topic Re: Getting a WHOLE FOODS in our area in Community Chat

Getting a WHOLE FOODS in our area

bonnielu — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 13:44:43 GMT

I really am not familiar with WHOLE FOODS. Anyone out there have that store and can tell me about it. What is nice nothing is near us...everything is a 20 mile round trip or more and this one will be only 3 miles away.

Re: Getting a WHOLE FOODS in our area

winamac1 — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 13:51:29 GMT

I rarely shop at Whole Foods--if I do, it's only for the loss leaders. I refuse to pay the exhorbitant and egregious prices at Whole Foods. I needed frozen broccoli, and I paid $2.99 for a 16 ounce bag. Down the street at Market District, I could have gotten the same amount for .88. I just didn't have time to make 2 trips.

I think their produce is only so so and it's more than triple the price in most instances.

Even if I had a lot of money, I'd probably not shop there often.

But, if it's the only grocery that's close by, I can see how some would be very excited to have it.

They do have a nice beauty, vitamin and supplement section.

Re: Getting a WHOLE FOODS in our area

PINKdogWOOD — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 22:20:16 GMT

@bonnielu Nice Ms Bonnie - there's one about 8 minutes from me. We go there on occasion not because we don't like it but because you need a WHOLE lot of money to shop there. However they are a WHOLE lot of fun with a WHOLE lot of good FOODS.

Definitely go and check it out with a WHOLE lot of time just to get through it all.

Re: Getting a WHOLE FOODS in our area

Goldengate8361 — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 13:52:37 GMT

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news to you.....but their food is really overpriced and the selection is poor. If you like to eat low-carb, I'd never have a reason to go in there. There is much hype about Whole Foods. My local Kroger is always a better place to shop.

Re: Getting a WHOLE FOODS in our area

gidgetgh — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 13:53:30 GMT

I've only been to Whole Foods a handful of times. To be honest, I'm not a big fan. Prices are really high and I just don't get all the hoopla. The bakery items look really nice. The cakes in the case are gorgeous, but major bucks. I go there to get body wash for my nephew's college care packages since I can't find it anywhere else.

i just think the prices are really high. I'm fortunate I that we have three terrific Publix stores all within 4 miles of us.

Re: Getting a WHOLE FOODS in our area

Cookie2025 — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 13:58:01 GMT

Whole Foods pricing is ridiculous. They have gourmet foods but if you are doing everything eating it could get expensive to shop.

Too bad they did not stick a Wegmans there. I have to drive to Wegmans - but it is well worth it.

We have a Trader Joe's and The Fresh Market within walking distance and those are both decent places to shop.

Re: Getting a WHOLE FOODS in our area

FastDogWalker2 — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 13:56:35 GMT

Same story here. Our area got a Whole Foods a couple of years ago and at first I was excited to check it out. I rarely go there now. Like others have mentioned, it is very overpriced and there is nothing to draw me there. Trader Joe's is much better for the kind of shopping I do!

Re: Getting a WHOLE FOODS in our area

jackthebear — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 14:00:07 GMT

@bonnielu wrote:
I really am not familiar with WHOLE FOODS. Anyone out there have that store and can tell me about it. What is nice nothing is near us...everything is a 20 mile round trip or more and this one will be only 3 miles away.

I don't buy a lot of food there either, BUT the one I got to has a great lunch/salad bar. The wine selection is good, Three Wishes 2.99 Chard.

We are getting one in a renovation shopping center within walking distance soon , so we are planning on walking there for lunch

Re: Getting a WHOLE FOODS in our area

dex — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 14:01:02 GMT

I was really excited when our whole foods was opening but it is really expensive like everyone else has said.They have really great hot foods for takeout and that is popular here.Mine has a small micro brew pub that is fun and also popular.I like all of their organic produce but only buy what I can't get at Fred Meyer.

Re: Getting a WHOLE FOODS in our area

millieshops — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 14:08:03 GMT

I think you have to want to eat organic to want to shop Whole Foods or you have to want something you just can't buy elsewhere. It is expensive, but in my neighborhood, WF is still major busy, but I do live on the edge of some very expensive developments and there are several very busy stores that are as expensive or more.

Where I am, sometimes the produce is well-priced, sometimes it's not. But it's always been good and, very importasnt for me, it's not prepackaged and I can buy what one person needs. That alone saves me money because nothing goes to waste. In addition to produce, I do buy flowers there, I often buy their indivudally packaged frozen fish, and I love their cheese department - huge variety of not available elsewhere cheeses - not cheap though.

I am in a shopping mecca though - and just as close to my condo as WF is a Publix organic store which sells a mixture of lots and lots of organic foods, but also many items from general grocery you don't find at WF. Plus, if I drive the half mile in another direction, there's a Trader Joe's and other gourmet markets and 5 or 6 regular Publix.

What's amazing is that this time of year, they're all busy!

