First visit to Whole Foods. Amazing place!

[pooh]

...to Whole Foods on Monday. Amazing place! Now I, too, will join in the chorus singing, "Bring Whole foods to central Florida, bring Whole Foods to Central Florida". :D

[asianthree]

its my favorite too

[Schaumburger]

Pooh, Looks like you visited one of the Whole Foods stores in Chicago. They are very good. Excellent wine and cheese selection. Also for those who need gluten-free foods, Whole Foods has a wide selection.

[AriaGrandparents2013]

We sent Whole Foods an email requesting that they consider a store in The Villages area. They responded with a generic response and list of future stores and I believe Alamonte Springs was the closet location.

It's one of our favorite stores though it can be pricey.

[jblum315]

...to Whole Foods on Monday. Amazing place! Now I, too, will join in the chorus singing, "Bring Whole foods to central Florida, bring Whole Foods to Central Florida". :D

We used to call it Whole Paycheck

[senior citizen]

Pooh, Looks like you visited one of the Whole Foods stores in Chicago. They are very good. Excellent wine and cheese selection. Also for those who need gluten-free foods, Whole Foods has a wide selection.

Doesn't the Sweetbay in TV have an entire gluten free section???
Plus an organic foods sections?

Sweetbay is Hannaford in New England and immediately when we walk in we see the gluten free and the organic section........huge store up here.

Maybe I'm mistaken, but I thought Sweetbay in TV also had those alternative choices............but Whole Foods would be GREAT. Our kids love them....

[rubicon]

Whole Foods like Fresh market is very expensive and many people here are on retirement budgets. However like all upscale stores around the country getting specialty items especially on sale is a good bargain but utilizing them as their one and only grocery store cost prohibitive for most

[l2ridehd]

That is why I would rather see a Wegmans. We have both Wegmans and Whole Foods here in Northern VA and IMHO Wegmans is far better. Great selections, with every possible specialty item, cheeses, gluten free, organic, wine, deli, butcher shop, fish market, excellent produce and decent prices.

[zcaveman]

Doesn't the Sweetbay in TV have an entire gluten free section???
Plus an organic foods sections?



Publix has both organic and gluten free sections.

z

[buzzy]

Down in Palm Beach County, there are Publix Greenwise markets, that compete with Whole Foods. So if Publix thought there would be enough business, maybe they would put in a Greenwise around here.

[KathieI]

Pooh, isn't that Chicago store there newest opening? It must be a fabulous store. In L.A. every new store they opened was better than the last. It is by far, my most favorite store in the world. I have been a customer since they were Mrs. Gooch's (the original store in LA) since the late 70's. Its very important to me to buy the best meats, fish, veggies and fruits that you can buy and if it means a little more money,,, its that important. The rest of my staples can be bought at Publix or Sweetbay.

I have been to the WF both in Orlando and in Tampa and my preference is the Tampa store but they do not compete to the stores I have visited in CA and NY but they will do. Both Publix and Sweetbay have Gluten free foods but not to the extent that WF's has.

[Serenoa]

That is why I would rather see a Wegmans. We have both Wegmans and Whole Foods here in Northern VA and IMHO Wegmans is far better. Great selections, with every possible specialty item, cheeses, gluten free, organic, wine, deli, butcher shop, fish market, excellent produce and decent prices.

I keep seeing folks mention how they wish Wegman's would open a store in TV. Perhaps they don't know but most grocery store chains are REGIONAL. I believe Walmart is probably the only chain that has stores in every state.

From Wegman's own website:

"Today, we have stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland and Massachusetts. You’ll see from our list of future projects that our new store growth is concentrated in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions, though we will continue to upgrade or replace older stores in our more mature markets, like New York."

In other words, Wegman's WON"T be coming to Florida. Just like Publix, whose stores are all in the southeast, won't be opening stores in the northeast, either.

We love our Whole Foods here in Birmingham, and visit it on average of twice a month for special items not available elsewhere.

[pooh]

We used to call it Whole Paycheck


LOL, I think it still goes by that....:D. We went in only for a few things, but did take a rather long walk around surveying the lay of the land. So many choices. One could easily spend much more and buy more than they wanted to or needed.

Bought some beef, ground turkey, veggies vegan foods, nice crusty sourdough bread, and I got to pick up some of my favorite body lotions and soaps. Guess Mike and I are going to make a journey to one of the stores near us this summer.

[jblum315]

There are Fairway stores in Manhattan and Brooklyn that are miles better than any other supermarkets including Whole Foods. But I'm certain they won't be expanding.

[tommy steam]

Love that store. My daughter calls them whole paycheck!

[pooh]

its my favorite too
We had just watched a story about the chain on tv before we headed to Chicago to see the kids. After watching that program, I knew I was really going to enjoy the store. I really, really do. Fresh Market is another store I like shopping in, as well as Sweetbay and Publix. Each store might offer something you want, need or can't get in another. Was a fun visit!

