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Whole Foods - where do we even begin? In our ongoing review of regional and national grocery stores, Whole Foods is an obvious choice to review, and there is a lot to say about this juggernaut of healthy and gourmet groceries.
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We just got our first Whole Foods in Tennessee. Of course, it ended up in the neighborhood frequented by Nicole Kidman and Jessica Simpson (oh, and Prince William)... a neighborhood I avoid like the plague. We went to WF one time just after it opened, and the vast luxury of the WF and the surrounding boutiques was overwhelming and so darn pretentious.
So, we won't be trekking over to the other side of town very often for the privilege of spending too much money at WF. We'll stick with our ghetto Kroger, the tiny, local natural foods market, and occasional trips to our downtown farmers market. "Disneyland" is an extremely apt description, Faith, because I feel like we will go to WF only if we're aching for a diversion from the real world! nashvegas on Jan 17, 2008
renata, I'm in Austin too. I also prefer to shop at Central Market because it is seemingly less crowded, has more options, and is easier on my wallet. The bulk section is probably the best in town. It also seems more thoughtfully laid out to me... At least at the North one, there's a clear single path that winds through the store and you end up walking through each section as a result. Whole Foods uses the typical racetrack layout and then scatters the rest of the goods in the middle.
If I do shop at Whole Foods--primarily for their cheaper organic dairy and potatoes--I go to the one up North which is a third the size. I hear they're closing that one down in favor of building a bigger one too. Oh well.
Shopping at the giant downtown Whole Foods is an ordeal. First, you search for a parking space in the parking garage beneath the store if you arrive at any time after 12 pm. Then, it's a long ride up the escalator and out the door to fetch a cart. Next, you do battle as you dodge the hordes of yippies and tourists that block your path, all while trying not to get lost.
The store is huge, and it is not thoughtfully laid out. The aisles make no sense as to their product placement, which is clearly a deliberate move to get you to stay in there much longer and purchase more as a result.
The only thing that I think the gigantic Whole Foods has going for it is its very broad selection of pre-made and hot foods. It's a nice destination for a quick lunch while shopping at the surrounding stores. verily on Jan 17, 2008