[Two Bills]

I know a lady in the UK who uses Waitrose (Like Publix in US.) plastic bags to pack her shopping in from Aldi.
Said she couldn't bare the thought that her neighbor ever found out she shops at Aldi.

[firefighter4u]

Sprouts is nice but nothing that would make we want to go there regularly.

What the area needs is a Detwiller's Farm Market. There are a number of them in the Sarasota area. If anyone has been to one, you know!

On another note, I find it fascinating how a post about a store turns in to a debate about plastic bags, I'm sure the OP appreciates it....

[barnacle44]

Lots cof products not seen elsewhere.
I prefer Fresh Market for meats

[Byte1]

I finally decided to try Sprouts. I normally shop Fresh Market for specials and/or specialty items. Sprouts is very similar to FM, IMO. I have a family member that has a Gluten allergy so I stopped in Sprouts to see what they might have available. They have more GF items available than FM. FM has been reducing their GF items available. Even though I had several cloth bags in my car trunk, I paid the ten cents per bag. The plastic bags are sturdy and they claim they are reusable. If one can afford to shop at specialty stores, they certainly shouldn't complain about shelling out a dime for a bag. When I shopped at Sprouts, the place had very few customers. I think there were more employees than customers at the store at the time I was there.

[Heartnsoul]

Love it

[JimmyD99]

Originally Posted by N44125

I know that Sprouts has been open for awhile, but I haven’t shopped there yet. Anyone have an opinion on it? Worth the trip?

Thanks

Excellant store!

[EdFNJ]

I like Sprouts, it's like a fancy 7-11 with different things but whoever in their company chose that location should be fired or someone greased their palms to sign a lease. It's NEVER busy. Even the day it opened it wasn't busy. Unless you know it is there it is just about totally invisible to passing traffic on 466. There is a little sign on a fence on 466 but the building cannot be seen from the road without specifically knowing it's there and looking for it. Visibilty of the strip mall is blocked by a large fence and tall trees. Can't imagine how many POSSIBLE customers they lose because people driving through the area down 466 have no idea it exists. That entire mall LOCATION is horrible (hidden). It certainly isn't doing enough business to survive, the only thing saving it IMO is they have enough other stores doing well to cover their nut. That's one advantage "chain stores" have is that they can average losses & profits. That PLUS they are insanely overpriced on a lot of name brand stuff. One example is my wife likes some Amy's Vegetarian frozen dinners and they charge $7-$8+ for what Publix and Winn Dixie chanrge $2-$3 less. Their produce is excellent, as are their cinnamon chip scones!

[Michael 61]

For those seeking out grass-fed meats and poultry, and wild-caught fish and seafood, Sprouts is a good option.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Fresh Market reminds me of a shop on the bottom of Beacon Hill in Boston. It was a small neighborhood grocery store that specialised in gourmet foods, fresh-made deli and hot lunch foods, and the usual napkins and forks and canned goods and fresh produce and meats and cheeses. Everything was pricier there, but it was totally worth the extra expense. I didn't have to walk 8 blocks to Big Y and walk back with 8 bags of groceries for a mile and a half til I got home. The shop I went to was only 1 block from my house.

Sprouts is more like something else up north, a sort of miniature health food store with all that produce in the middle, with taste testing, and bulk purchases of grains and spices, granola and nuts, coffee, etc. They definitely cater to more people who come from cities, where these types of stores are common and in walking distance to most people who /would/ shop there. I'd love to see both of them (Fresh Market and Sprouts) over on my end of the world, maybe where Bealls outlet is now, next to Lowes off 441.