[pooh]

Pooh, Looks like you visited one of the Whole Foods stores in Chicago. They are very good. Excellent wine and cheese selection. Also for those who need gluten-free foods, Whole Foods has a wide selection.
We were in the store in The Lincoln Park area, is that correct? This city is so dam spread out....lol. Almost forgot, we did get some cheese, not even sure what it was, my daughter-in-law picked it out......delicious whatever it was. When with the kids we get to experience foods we might not normally buy. Son is a chef and daughter in law is an excellent cook.
Luckily for us, no one in family experiences gluten intolerance, but for those impacted, there are many choices of gluten free items, without a doubt.

[Happinow]

Doesn't the Sweetbay in TV have an entire gluten free section???
Plus an organic foods sections?

Sweetbay is Hannaford in New England and immediately when we walk in we see the gluten free and the organic section........huge store up here.

Maybe I'm mistaken, but I thought Sweetbay in TV also had those alternative choices............but Whole Foods would be GREAT. Our kids love them....

We liked the Hannaford up north as well....better than price chopper. Granted Price Chopper had a larger selection but more expensive. I really like Sweet Bay as Publix is expensive.

[pooh]

We sent Whole Foods an email requesting that they consider a store in The Villages area. They responded with a generic response and list of future stores and I believe Alamonte Springs was the closet location.

It's one of our favorite stores though it can be pricey.
I don't know if there is one in Altamonte Springs, I'll have to look at the website. We're in Altamonte Springs at Costco every once in a while. Goodness if WF is there, when we head to the area, we'll have to bring a truck....lol. Costco and WF....goodness....:D

[l2ridehd]

Wegmans used to be just in Rochester NY, now they are all over the North East and Mid Atlantic. They beat out every other store where ever they open, so they will continue to expand. It will be a few more years, but I know they are already planning a North Carolina store to open in 2014. They will continue to march South and West.

[pooh]

Doesn't the Sweetbay in TV have an entire gluten free section???
Plus an organic foods sections?

Sweetbay is Hannaford in New England and immediately when we walk in we see the gluten free and the organic section........huge store up here.

Maybe I'm mistaken, but I thought Sweetbay in TV also had those alternative choices............but Whole Foods would be GREAT. Our kids love them....

Each store has something we buy. I shop at SweetBay, Publix, Fresh Market, Costco, Sam's and BJ's. By far, Costco costs us the most.....;)......stuff I just Have to Have....LOLOLOL

[pooh]

Whole Foods like Fresh market is very expensive and many people here are on retirement budgets. However like all upscale stores around the country getting specialty items especially on sale is a good bargain but utilizing them as their one and only grocery store cost prohibitive for most
I agree Rubicon, just shopping at one store might not be the most economical way to go, but there are stores that offer our "staples" at lower prices. The whole thing works down to what we eat, what portions we ingest and how often we shop. In our local Farmers' Markets we have around TV, there are lots of good fruits and veggies. One thing I've noticed is the local produce from those Farmers Markets last much longer than produce I pick up at the grocery store. Buying veggies that are less expensive but go bad before being used isn't cost effective either. Guess the best thing to do is plan a weekly menu, shop each day and enjoy, though shopping every day could get tedious...:D

[pooh]

That is why I would rather see a Wegmans. We have both Wegmans and Whole Foods here in Northern VA and IMHO Wegmans is far better. Great selections, with every possible specialty item, cheeses, gluten free, organic, wine, deli, butcher shop, fish market, excellent produce and decent prices.

Probably have visited a Wegmans one time or another in our travels around the country, but honestly, I don't remember the store. So many remark about how great these stores are. Next time we are around one, I'm going to have to stop in and take a look.

[pooh]

Pooh, isn't that Chicago store there newest opening? It must be a fabulous store. In L.A. every new store they opened was better than the last. It is by far, my most favorite store in the world. I have been a customer since they were Mrs. Gooch's (the original store in LA) since the late 70's. Its very important to me to buy the best meats, fish, veggies and fruits that you can buy and if it means a little more money,,, its that important. The rest of my staples can be bought at Publix or Sweetbay.

I have been to the WF both in Orlando and in Tampa and my preference is the Tampa store but they do not compete to the stores I have visited in CA and NY but they will do. Both Publix and Sweetbay have Gluten free foods but not to the extent that WF's has.

It might be their newest store, Kathy. I understand what you mean about buying the best meats, veggies, fish, etc. it is important for many. When $$ is spent on good foods, probably less is spent on less nutritious items so it sort of balances out budget wise. It's not a bad ride to Tampa.....maybe we'll just have to do a road trip one of these weeks.

