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December 16, 2013 at 4:46 am #609937
kgdlgParticipantThis was an interesting read about the growth of WF. One of the persistent questions when WS WF project was in the news was “why do we need another grocery store in the Junction?” This article touches on two driving factors, segmentation of the market (organic vs. traditional) and competition. Of course, with the economy coming back, I am sure people are spending more on organic healthier food again…anyway, not a judgement on them either way, just info sharing…
http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2022452126_wholefoodsgrowthxml.html?cmpid=2628
December 16, 2013 at 3:48 pm #801540
JoBParticipanti have to admit..
i really like the Whole Foods shopping experience
but i still won’t shop there unless i really can’t find what i am looking for someplace else..
having one down the street won’t change that for me
December 16, 2013 at 4:00 pm #801541
wakefloodParticipantYeah, JoB, I like the experience at Whole Paycheck too. I just know that shopping there for staples comes at a significant premium for that UX. :-)
December 16, 2013 at 4:17 pm #801542
JoBParticipanti agree about the premium
and not just in dollars rung up at the till
i stopped shopping there when the CEO did his big OP lambasting any form of affordable health care.
ok.. that’s his opinion and he is entitled to it..
but i refuse to support a store that provides substandard healthcare to their employees and brags about it…
i wonder if ACA has impacted the plans he now offers his employees ???
I decided that Whole Foods doesn’t walk the walk.. and if they don’t walk the walk with their employees what holds them to walking the walk when it comes to the promise of “whole” foods on their logo?
i shop where i know the management walks shop local think global … even if they only do so to attract more higher end customers.
December 16, 2013 at 8:03 pm #801543
TanDLParticipantAgree with JoB on Whole Foods. They talk a good line but don’t really walk their talk.
December 16, 2013 at 8:11 pm #801544
wakefloodParticipantYes, another bidness model based on appealing to our better interests but not actually having to execute.
Even BP runs commercials about how much they’ve done to clean up the gulf and the huge investment in renewables. Yeah…right.
December 16, 2013 at 10:59 pm #801545
rwParticipantAs a followup, I’m wondering how many West Seattleites do some of their grocery shopping in the International District or in some of the ethnic markets on Beacon Hill or in White Center?
My experience is that you can get very good prices on certain foods, such as oriental vegetables and seafood, as well as processed foods that are not available in regular market. I’m talking not just about Uwajimaya, but also Lams and Viet Wah, where I am often the only non-Asian in sight. All three, in my opinion, have better seafood selections than even Mutual Fish. They also have some extremely varied meat cuts and poultry that you generally don’t find in our mainstream markets.
The biggest challenge is that these markets seem to employ mostly recent immigrants whose language skills can make it a challenge to communicate, especially when it comes to special requests such as filleting a whole fish.
Of course these markets are not as convenient as our West Seattle markets, but if you happen to be out of West Seattle already–and plan your shopping trips–then they are worth investigating.
December 16, 2013 at 11:30 pm #801546
datamuseParticipantI do, rw. Though where I live, White Center is more convenient than the Junction, and I go to the ID 2-3 times a week anyway.
December 16, 2013 at 11:36 pm #801547
JanSParticipantrw, thanks. I drive through the ID on 12th to Boren almost every week, and had no idea these places were there…I need to get out more often :D
December 16, 2013 at 11:45 pm #801548
trickycooljParticipantI agree on the experience, WF certainly has lovely displays but I usually only do special shopping there (when I lived closer to the Roosevelt store). But it quickly becomes a $50 trip if you’re not careful!
Though I’ve been searching for a few natural/organic products lately and realized I kept having to go up to Admiral to check PCC and Met Market so it would be nice to have something similar Junction-South for those of us that live south of the Junction. Admiral isn’t exactly on the way home to High Point.
But since I’m a household of 1 I love TJs for it’s smaller packaging, I find I waste less that way. But then sometimes they don’t carry what I need since their house brand doesn’t make it or they’re out. Then I have to head around the block to QFC or Safeway, or remember to grab it when I run to Target/Costco. My grocery shopping routine still hasn’t settled into a rhythm since moving over here.
And yes, I hit up the Asian markets whenever I can too. Great produce prices!