Re: Getting a WHOLE FOODS in our area

bonnielu — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 14:08:04 GMT

We do have a Wegmans, Aldis, Giant Eagle, Food Lion, Weis, Safeway, but they are not around the corner. I had so much hope that the Whole Foods would be a great closeby store. But I will gladly drive the distance for a better price. Thanks everyone

Re: Getting a WHOLE FOODS in our area

winamac1 — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 14:12:21 GMT

The salad bar is really good, but it , as well, is ridiculously overpriced. A salad that wasn't even that big cost me $13.00.

Re: Getting a WHOLE FOODS in our area

AspenGrove — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 15:11:14 GMT

Yes, Whole Foods (WF) prices are very high for many items. But for others, they're not only competitive, they're often cheaper than other grocery stores. For example, organic red delicious apples at WF are often priced 40 cents per pound LOWER than my local "mainstream" grocery store. One really has to compare prices item by item. So, I shop for very specific items at WF. The rest of my shopping is done at Trader Joes (TJs).

The WF 365 brand is terrific and very well priced. For example, the 365 brand of peanut butter is a favorite in my house. It's made with just peanuts; no sugars, oils, etc. added. The price is actually less than the same size of peanut butter at TJs and I think it tastes better. And, I find much healthier versions of some items at WF that I don't find at TJs or mainstream grocery stores. Case in point: Sliced, canned WF beets come in water. That's it! Healthy and a true "whole" food to add to salads. TJs has sliced beets soaked in a vinaigrette, containing myriad other ingredients. Not what I want. (And TJs price is about 50 cents more than WF.) So, by selecting very specific items at WF, I get the true "whole," healthy foods I want without paying exorbitant prices.

Re: Getting a WHOLE FOODS in our area

esmeraldagooch — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 14:18:41 GMT

@Goldengate8361 wrote:
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news to you.....but their food is really overpriced and the selection is poor. If you like to eat low-carb, I'd never have a reason to go in there. There is much hype about Whole Foods. My local Kroger is always a better place to shop.

Funny you said this. This is exactly what they were talking about on Fox business news yesterday. Kroger organic section is taking their customers away....Also they have a new smaller store which features cheaper things for younger people who don't have money....

Whole Foods (WFM) is trying to change its reputation as a grocery with fresh food at high prices by opening a separate chain of lower-priced stores aimed at Millennials.

The new stores will cater to a younger generation of shoppers who are still interested in organic and natural foods but want a different shopping experience, executives said.

Re: Getting a WHOLE FOODS in our area

Pearlee — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 14:19:40 GMT

To the original poster:

The posters who say WF is way overpriced are exactly right. Fortunately I live in a large city where there are several places that have copied the concept of what makes Whole Foods unique and fun and have successfully done that with much lower prices. We also have Trader Joe's (similar to WF but much better prices and lots of fun variety of different things), Fresh Market and even a few of our grocerties stores have "upgraded" to mimic WF with specialty sections that are much less expensive. So it's very rare that I go to WF.

That said, I think you will enjoy having it if there are not other places closer. In the situation you describe, I would be excited about it opening t and would like having it around as opposed to having to drive farther to shop for groceries. Just be prepared for it to be way overpriced, and plan to get your staples on a trip a little farther away where there are regular supermarkets. It may cost more in gas but that will be cheaper in the long run.

Re: Getting a WHOLE FOODS in our area

LTT1 — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 14:22:15 GMT

@bonnielu

We go there once per week and buy from their "already prepared" section... excellent selection of salmon/salads/organic meats, etc. They have a section of "root vegetables" that are exotic and nice to have if you are looking for this type of thing.

Many of our supplements and some of my make-up come from there.

Re: Getting a WHOLE FOODS in our area

ValuSkr — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 14:29:47 GMT

@bonnielu wrote:
We do have a Wegmans, Aldis, Giant Eagle, Food Lion, Weis, Safeway, but they are not around the corner. I had so much hope that the Whole Foods would be a great closeby store. But I will gladly drive the distance for a better price. Thanks everyone

If you have a Wegmans, you'll have no need for Whole Foods. Wegmans' prices are much, much better and they have plenty of organic options. Whole Foods opened near me three or four years ago and I rarely go. They do have nice greeting cards though.

Re: Getting a WHOLE FOODS in our area

shwarma — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 14:31:53 GMT

While I do agree that prices are higher I do enjoy shopping at my area Whole Foods. The reasons are...smaller size store, ingredients for many recipes can be found, easy parking in my area, and I do appreciate the butcher in the meat department. My husband and I enjoy sitting at the bar where he can have a crafted beer and I enjoy a glass of wine. You can also eat as you enjoy your beverage. For my staples like milk, lunch meats I usually shop my local Kroger.

Re: Getting a WHOLE FOODS in our area

JustJazzmom — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 14:36:30 GMT

My son calls Whole Foods -- Whole Paycheck!

He rarely visits the one near him because of the high prices of foods that can be bought for less at a local grocery store down the street from his place.

There is one near where I live and I went there to look for loose tea, I ended up buying bagels and they cost much more than if they were bought at a local Deli.

Fairway, Trader Joes and Fresh Market are better places for food if you want unusual items.

Re: Getting a WHOLE FOODS in our area

Shelbelle — Sat, 13 Feb 2016 14:40:04 GMT

Prices very inflated, Trader Joe's is much more reasonable.