Rats shutting down a grocery store are never a good thing — unless regulars from that market end up boosting businesses in the surrounding area.
The Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health shut down the Cupertino Whole Foods at the end of April after finding rodent droppings in the receiving bay, deli, juice bar and under the sink. The closure of the site, one of the largest Amazon-owned grocery stores in the West Valley, has increased the foot traffic at some neighboring businesses.
Sameer Shah, co-owner of Voyager Craft Coffee, said his business down the street from the Whole Foods has seen a 5% increase in customers since the closure. The local coffee shop offers signature drinks, including ube and cherry blossom flavored lattes, along with pastries…