Let's Meet for Lunch at Whole Foods — Grocer Gains City Approval to Add Seating

The city's Licensing Board has granted a license to add seating to their Hyde Square grocery store.

That means that patrons will, once the seats are put in place, be able to eat prepared foods at tables inside and outside the store.

Some in the community had opposed the move, testifying to the License Board that it might hurt locally-owned restaurants by causing competition.

But Whole Foods and its supporters said the grocer was responding to customer demand — and that consuming take-out items from a grocery store wouldn't compete with nearby eateries.

"We don't think we'll be competing," Whole Foods' attorney, Mike Scott, told the License Board on Wednesday. He noted that the store has put up a board displaying where local restaurants are and highlighting their menus.

Whole Foods' will add . Patch has reached out to Whole Foods to find out when the seating will be put in place.