We live within a ten minute drive of Whole Foods. I rarely go, and when I do, I just really don't get the appeal. If I wanted a specialty type of fish, maybe I would go there (although I'd be more likely to go to the local fish market). What do you get there? What am I missing about it that makes it so great? Because I feel like not only is the food just meh, I also feel like it is way expensive. I love Trader Joe's, but Whole Foods just seems like too much cost and too much work (the parking lot is an accident waiting to happen) for just meh food.
I don't get the appeal either, but then again I have never been. I do have one close, but I just can't be bothered when Jewel, and Dominicks work just fine. lol
apalettepassion.wordpress.com/ WHO IS BONQUIQUI!?!?!?!??!
"I was thinking about getting off on demand, but it sounds like I should be glad that I didn't"
I have never been to a WF. The nearest one is a ferry ride away and unless we are just stopping by for something quick its not worth it. We've just never been in the area when we need something.
I love WF, but it is also right down the street. I probably wouldn't go out of my way for it.
Our WF has a hot bar with lots of healthy options and we often pick up dinner there. They make gelato in house and it's delicious. Often their produce is better than they have more variety than at the regular grocery store. For example, they carry heirloom tomatoes, several fig varieties, and both green and white asparagus.
They also have family classes and activities like reading time, food tastings, etc. We recently took our son there when they had a decorate your own cupcake day and it was just $1 per cupcake.
I agree. I love going there every now and then but it's definitely not a weekly thing for me. I find everything I need at Sprouts or my Farmer's Market for way cheaper. I do love WF prepared food area. OMG, delicious.
Ohh, I do like their hot food selection. And they have good sushi. But as an every week stop, I feel like I'd go broke. I will say that I live within (long) walking distance of a neighborhood that has great local speciality pasta, cheese, spice and meat shops, which keeps my costs down for good, quality food. But if I had kids, I would be more likely to just run to WF, because it is easier than going into a variety of different shops.
They sell Clover milk. Safeway and TJs don't. They carry local fresh ravoli and pasta sauce options. Good bread options. Good cheese options. Local organic produce options. I like their cooked chickens.
DH really likes a particular type of cherry granola at WF. Also, the fish there is excellent and they will cook it for you. And it has a geat selection of power bars, which I eat for lunch. Otherwise, I am not a huge fan but it was the closest grocery store to my house (until we moved last year) so we went there a lot anyway.
We are surrounded by local independent fancy grocery stores and WF beats them on price.
I think most independent stores would be. The ones I go to are the stores where they get their shipment to send to other stores, so I think that keeps the cost down. And I didn't think about some of the things that people go to WF for - I agree with you, they have fantastic pasta and cheese. And really, it isn't any of my business where people spend their money - just curious.
WF is about 12 miles away for us...we have an Organic market that is within a couple of miles though, so I sometimes go there.
I don't really get the appeal of Whole Foods or Trader Joe's actually...WF has a good cheese selection and we bought a small beer kit there a couple weeks ago. We don't go there all that often though and mainly go when I'm trying to find something specific that I think they'll have. I pretty much never go to Trader Joe's...I think the last time I was in one was a few years ago and that was because I was shopping with MIL
Post by gretchenindisguise on Sept 3, 2012 13:47:18 GMT -5
We enjoy WF. I have lots of food allergies, so in my old state, if I wanted certain things I had to go to WF.
In my new town, I'm lucky to have Sprouts and a local in town grocer that both carry the things I need. So we've been less reliant on WF. We still like it, and get lunch/dinner there sometimes but most of our grocery shopping is now done at Sprouts and our local place.
I went in WF to get a nosefrida. Lol. My sister loves it there but I am unprepared to spend that much on groceries. I think the people that buy all of their groceries there are burning money.
I went in WF to get a nosefrida. Lol. My sister loves it there but I am unprepared to spend that much on groceries. I think the people that buy all of their groceries there are burning money.
