Whole Foods Rumor Bites the Dust

People like whole foods because the fruits and vegetables aren't half rotted and/or wrapped up in cellophane, their fish looks like it came from something that swam in the ocean in the recent past, and their meats do not look like the better half of an animal whose remainder is in a can of dogfood somewhere.

That said, I can't stand the check out lines in Whole Foods and avoid it like the plague.

Posted by: northsloperenter at May 28, 2009 12:39 PM

"the long lines at Whole Foods actually move faster than almost any other grocery I've been to"

Not as fast as the self-checkout lines, which is what I use 90% of the time at Key Foods.

FWIW, I am one of the absolutely least tolerant people I have ever known when it comes to waiting in line. I hate waiting in line to give someone my money and lose patience after about 9 seconds.

Still, I will put up with it for good fish, although I'd rather go to Citorella or somewhere that will sell me good fish without pissing me off.

Posted by: northsloperenter at May 28, 2009 1:46 PM

"Better produce can be obtained from your local farmers market - and better meat/fish can be obtained from your local butcher."

Local farmers market = 1 day a week
Local butcher = nonexistent

I suppose if you have a car, things might be different.

Posted by: northsloperenter at May 28, 2009 1:47 PM

There are no butchers in the north slope. Slope is a big place... I rarely get south of the named streets.

I use to shop at Union Square whole foods when I lived around there.

The Union Square Farmers Market is great, but it isn't everyday (4 days a week, I think), and, since it is a local farmers market, their produce *is* seasonal.

You can't actually buy asparagus there year round. Also, the fish place usually sells out of good stuff fairly early in the day, so stopping by after work isn't a great option.

Of course, now that I don't live around there, it isn't really an option at all :(.

I can go to the Grand Army market on Saturdays, which is fine. And there is a small market at 5th ave and 4th street on summer sunday's which isn't bad at all.

I tend to end up in Union Market on 6th/Union when looking for decent product or fish, but it is depressing how often they try to sell nearly rotting green bell peppers for $2.99/lb.

Posted by: northsloperenter at May 28, 2009 2:16 PM

"There is NO reason whatsoever why normal grocery stores (key foods et all) cannot stock decent stuff."

Agreed, but they don't.

Which is why people get excited about a Whole Foods and not an Associated or Key Foods. Don't even get me started about Key Foods and their habit of wrapping up fresh vegetables in styrofoam and cellophane...

Posted by: northsloperenter at May 28, 2009 2:45 PM

I don't particularly care if a Wal-mart opens in the city, but I won't shop there because they check everyone's receipt as you leave the store.

I'm just not there with that whole "let's treat all of our customers like they are criminals" thing.

As for Whole Foods v. Wal-mart...

Whole Foods sells high end stuff at moderate to high prices
Wal-mart sells cheap crap cheaply

Wal-mart is useful but not exciting. It's basically a big Target, and I live a few blocks from Target and can't say it does much for me. Is it useful? Sure. But exciting... no.

Posted by: northsloperenter at May 28, 2009 3:29 PM