Making the rounds... Surviving Whole Foods...

[redfox]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kelly-maclean/surviving-whole-foods_b_3895583.html

[bae]

That's just perfect!

[ApatheticNoMore]

Doesn't really ring true. The only thing I've felt bad about at WF is that sometimes the employees seem unhappy (and yea I care about that and I don't care about a bunch of other stuff). But anyway the shopping options aren't perfect. And nontheless I would find myself envying the employees when I would go shopping when I was unemployed. And it is a nice atmosphere and I think people might very well shop there for that - well lighted, nice temperature (not freezingly cold like many supermarkets), etc.. Manipulative but ....

[catherine]

That is hilarious, redfox. I just shared it on FB and two other people have already shared it. I think it really strikes a chord!

[SteveinMN]

Here in the Twin Cities we're blessed by having a number of food coops, so there's no reason to step into a WF unless you want to (sorry, SiouxzQ). I tend to avoid shopping there because the WFs I've been in are all just jammed with endcaps and floor displays that encroach on what little aisle space there is, prices are rarely better than the coop's, and, yes, it seems to be (too) full of people who seem to believe that a sandwich cookie made with cane sugar and organic flour somehow is more healthful than an Oreo (I'm all about the Oreos; for a long time they were the highlight of donating blood, but a "whole" food they are not). I thought the HuffPo piece was ironic and funny.

[JaneV2.0]

That was hilarious. I avoid the place like the plague.

[pinkytoe]

On rare occasion, we will go to the WF Headquarters store here in Austin - strictly for entertainment or torture - depending on how you look at it. Taking escalators up from the uncivilized underground parking lot and entering this place of sensory overload feels like the exact opposite of experiencing their first store here - a tiny, hippie hole in the wall. It drives me nuts how everyone walks in a different direction and are always bumping into each other. I am a careful shopper and have learned to find the bargains there though - usually leaving without paying less than $35 for everything. I just thought the uppity "tude" was due to the Californication of our city but it sounds like it exists everywhere.

[SiouzQ.]

No offense taken, Steve! A friend of mine sent that article to me this week.

I had the day off today and ended up doing a little shopping at the other Wholefoods in town and was admonished by the pizza guy for reaching over the glass to point at the particular slice of pizza I wanted. I have to say, I am so glad I work at my store on the other side of town rather than the one closer to where I live. People at my store are much friendlier and seem to be quite a bit happier than this oe - many of the people at the store I don't work at have this sad-sack woe-is-me emo look and attitude. Get over yourselves!

[CathyA]

LOL! Very funny.

[sweetana3]

I think the opposite of Trader Joes. I almost always get a great smile and a conversation. They seem really willing to help and enjoy their jobs. I love going there.

Once we made the mistake of stepping inside a WF on Columbus Circle in NYC on the day before Thanksgiving. We were in town for the parade and like to get meals at places like WF instead of always eating out. It was wall to wall people with no where to move anywhere in the store. We got out as fast as we could.

[SteveinMN]

Once we made the mistake of stepping inside a WF on Columbus Circle in NYC on the day before Thanksgiving [...] It was wall to wall people with no where to move anywhere in the store. We got out as fast as we could.
"Nobody goes there anymore; it's too crowded." -- Yogi Berra :)

[KayLR]

I love the line about "not being rich enough to have a dietary restriction." Ha!