We get some things at the farmers market, but a lot of things at the farmers market are more expensive then they are at whole foods. We like a few things from the deli, the pizza, the salad bar, the frozen selection, the cheese, the milk, siggys, the dry bulk goods, the produce, the seitan selection, the beer, wine, and baby stuff. There's pretty much nothing I dislike about whole foods. Even the prices aren't terrible, or we're used to over paying....meh.
i love buying my lunch there. but as a grocery store? i find it to be really expensive.
Pretty much this. I don't know if it's because we are in Canada but it is by far the most expensive place to buy groceries. There is no way we could afford to buy our groceries there. Our food bill is already outrageously high as it is.
We get some things at the farmers market, but a lot of things at the farmers market are more expensive then they are at whole foods.
Wow, really? Maybe FM's are different everywhere. I can spend $25 at the FM and have fruits and vegetables for days, maybe a week depending on what I'm getting. I don't think $25 would make a large fruit salad at WF.
We get some things at the farmers market, but a lot of things at the farmers market are more expensive then they are at whole foods.
Wow, really? Maybe FM's are different everywhere. I can spend $25 at the FM and have fruits and vegetables for days, maybe a week depending on what I'm getting. I don't think $25 would make a large fruit salad at WF.
They had heirloom tomatoes last week for $4.00 ea, which I thought was high. The herbs are definitely less expensive though.
We are surrounded by local independent fancy grocery stores and WF beats them on price.
I think most independent stores would be. The ones I go to are the stores where they get their shipment to send to other stores, so I think that keeps the cost down. And I didn't think about some of the things that people go to WF for - I agree with you, they have fantastic pasta and cheese. And really, it isn't any of my business where people spend their money - just curious.
I get the sense you run around to all these local artisanal stores on your fixie and pair everything with Pabst.
We don't have a WF anywhere around here, but we do have a Choices market. I really like shopping there, but it is ridiculously expensive. Like, $7.99/100 g of garlic roast beef lunch meat? No fucking thanks. Sometimes I do shop there because i really like their produce and dairy selection, but usually I just rely on my garden in the summer and farmers markets for whatever I don't grow.
We have the food allergy thing going on and it's the closest grocery store to us. I want to cry at how much it costs us to buy 4 bags worth of groceries every week, but at the same time I notice we don't buy that much "filler" food anymore (processed foods)
I will put it out there that I am cranky right now, but this thread is irritating me! People, if you don't like WF don't shop there. It really is that simple. No need for the random generalizations about WF shoppers burning their money or just going for the labels? I shop there because I like the fresh produce. I enjoy getting organic strawberries that don't have fur all over them. I like the fresh fish and antibiotic free meats. There are certain dairy free yogurts I buy for my DD that cost $2.79/cup at Stop and Shop but they are $1.99 each at WF. They have a fantastic hot food bar for a quick dinner. I shop at Trader Joes as well but I am turned off by all the plastic wrap they use on the produce. I don't buy all of my groceries there, but I definitely make a weekly stop there and it is not because I'm looking for food label approval.
I will put it out there that I am cranky right now, but this thread is irritating me! People, if you don't like WF don't shop there. It really is that simple. No need for the random generalizations about WF shoppers burning their money or just going for the labels? I shop there because I like the fresh produce. I enjoy getting organic strawberries that don't have fur all over them. I like the fresh fish and antibiotic free meats. There are certain dairy free yogurts I buy for my DD that cost $2.79/cup at Stop and Shop but they are $1.99 each at WF. They have a fantastic hot food bar for a quick dinner. I shop at Trader Joes as well but I am turned off by all the plastic wrap they use on the produce. I don't buy all of my groceries there, but I definitely make a weekly stop there and it is not because I'm looking for food label approval.
LOL
I always love you, but I double plus love you today. LOL
*high five!*
I shop there because most of the stuff at the local store is factory farmed.
Lol @ bab. My reasoning is pure laziness. I have no probs with others shopping there. The idea of a hot dinner bar is intriguing and i am salivating thinking of fresh pasta.
apalettepassion.wordpress.com/ WHO IS BONQUIQUI!?!?!?!??!
"I was thinking about getting off on demand, but it sounds like I should be glad that I didn't"