There is a local, family-owned grocery chain around here that the true locals think is the cat's meow. For transplants such as myself, especially those of us who have had the pure joy of shopping in a Wegman's grocery store....eh, not so much. After a few attempts when we first moved here, I stopped shopping at these stores and settled in with my trusty ol' Kroger.
About a year ago, though, I got word of something really great about the local chain. They decided to stop using peanuts in their bakeries. For a family with a peanut allergic child, this is huge. Until this development, I had no choice but to make all our baked goods at home. I enjoy baking, but there are times when it just doesn't fit into the schedule and it is so nice to have the choice to purchase this stuff now! Not to mention how great it is to be able to offer this option to parents sending in treats for school, friend's birthday parties, etc.
This is the reason we found ourselves at this local chain last weekend -- life was way too hectic to bake, and we had something worthy of celebrating with a cake! Anyway, as we walked in there was a huge display of strawberries. The sign looked something like this:
LOCAL STRAWBERRIES 2 FOR $6.00
local or other strawberries
The giant mountain of strawberry containers were from California. In case you haven't been paying attention, we live in Virginia. Last time I checked, California was not local. There was also a sampling station set up, with a yellow sticky note with a hand printed message that said "LOCAL STRAWBERRIES." I tasted them, and they weren't even very good.
How can you give samples of supposed local strawberries and then put them next to the standard shipped-from-the-other-side-of-the-country corporate strawberries, labeled with a misleading sign? I was beside myself and begged the Mr. to give me his camera phone so I could catch them in the act of being dishonest! Alas, he had not brought his phone into the store and we were in a rush.
On the way out of the store, I did see a smaller, out of the way display of ACTUAL local strawberries. But STILL. I was quite perturbed by the whole thing. It's a good thing their cake was so delicious.
In case you care, here are some of our family's other long standing issues with this local chain:
- High Prices -- Self explanatory....they cannot compete on price.
- Limited Selection -- This store keeps jarred tomato sauce and dry pasta in the International Foods aisle. Are you kidding me??? How about we broaden our world view a bit?
- Closed on Sunday -- It's owned by a religious, Southern Baptist family and so they shut the whole operation down on Sundays. I know they made this decision based on their religious convictions, but it is an inconvenience to the shopping public. Including me. There, I said it.
- No Alcohol -- So the story goes that because they are owned by a religious, Southern Baptist family who does not believe in drinking, they do not sell alcohol. Other grocery stores in this state can sell beer and wine, but liquor is sold at "ABC Stores." Again, no alcohol in the type of store where you can usually grab a six pack is kind of an inconvenience - in this case, more so to the Mr. than to me. However, what we take issue with the most is the hypocrisy in this policy. The family that owns the grocery chain also owns the strip malls where each of their stores is located. Do you know what is located in nearly every single one of those strip malls? An "ABC Store" and sometimes a beer and wine "boutique" type store. Ay, yay, yay.
Comments (12)
Shame on you for wanting the demon alcohol
I all but refuse to shop at a grocery store that doesn't sell some type of libation. Sounds like a wacked out little store.
I was just thinking of posting about the problems with local stores and how I end up running all over town trying to shop at the local pharmacy, meat market, farmers market, bakery,diaper store etc and get there before 6 but after 9, every other tuesday but not on Saturdays blah blah blah...We're a small business owner so I like to try to support other small business owners but somedays I just think "Screw it, I'm going to Target!"
@thisistam - Yup, we're sinners!!
Small business owners, huh? Sounds great - hope business is doing well in this economy.....
LOL! I grew up here, so you can guess what I think of this store....yes, the cat's meow. When I lived in other cities, I've greatly missed it. Here's my take on this local store: I only shop at Kroger if I need to go to the store on a Sunday. I like it that they don't sell alcohol. And my profession makes me think it's great that someone in recovery has a store they can shop in that has no alcohol. I don't mind that they are closed on Sundays because it means their employees always get one day off that they can count on.
The one I go to, has a GREAT selection of natural/healthy/gluten free foods. I can buy almost all of my groceries there, though a couple of times a month, I still hit either Whole Foods or the local health food store. When I shop at Kroger, I don't notice much difference in price in the items I buy. I like that they bag my groceries and carry them out. There are never stray carts in the parking lot, taking up parking spaces. I like supporting a local company, that provides employment for a lot of people in the area. I didn't know about them owning the strip malls they are in....
The false advertising with the strawberries is definitely disappointing. I do remember last summer a big section of local fruits and veggies. It said what farm it came from and they actually had some people from the farm there on a Saturday. They do a lot for the community and are often supporters of big events, such as Race for the Cure.
But, if Draco reads this, she is totally in agreement with you. We've discussed this many times before. But then, she wasn't born here.
@maayana - I hear you....they do support the community quite a bit, and I don't dispute that. I think it's just that my "yankee" roots run too deep. You mention the grocery carrying.....I DESPISE the grocery carrying. It makes me immensely uncomfortable. Crawl out of my skin uncomfortable. And the deli slicers take sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo long to slice my meat that I nearly blow a gasket. Yeah, I'm no southerner -- can't handle slow deli service and polite conversation in the parking lot. I like to get in, get out and do it myself, thank you very much. :)
So far so good...
I too hate grocery carrying. I can never remember where I parked and end up looking nutso while I'm talking a mile a minute trying to amuse this poor person trudging along side of me. It's awkward. Although, now that I'm lugging around an 18lb baby I tend to take all the help I can get!
@thisistam - Yes, that was the only time I was willing to tolerate it -- when we first moved here and I had a 2 year old and a chunky baby boy in tow!!
I love this conversation! It reminds me of my Richmondness/southerness... which I'm not sure is a good or bad thing.... or something between.... I'm such an introvert, but I like and expect the polite conversation with the baggers. After all, that's been my grocery store experience as long as I remember. One of the fun things in high school was going to the store and ogling the bag boys (not the old retired guys). My best friend dated a bagger and my sister worked at one of the stores.
Well, at least you know where to stop to pick up baked goods! It's a lot faster than baking, even if you don't get some wine with your order. (-:
Husband is back, better let him have some computer time. (because I'm SO NICE. He needs to get his own damn computer, by the way... I'm not that nice.)
I very much enjoy the local chain, but am a regular Kroger shopper cause they double coupons everyday! I hit the local place when I just need a couple things, don't have my coupons with me, or want something they make themselves. N DETESTS the local chain, hates everything about them. I am not even telling her about this post Turningreen! LOL
My favorites from the local place: my wedding cake!, tuna & chicken salads and mini chocolate chip cookies!
@draco1531 - N must read this. That's an order! :)
@turningreen - No way, if she does I'll never be able to go there in relative peace again!
Those darn grocery baggers always seemed so friggin pushy to me. I just want to get in, get out and no, I do not want to chat along the way. I used to think the more groceries they wheeled out the more money they made...they just would not take no for an answer. Loved that chicken salad though....if it wasn't like $10 a pound.
Of course, my first date with my husband was at that lovely store!! It will always have a place in my heart.