A 50,000-square-foot Whole Foods Market store will anchor the retail portion of the planned Ink Block South End redevelopment of the former Boston Herald property on Harrison Avenue in Boston. 

The store will be the chain’s largest in Boston, according to a statement from project developer National Development.  Ink Block South End will feature retail and restaurant space on the ground floor with 471 apartments.

The Whole Foods will feature outdoor sidewalk café seating on Harrison Avenue, a planned wine store, gelato bar, many prepared food options and a complete selection of natural and organic foods.

"This is a huge milestone for the neighborhood, and I am proud to welcome Whole Foods to the South End," Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said in a statement.

National Development recently received Boston Redevelopment Authority approval for four buildings and more than 500,000 square feet of mixed-use space. In addition to Whole Foods, National Development plans a mix of restaurants and urban retailers. The six acre site was the home of the Boston Herald until February 2012. Construction of Ink Block is scheduled to begin in early 2013.

"Whole Foods’ flagship store will help set the tone for the vibrant, 18-hour neighborhood that we are creating at Ink Block," said Ted Tye, managing partner of National Development.