A discount organic food store could open in Alpharetta before the year's end.

Natural Foods Warehouse has signed a letter of intent to take about 20,000 square feet in the Silos at North Farm Marketplace. The Silos shopping center is a renovation of an existing center that once housed an Ingles grocery, at the intersection of Crabapple and Houze roads.

The shopping center is one of several retail projects being developing in the Crabapple area. Construction continues despite the ongoing economic slowdown.

The letter of intent means Natural Foods intends to move into the center after a few details of its lease are resolved, according to Michele Del Monaco, senior vice president of leasing for the Roswell-based Mimms Enterprises. Mimms bought the shopping center in September 2006 and is almost done with its renovation, Del Monaco said.

Natural Foods Warehouse sells organic foods and features an array of dry groceries, frozen and perishable goods, vitamins, and other items from the natural foods industry, according to its Web page.