Who doesn’t have a favorite grocery store? There’s something comforting about visiting your favorite store from knowing exactly where everything is to seeing the same cashiers. My friends in Raleigh, NC swear by Harris Teeter, in Georgia it was Publix, and if you’re ever in the Asheville, NC area you have to check out Greenlife or Earthfare. I think I’ve become a Whole Foods man now that I’m in Columbus. Trader Joe’s comes in second and is good for their house brands.
I’ll admit it took me awhile to warm up to the Whole Foods phenomenon. I had never really lived in close proximity to one before though and I always associated it with exorbitant costs. Is Whole Foods more expensive? Yes, but for the quality of the goods I don’t think it is anywhere near exorbitant and if you stick to the Whole Foods brand then it is reasonable. Publix is still the reigning champ of store brand price/quality ratio in my mind. Whole Foods is close though. Trader Joe’s is pretty much all house brands and it really excels in this area too. I’m looking forward to sampling more of what they offer. I know I’m late in the game, but “two buck chuck” is definitely as good as advertised for the price.
What do you like about your favorite grocery store? Is it the selection, the location, staff, other factors? I’d like to know.
4 responses so far ↓
1 Mark // May 28, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Well hopefully I fall into the category of “friends in Raleigh, NC” since I swear by Harris Teeter as being the best grocery shopping experience. Mind you, I still visit Food Lion frequently for staple items since their prices reign supreme across the board.
The Harris Teeters are generally kept up very well, have bright lighting, and are overall just a better grocery store experience than the other retailers we have locally. Harris Teeter at Cameron Village is probably the best, due to its size. It has a huge selection and is spread out, not crowded at all. Expansive meat area.
One of the best things about Harris Teeter is the subs they make at the deli. They have a very good sub counter, with all of the basic stuff and to me their subs taste better than subway. Every day you can get a different type of sub for $2.49. Every 15 subs will earn you a free footlong+ sized sub.
I’ve been a few times to our Trader Joe’s in Cary. Its really nice, I like how the employees seem more like just normal people wearing normal clothes. But to me, Trader Joe’s is just a neat place you visit every once in awhile, since they don’t carry the hoards of normal boring stuff that sometimes needs to be bought. Or maybe our Trader Joe’s is just unusually small.
2 Whole Foods fan // May 29, 2008 at 10:35 am
You failed to mention that the Whole Foods in Columbus has a gelato bar and makes their own gourmet pizza. It doesn’t get any better than that!
3 Zachary // May 29, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Thanks Whole Foods fan, I forgot to mention the other pluses of Whole Foods. It can also act as a cafeteria (it even has a nice seating area) for those nights when cooking isn’t can option.
Mark, you’re right. Trader Joe’s is not an everyday shopping kind of place but more a specific, I’m out of “so and so” and I know Trader Joe’s has it. I do enjoy browsing their ready made stuff though too.
4 Sunglasses Guy // May 31, 2008 at 2:39 pm
I’m a Harris Teeter fan for the experience, but the prices are generally a bit higher than other places. Except yesterday, when I got a case of Busch Light for $8.88. The Harris Teeter here at North Hills is nice because it’s open 24 hours, and, like Mark said, you can’t beat their sub specials.
Mark failed to mention another reason why the Harris Teeter at Cameron Village is popular - the number of hot girls there is amazing.
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