As a “news item” published in its April 1^st edition, the Santa Monica (Calif.) Mirror reported that the grocery chain known for its high prices would convert its properties into “restricted country clubs.” One reader who apparently hadn’t checked the calendar closely posted a scornful comment about the concept.

In its April 1^st edition, the Santa Monica (Calif.) Mirror published this “news” item under the headline, “Whole Foods to Finally Become Restricted Country Club”:

“Saying that the move was inevitable, based on its pricing and specific appeal, all Whole Foods stores will now become Restricted Country Clubs, featuring 18 holes of golf, tennis courts, bars serving $22 mixed drinks, and a cigar-smoking lounge.”

The Mirror’s “news” report then continued: “Whole Foods released this statement earlier this week: There’s no longer any point in kidding ourselves that Whole Foods is for everybody. We’ll lose a large number of customers that would shop with us by trading valuable family heirlooms for a morsel of free-range chicken or seafood. But we’ll make up the difference by having an annual membership fee and opening up what is now parking space wasted on ‘look-but-don’t buy zombies’ to some of the most luscious fairways and greens in Southern California.

“As far as the rules for membership, there are still some Constitutional questions,” the Mirror’s “report” concluded.

One reader of the Mirror then posted this online comment, under the name Dale Bell, to the report:

“I think this is a deterrent to my future shopping at WF. I deplore country clubs, for the wealthy, sponges for rampant unsustainability. I would much prefer to hear that WF has committed its resources to helping the homeless in its respective locations, who need our attention far more urgently that do prospective ‘golfers’.”

Other readers than responded with these comments:

• “This IS April 1st, for anyone who is taking this seriously! :-)”
• “Dale Bell obviously not the smartest tool in the shed.”
• “The parking lots aren’t big enough for even miniature golf, so the joke was obvious. However it is no joke that their food is unaffordable for the average family.”