Where will you buy your groceries?
Posted by melissamccart on March 13, 2008
To me, grocery shopping is about as pleasurable as digging a ditch. If I walk to Giant or Whole Foods from my place in the Heights, I can’t carry milk, sparkling water, and wine as well as groceries in one trip. So I end up driving and parking is a pain in the ass. Especially when there’s a line to get into the parking garage, or I forget where I put my validation ticket and am frantically searching for it for 20 minutes.
I really enjoy cooking so I generally shop with lists, but half the time I get distracted by something pretty and delicious then forget to buy key ingredients. Or I spend $100 on flowers, edamame, yogurt covered pretzels, and beer, then I’m starving a day later because there’s no food in the house. I’m terrible at negotiating the aisles and have little tolerance for the cart shuffle. I think I need shoppers’ therapy.
That’s why it was ironic to have found myself in the Whole Foods versus Harris Teeter versus Shoppers Food Warehouse discussion three times this week with different groups of people without my prompting. I’ve never been to a Harris Teeter and never heard of Shoppers until a couple days ago. I’m guessing people are talking about it in the District because soon, they won’t have to haul to Virginia for good grocery shopping that’s less expensive than Whole Foods. Is Harris Teeter (or Shoppers) worth the hype– of distraction, lost parking tickets, incomplete grocery lists, and mild aggravation? Or is it more exciting to have a Yes! Organic Market 100 feet away?
bylinemjf said
I’m a big fan of Shoppers, at least the Falls Church one. It’s much more reasonably priced than its competitors, and its selection, particularly in the ethnic foods variety, is tough to beat. I will say its produce does not always have the longest shelf life, though. My shopping’s usually a mix of Shoppers and Trader Joe’s – Whole Foods is only a stop for seafood, Giant/Safeway only when I’m REALLY too lazy to drive 10 minutes (which is rare), and Wegman’s is just too far to be more than a destination trip.
Food Rockz Man said
You might also throw into the debate the soon-to-open “urban lifestyle Safeway” at 5th and K, NW: http://www.cityvistadc.com/amenities/safeway.php
I live a block from Whole Foods and can’t resist the convenience . . . especially given the fact that I don’t own a car . . . on top of the fact that I live alone in a studio and have little storage space, so I shop for one and do it often. If I were to factor in renting a Zip car for two or more hours every time I wanted to go shopping, it seems likely that any savings I’d enjoy at a lower-priced market would be negated.
Metrocurean said
Great post! I grew up with Harris Teeter and while I give them credit for being one of the nicest (appearance, product) of the “regular” grocery stores, I’d still rather shop at WF.
You just need a granny cart…
April said
I’ve never understood the HT cult, but some people swear by it.
Shoppers is pretty good and cheaper than most because it deals a lot in bulk, but don’t expect to find spices or anything remotely exotic.
The key to not getting distracted in the market but still allow for impulse-inspiration buys is to shop with a list and a budget in mind.
Take the time on say, Sunday, to plan two or three or four meals you want to make that week and write down all the ingredients. Keep the paper in your wallet. That way, even if you don’t do all the shopping at once, you know what you need to get whenever you go to the store.
If all else fails, there’s Peapod grocery delivery, which I think offers better produce than its owner, Giant, puts in the stores.
jenn said
I hear you on the pain of the cart shuffle, and parking. Ugh.
I like HT, mainly because it’s the closest to me in Arlington and open 24 hours, which means that I can shop at weird hours and avoid the crowds.
However, I love Whole Foods. But at the Arlington one the parking is crappy, which is why I’ve taken to going right as it opens on Saturdays so that I can drive over, get in, and then get out as quickly as possible.