calif. — A Whole Foods Market is coming to Redlands after the Redlands City Council unanimously approved a new shopping center in the city’s growing north end.

The project, known as The Marketplace, will include a 36,000-square-foot Whole Foods store as its anchor tenant, along with additional retail space on an 8.18-acre site at the northeast corner of Lugonia Avenue and Tennessee Street.

Approved March. 17, the 71,400-square-foot development is planned by Regency Centers and designed by architecture firm KTGY. Construction is expected to begin in late 2026, with completion anticipated in 2028, according to a media release from KTGY.

City approval comes as north Redlands continues to see rapid residential growth. Two nearby housing developments approved in 2024 – Lugonia Village, with 541 homes, and Tennessee Village, with 460 apartments and commercial space — are expected to increase demand for neighborhood-serving retail.

Project representatives said the development is intended to fill that gap.

“Redlands is a community that's growing fast, and we've been intentional about making sure this development grows with it,” said Ray Kayacan, vice president of investments at Regency Centers, in a statement Thursday. He said the unanimous council vote reflects early coordination with city officials and alignment around the project’s vision.

Council addressed design, traffic

During the council’s discussion, members addressed the project’s visual design, encouraging the developer to maintain architectural quality across all buildings and consider incorporating public art or elements reflecting Redlands’ citrus heritage.

The developer said additional landscaping and features such as trellises and plantings would help soften building facades and enhance the site’s appearance.

The Marketplace is planned as a neighborhood retail hub with parking centralized and buildings arranged around the perimeter. Plans include five access points, electric vehicle charging spaces and dedicated truck circulation routed along the site’s edges.

The project will be built to LEED Silver standards, with design features aimed at blending with the surrounding area. According to KTGY, the architecture incorporates brick elements, stone accents and metal awnings, along with landscaping and a shaded plaza intended for community gathering.

The architecture firm said early concepts explored a more industrial character, but to secure the grocery anchor, KTGY adapted the development’s aesthetics to align with Whole Foods’ contemporary brand requirements.

Design plans also include pedestrian buffers, outdoor seating near the Whole Foods entrance and separation between vehicle circulation and walkways.

In addition to design, council members raised concerns about traffic flow and safety, particularly at the Tennessee Street entrances near a busy corridor leading to the Interstate 210 on-ramp. Questions focused on left-turn movements into and out of the site and the potential for collisions.

A project traffic consultant said during the March meeting that traffic volumes at the site’s driveways are expected to be relatively low and would not meet thresholds for new traffic signals. He said existing signals along the corridor would help regulate flow, allowing vehicles to exit the site during gaps in traffic.

Council members discussed possible alternatives, including restricting left turns or adding traffic-calming measures, but ultimately did not add conditions beyond those already required.

Serving a growing north Redlands community

KTGY associate principal Brandon Wernli said the project required balancing retail density, parking requirements and tenant needs within a constrained site.

“With new housing planned nearby, The Marketplace will serve as a neighborhood anchor and a convenient place to shop, dine and gather,” Wernli said.

The site, located near the Interstate 210 corridor, has long been underutilized. Developers say the project is intended to attract both local residents and freeway traffic.

City officials said the project is consistent with the city’s general plan and is expected to provide neighborhood-serving retail while generating positive revenue for the city.

The Whole Foods store would be the first in Redlands.