Whole Foods

[JDAZ11]

We do have much better prices at farmers markets (was not the case in NYC), and we also have a store that buys direct from farms and has great deals. The selection is VERY in season, and I usually can't exclusively shop there. For meats it's a fantastic deal though, and we thinks like elk and bison which our WF carries surprisingly little of.

We don't seem to have any of those great specialty markets here - like an AJs, balducci's etc. I think our neighborhood could support it, but the local chain has their high end market here and I feel like they have some kind of corrupt ties to the zoning board because the choices are just so limited.

But we do have WF and TJs, so I'll live 😉

[spotty_dog]

Cheese and wine! It may not be the fanciest cheese ever but they have a huge variety and great prices on some delicious cheeses! I also like a chunk of their wine selection but not all of it is great. But I'm not super snobby about wine and I know what I like, so TJs fits the bill for a lot of our go-to wines.

This, plus pasta and pasta sauce, nuts and dried fruits, bruschetta and tapenade, frozen fish, Indian food entrees, soycutash...I do miss TJs sometimes!

[bobk]

I do all my shopping at WF. Their in-house brand is actually cheaper than most other stores for frozen and non-perishable items. I don't mind paying a premium for their meats. The quality is top-notch and they use suppliers that treat their livestock more humanely. We just eat smaller portions to offset the cost. I don't care about organic produce that much, although even the conventional is fairly pricey. Finally, it's just a superior shopping experience. The presentation, lighting and nice employees make it a pleasure to go there.

[oceanchild]

TBCH I don't understand the appeal of Trader Joe's. That place isn't upscale but it doesn't have a very good selection of ANYTHING normal. If I'm in the mood for Buffalo Jerky or those really gross Mochi balls, sure...

Hahahahaha, mochi ice cream is like the only reason I ever go to Trader Joe's.

We like meat and produce from Whole Foods, but it's sufficiently inconvenient to our house that we don't go there much. Mix of Target, Sprouts, and the local Kroger affiliate here.

[JDAZ11]

I think TJs is cheap and easy. I love their frozen foods. Plus their nuts and dried fruits are so well priced. I have a hard time spending $200 there. At WF I have a hard time leaving without spending at least $100- even if I just ran in for like 5 things (which always ends up being 15).

[OrionGrad]

The main reason I go to WF is because I like the salad bar, but I always get sucked into the frozen foods aisle just because they have interesting things that aren't available at my regular store.
I do my everyday grocery shopping at Safeway (I'm a lifer), and I get specialty things like cheese and salts at a great local market called Zupans.

[LadyFoot]

I live literally across the street from a Whole Foods, so sometimes I go there just out of pure convenience. DH and I like to get dinner there sometimes as well. I don't do much regular grocery shopping there, though. $$$$$! Not too far away from me there's an Aldi (where I get all my staples) and a pretty good Meijer (where I get produce and everything I can't get at Aldi). Most of my meat I'm able to get from a local butcher shop that is AMAZING!!! All their meat is grass fed and local, and their prices are barely higher than "regular" meat at Meijer. They're closed for a couple of weeks right now because they're moving to a bigger store down the street and I'm going into withdrawal. :P

[poky]

The main reason I go to WF is because I like the salad bar, but I always get sucked into the frozen foods aisle just because they have interesting things that aren't available at my regular store.
I do my everyday grocery shopping at Safeway (I'm a lifer), and I get specialty things like cheese and salts at a great local market called Zupans.

Zupan's (and New Seasons, too!) are great. I miss them!

I live just a few blocks from a WF, but I work close to a Mustard Seed Market and a Giant Eagle Market District (huge grocery store open 24/7), and there's a TJ's between home and work. And we still sometimes make a trip to Zagara's. And we get a LOT of staples at Costco (a bit of a trek; we go about once a month and stock up). We go to all of them for different things.

[ides]

I go to whole foods when I can't get what I want at Sprouts. I wish there was a TJ's here. I'm not wowed by it however.

[Phoebe]

I loved Zagaras! We don't have a WF near us or a Trader Joes for that matter. We do have a Fresh Market. I didn't frequent them often except for specific things. I miss TJ. Our chain grocery is great. I hit Target and Sams for staples and the chain for produce and the Deli. I try to buy organic when possible, but I don't stress over it.

[LynnAlicia]

I do all my shopping at WF. Their in-house brand is actually cheaper than most other stores for frozen and non-perishable items. I don't mind paying a premium for their meats. The quality is top-notch and they use suppliers that treat their livestock more humanely. We just eat smaller portions to offset the cost. I don't care about organic produce that much, although even the conventional is fairly pricey. Finally, it's just a superior shopping experience. The presentation, lighting and nice employees make it a pleasure to go there.

Agreed. I buy "all natural" or organic items anyways, so they are usually cheaper at Whole Foods because they do more sales and can get better price from the supplier. Whole Foods in the Seattle area are top notch. The staff will bend over backwards and do a flip for you. Here in Cleveland, quite a downgrade. I think it's because there is no competition here. In Seattle there is PCC.

[Ladybug]

Phoebe, we have a fresh market too! I really like them. You can make fresh ground peanut butter from honey roasted peanuts. It's way to expensive to be my regular grocery store, but I love going there.

I love whole foods. I still remember the original WF in Austin. WF just opened here, but it's a drive so I don't go as frequently. I love going there, but it's a crazy place.

One of the best grocery stores I've ever been to is Larry's market in Seattle. It's an experience.

[LynnAlicia]

Phoebe, we have a fresh market too! I really like them. You can make fresh ground peanut butter from honey roasted peanuts. It's way to expensive to be my regular grocery store, but I love going there.

I love whole foods. I still remember the original WF in Austin. WF just opened here, but it's a drive so I don't go as frequently. I love going there, but it's a crazy place.

One of the best grocery stores I've ever been to is Larry's market in Seattle. It's an experience.

Ahhh Larry's! Classic. Been closed for about 10 years now though.

[Ladybug]

What?????

[Ladybug]

We lived on Queen Anne (high school) during residency. DH is going to be some bummed when I tell him. It was on our lists of places to revisit when we get back to Seattle someday.