We did not have a WF close to us in our part of CA that I was aware of though maybe there was one in San Diego? Don't know. Never wanted to go because of the reputation for expensive....and we had a pretty good natural and "healthy" market nearby....they had the best meats.....:). Dam, now I'll have to see if there was a WF closer to us than I thought....:D

[KathieI]

I don't know if there is one in Altamonte Springs, I'll have to look at the website. We're in Altamonte Springs at Costco every once in a while. Goodness if WF is there, when we head to the area, we'll have to bring a truck....lol. Costco and WF....goodness....:D

Two Whole Foods stores in Orlando area,,,
one is on Turkey Lake Road, and the other is in Winter Park on Aloma (near Altamonte Springs) but not in it. I was in Turkey Lake and wasn't terribly impressed. Looking forward to visiting the one in Winter Park.

Costco is in Winter Park and Altamonte Springs. I haven't been to either store.

[pooh]

Love that store. My daughter calls them whole paycheck!

To be perfectly honest, I didn't even look at too many of the prices....makes Mike crazy...lol.

I'm not sure I'd want to buy everything from that store. Organic isn't always necessarily the best in all items. It's fun to visit different grocery and speciality food store in different parts of the country. Each carries something you might not find in your local hometown stores. I feel that way about hardware stores, too.....LOVE to visit different hardware and home improvement stores around the country....so many different things to see.

[pooh]

I keep seeing folks mention how they wish Wegman's would open a store in TV. Perhaps they don't know but most grocery store chains are REGIONAL. I believe Walmart is probably the only chain that has stores in every state.

From Wegman's own website:

"Today, we have stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland and Massachusetts. You’ll see from our list of future projects that our new store growth is concentrated in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions, though we will continue to upgrade or replace older stores in our more mature markets, like New York."

In other words, Wegman's WON"T be coming to Florida. Just like Publix, whose stores are all in the southeast, won't be opening stores in the northeast, either.

We love our Whole Foods here in Birmingham, and visit it on average of twice a month for special items not available elsewhere.

It's nice to have a store to go to where you can get something unique, isn't it. At this point, our car is filled, so I probably won't be bringing home too much from WF....this time....:)

[pooh]

Two Whole Foods stores in Orlando area,,,
one is on Turkey Lake Road, and the other is in Winter Park on Aloma (near Altamonte Springs) but not in it. I was in Turkey Lake and wasn't terribly impressed. Looking forward to visiting the one in Winter Park.

Costco is in Winter Park and Altamonte Springs. I haven't been to either store.

We use the Costco in Altamonte Springs. In CA, we lived 1 mile from Costco...talk about being spoiled!

Next time we're in the Orlando area, we'll have to visit, thanks for the info.

Just looked at the WF site. There are a few on the coast near our CA home, but I don't recall hearing about them when living in CA. We were about 15 miles inland and about 24 miles north. The storefronts look fairly new....maybe some of the stores are new and weren't around at he time we were there. Oh well, sorry I might have missed the store. As time passes, our wants and needs, desires change.....now I'd like a WF near by...lol.

[AriaGrandparents2013]

Each store has something we buy. I shop at SweetBay, Publix, Fresh Market, Costco, Sam's and BJ's. By far, Costco costs us the most.....;)......stuff I just Have to Have....LOLOLOL

Is closest BJs in Orlando?

[NotGolfer]

I have visited the W.F. down near Orlando. I didn't drive so not sure just exactly where it's located BUT it's on a VERY busy corner which in my opinion, made it hard to get into it's parking lot. The store is huge and quite expensive. I personally would rather have a Trader Joe's....but by this whole thread we ALL have our favorites apparently. Being gluten free...yes the stores in T.V. have "some" items but not a huge variety so one has to hit them all. I don't "do" the prepared gluten-free items as they're full of sugar (or other ingrediants that digest into "sugar). But I digress!

[pooh]

Is closest BJs in Orlando?
There is a BJ's in Clermont.

Locations - BJ's Wholesale Club (http://www.bjs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/LocatorMapDirectionsView?storeId=10201&catalogId=10201&langId=-1&locationId=199)

[2newyorkers]

That is why I would rather see a Wegmans. We have both Wegmans and Whole Foods here in Northern VA and IMHO Wegmans is far better. Great selections, with every possible specialty item, cheeses, gluten free, organic, wine, deli, butcher shop, fish market, excellent produce and decent prices.

Another thumbs up for Wegmans.

[rockyisle]

I just saw a new section in Wal-mart yesterday dedicated to gluten free foods. Can't remember which aisle, but it was big enough not to miss. Many gluten free mixes, crackers, etc. I think they have listened and responded... and I'm betting they are half the price of Publix or Sweetbay.

[scrapple]

We fondly refer to Whole Foods as "Whole Paycheck", but I do enjoy it!

[asianthree]

i like the fruits and vegs and if i am going to buy meat its going to be at whole foods...after all 3 to 4oz is all we consume each day so it needs to be worth my while...just can't buy meat from a regular grocery

[Shirleevee]

Another thumbs up for Wegmans.

Although Staten Island did NOT have a Wegman's, we traveled to NJ and boy do I miss that supermarket!