This is the newest Whole Foods Market to go into San Francisco, and it's a nice addition to the heart of Noe Valley, which has been without an organic grocery since the one across the street closed years ago in some sort of labor dispute. This store replaces the Bell Market and is located on 24th Street between Noe and Sanchez streets. I find the aisles wider, brighter, and a lot cleaner than the Bell Market used to be. It's probably more expensive.

I'm told that this particular Whole Foods market is a little smaller than the usual size, and that they've made an effort to carry a more limited selection of certain products to avoid competing with the local specialty stores, such as the Noe Valley Cheese Shop and Noe Bakery. As a result the bread selection is more limited, and they carry fewer cheeses. The produce department is very good, and there's an excellent meat counter and seafood section. There is also a whole wall of refrigerated pre-made meals. There are no hot foods available unlike a lot of other Whole Foods markets, and in fact this is the only Whole Foods around without its own finishing ovens. If there was anything they didn't carry, I couldn't tell.

Noe Valley is a neighborhood where most people walk everywhere, but the Bell Market always had a nice parking lot which is still there. It can get busy, but there's an attendant there now who is very active, helping cars wait in the right place and then finding people a space. Because of this, it's not tense or stressful to park there for a shopping trip, and the small lot keeps it from getting too crowded inside.