According to Whole Foods PR representative Vicki Foley, the national grocer is “on track” to open their Interbay location on October 14. The new Whole Foods will be the “anchor tenant” at the Interbay Urban Center, a new 80,000 retail hub along 15th Avenue W. by Seattle-based real estate company TRF Pacific.

In a press release published by the two companies back in January, Whole Foods Pacific Northwest regional president John Clougher called Interbay and “emerging community,” and explained that the venture would transform the area and benefit Interbay residents, as well as surrounding neighborhoods like Magnolia and Queen Anne.

“15th Avenue is the third most traveled arterial in Seattle. People want to shop and get going to their destination, so this store will cater to good foods on the go,” Clougher said. The Interbay Urban Center would also be located at the intersection of the Burke-Gilman bike trail and next to Metro’s rapid transit bus service that goes along 15th to downtown.

The Interbay Whole Foods will feature an interactive healthy eating center, cooking classes and demonstrations, a coffee shop and a handful of other amenities common in other stores by the Austin, Texas-based grocery chain.

This Whole Foods is finally coming, after a lawsuit with developer TRF Pacific settled earlier this year. So far several smaller retail spaces have been leased: Interbay Cleaners, Subway, Verizon Wireless, The Magic Dragon Chinese Eatery and Peet’s Coffee & Tea.

The project, despite the controversy that has surrounded it over the past year, is supported by many Interbay residents who say it will bring much-needed community development to the neighborhood. Bruce Wynn, executive director of the Interbay Neighborhood Association, writes:

We are completely supportive of the Interbay Urban Center and have had representatives from TRF, the development company of this project, at our INA meetings. Whole Foods is currently interviewing for a community relations rep, and I met with her last week. They intend to reach out to the community as they get closer to opening.

And According to rep Vicki, Whole Foods will continue to expand in the Seattle-area:

After Interbay, we anticipate opening the Fauntleroy Place store at some stage in 2010.

(Thanks to Vicki and MagnoliaVoice for the photos!)