grocers?

[hzp]

spurred by another topic, i wondered if we'd ever discussed grocers.

I live in the Central Corridor, and I've long been kinda curious where the hell people are shopping since we really don't have any standouts here.

I love Albertson's selection, but you could bleed out waiting for a checkout, and their customer service save for a few employees is pretty bad, so bad that for small things I'll actually hit Bashas's at Missouri and 7th, which is I believe the last of the old school Basha's and looks it.

Fry's at 20th is nothing special and the parking is a mess. Desert Market is another one... never a good sign when there's armed police guards at all time.

I tend to hit Trader Joe's for produce, AJ's for a limited number of items, and I've been really pleasantly surprised by Safeway on 7th and Glendale recently. I think Safeway, once they do an overhaul of a store, also overhaul the customer service. They are really pleasant, friendly, smiling, helpful. Its noticeable. And while the prices are a bit higher, the selection is really fantastic there, particularly the seafood counter. Its always sparklin' clean, too, and the checkouts move quickly, and there tend to always be more than one open. (big pet peeve of mine- i love to play "how many people will have to get in line before they open another register")

[silverbear]

Trader Joe's is my first choice -- by a mile. After that, I sometimes go to Sprouts, but it continues to disappoint me. The produce is reasonably good, but the baked goods often contain hydrogenated oils and they carry Dreyer's, rather than Breyer's, ice cream. That's an odd choice for a store that is supposed to be cultivating a natural foods image.

After that, it's supplementation with various farmer's markets (Town & Country, Guadalupe, etc.) and bakeries (Whole Grains, Simply Bread, etc.).

For a few name-brand processed foods (e.g. breakfast cereals), I actually rely on my nearest Target store. I also buy a few hard-to-find items online via Amazon Grocery.

When the need for a traditional, mainstream grocery arises, I agree that Safeway is by far the best choice. I look forward to Tesco and Ike's, if and when it ever opens (I'm skeptical about everything Basha's says at this point). Those stores should improve choices and supplement Trader Joe's nicely.

[azhotdish]

Safeway at 48th St/Indian School is my store of choice - service, selection, freshness of produce, etc. I live across the street from Fry's on 44th/Thomas and can't bear to go there anymore - they are continually out of items I need (mostly herbs) and their produce is unreliable. In addition, like silverbear, I supplement with farmer's market items from T&C.

Trader Joe's limited selection of items makes this a specialty-store for me, and I'll only go there when I need something I know they carry or to buy organic items. I've tried other stores (Sunflower, Sprouts, Wild Oats, etc), but still can't make these my primary stores because of their selection. I don't have alot of time to run around, so when I need to make a stop, it's likely at a Safeway.

And AJ's...only when I must. It's expensive, but the service is great and it's hard to beat their prime cuts.

[geg5150]

I live in Central Phoenix, too. I'm a Whole Foods fan, and I prefer the one in Tempe. I'm there for work once every 10 days or so, so that makes it convenient for me.

I also like the Safeway at 7th and Glendale. They did a great job on the remodel. The customer service is great and their organic aisle is shaping up nicely.

I'm also a fan of TJ's and I'm in there at least once a week to pick up various things.

I don't care for Basha's. The one across the street from me at 16th and Glendale just feels run down and tired. It's ok in a pinch, but not my primary store.

RE: Sprout's. They have definitely had a decline in a few things. I know for a fact that they have changed produce suppliers since opening. They are using a lower grade produce than they did when the store opened.

There is a misconception that EVERYTHING in Sprout's, Sunflower, etc is "healthy/natural/organic" and that's just not true.

WFM does have strict standards on what it will/will not allow in their stores, i.e., no HFCS, hydrogenated oils, etc. But, they do allow sythetic chemicals/fillers in the Whole Body department, i.e., petroleum by-products, parabens, sodium laurel sulfate, etc. That's not the case with other chains. Even Wild Oats carries some "mainstream" products with "mainstream" ingredients that aren't regulated.

Sprout's and Sunflower don't have the guidelines in place...yet. It may go that way. Although, I don't expect that Sunflower will, they now carry Coca Cola products in their stores (I suspect as impulse buys).

I always give my feedback about these things on the corporate websites, comment cards, etc. Telling a manager or clerk is good, but it needs to be followed up in writing of some sort.

[hzp]

i agree with your assessments. I've just never been bowled over by Sunflower or Sprouts or Wild Oats... all poor imitations of Whole Foods, if you ask me. But since I'm paying the same at Whole Foods or AJ's and AJ's is closer... well... you get the picture.

I will say this about AJ's.... it is expensive. And the one in Central Phoenix isn't the best of them, but they will always bend over backwards to help you, and everything there is top notch. I also like the neighborhood feel of it. I see Phil Gordon in my AJ's all the time, and everyone just says, "hey Phil!". I was in one at Pinnacle Peak the other day and a woman stopped us in the freezer aisle just to tell us how much she liked some sweet potato fries and we should try some (and i mean a customer, not a salesgirl). I don't shop there for anything but must-haves.

If I can't hit the farmers market, TJ's is my choice for produce, and pot stickers, cheese, milk, eggs, butter, etc. The prices, the quality, the organicness, all top notch.

I agree on the comment cards. I use the websites as well to comment particularly on good service. It will help us keep the good service.

[geg5150]

I will say that the Vitamins/Beauty department in Sunflower and Sprout's are full of great deals and the staff is very well informed and helpful.

[ciaogal]

Sprouts seems to run the best produce specials...but I do agree w/ everyone their selection is limited.
When they run a beef special...(hormone free) I do stock up.

We frequent the Fry's Marketplace on 90th and Via Linda for our basics...they run lots of 10 for $10...
For Seafood and Specialty items...Wild Oats, A.J.'S and Trader Joe's Rock!

Love Food City for fresh Mexican specialties and Lee Lee for Asian Specialties

Haven't found Bashas and or Safeway to be anything out of the ordinary in our neighborhood...but it looks as if each store is different.

[winedubar]

i get most of my produce at the downtown farmers market, i fill in basics from the safeway at 7th ave and osborn *i LOVE their customer service*, and trader joes to fill in my cheater frozen foods *brown rice, steel cut oats, and some fish*. ajs for special stuff and their deli. and i frequent just about every ethnic market i can find - loi nam *shudder on the smell*, a couple of middle eastern spots on 15th & 19th ave, phoenix ranch market, and of course ranch 99 and lee lee's.

for meats? its all about hobe. i could spend all my money on their fantastic ribeyes...