Fayetteville Whole Foods opening delayed until 2016

The opening of the region’s first Whole Foods Market will not happen this fall.

In an email Thursday, Whole Foods marketing team leader Allison Chilcote said the Fayetteville location will open in the spring of 2016. The store had been projected to open by Thanksgiving.

“We want to make sure it’s perfect,” said Chilcote. “We have lots of good things in the works for the store, which is exciting.”

Whole Foods is set to anchor the new College Marketplace on North College Avenue just south of Millsap Road. The 57,000-square-foot shopping center will also include several other shops and restaurants, some of which are already open.

Zoës Kitchen, a Mediterranean-inspired, fast casual chain restaurant opened last month alongside Alumni Hall, which features clothing and merchandise for college fans.

Other tenants include Chipotle, Jimmy John’s, Deluxe Burger, Joplimo Mattress, Fayetteville Pilates & Barre, and Great Clips.