December 16, 2013 at 11:57 pm #801549
rwParticipantI should also have noted that these markets (other than Uwajimaya) are generally not as sleek and modern as our primary markets. Shelves and refrigerated cases are probably second hand, and aisles can be narrow — an issue when the store is busy and you try to study the wide selection of unusual and unfamiliar items, which in many cases have minimal or no English labels. On the other hand, even staples such as green and red peppers and navel oranges are usually a good buy. Check out Lams on King St. east of the I5 underpass first. If you feel comfortable there, then check out some of the others. Let me know how you make out.
December 17, 2013 at 12:05 am #801550
wakefloodParticipantI also get some fruits, veggies, and condiments and interesting ingredients at the small Asian markets in WC. Worth checking out if convenient for you.
December 17, 2013 at 1:07 am #801551
skeeterParticipanttrickycoolj I’ve often wondered where most Highpoint folks go to purchase groceries. We usually go to Target or QFC in Westwood for the convenience of parking once and being able to go to two stores. Thriftway is closer but not affordable for my family.
December 17, 2013 at 2:00 am #801552
JoBParticipanti too shop the international district, white center and burien for staples..
my local Westwood Qfc gets most of my gotta run to the store dollars because it’s close and they make an effort to stock organic and non-GMO products…
i may have to read a few more labels to find them.. but that means i generally spend more too.
December 17, 2013 at 2:08 am #801553
velo_nutParticipantI’m glad none of you will be a taking up space ahead of me in line. I appreciate Whole Foods and what they will bring to the neighborhood.
December 17, 2013 at 3:09 am #801554
JayDeeParticipantVelo:
I have a hard time figuring out if you are being sarcastic or serious. In either case: why? Agent provocateur?
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I like Whole Foods for the “food porn” which is free, and the odd specialty thing they can offer and maybe their better than average prepared food to go. But I will go to PCC and TJs more frequently and frankly think WF is not needed in our well stocked grocery Junction.
December 17, 2013 at 3:23 am #801555
trickycooljParticipantSkeeter I also often hit up Westwood for the same reason, especially after work down at Boeing Field it’s easier to sneak up the back side of the hill on Roxbury. Occasionally I’ll go to Roxbury Safeway (bonus: I can stock up on plastic bags for my trash cans!) but up here in High Point we’re really stuck in the middle of the grocery desert. Thriftway is a lovely store but for weekly shopping it’s not in the budget.
December 17, 2013 at 2:27 pm #801556
anonymeParticipantI’m a low-income devotee of Whole Foods, and totally disagree with the “Whole Paycheck” thing. As a frugal but picky/conscientious/organic shopper, I’ve done price comparisons from store to store. Whole Foods is not only NOT more expensive, it’s quite a bit cheaper on many items – especially if you don’t buy a lot of prepared foods. Their house brand “365” is an excellent value. PCC is far more expensive, and QFC is outrageous in price for organics. Safeway doesn’t carry much to compare, although the few organic products they do have are reasonably priced. I think what happens at Whole Foods is that shoppers end up buying more, because it all does look SO tempting. Politics of the CEO aside, I’m a big fan.
December 17, 2013 at 2:55 pm #801557
JoBParticipanti can’t put the politics of the CEO aside :(
December 17, 2013 at 10:19 pm #801558
skeeterParticipantTrickycoolj – I don’t know if biking is an option for you but the ride from Highpoint to Westwood is very pleasant as long as you stay off 35th. The side roads are bicycle friendly. The other day my family biked to Westwood, did our grocery shopping, and packed it home in my backpack. Worked out pretty well and we’ll do it again.
December 18, 2013 at 7:08 am #801559
trickycooljParticipantThanks for the tip! I’m still learning the lay of the land to figure out cycling in the neighborhood. No matter what way you go it’s always up hill to get home to High Point! LOL
STP training will be right around the corner though so I’ll need to start cruising around the hills for better training this time!
December 18, 2013 at 7:14 pm #801560
KevinParticipantI love shopping in the ID. On one occasion I asked the shopkeeper if I could take a picture of the 5 gallon bucket of live eels and the answer was yes.
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I did NOT buy any eels that day, but it was a lovely shopping experience just the same.
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Same story with Uwajimaya, whose staff members told me that I was welcome to photograph ANYTHING in the store :) I would agree they are a bit spendy, but their food selection is fantastic!
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Incidentally, Uwajimaya caries a very impressive selection of sushi grade seafood.
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December 19, 2013 at 5:13 pm #801561
JoBParticipantThis is who and what you support when you shop at Whole Foods..
and this isn’t yesterday’s news :(
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