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This is only appealing at North Market for me, I'm guessing largely due to the atmosphere vs. the giant box/giant lights.
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion
Hanging Out at the Grocery Store: Yea or Nay?
[34 posts] [25 contributors]
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Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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achoo
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Yea.
I absolutely love going grocery shopping and the feeling of getting fresh produce and meats. Whole Foods and similar retail models must've figured out if they can get people to hang out in a comfortable and enticing setting they will not be as price-elastic as they would be in a Kroger and spend more money. I don't know how the more over-the-top places deal with the excess(ive) inventory and overhead though. I guess spending money on food doesn't feel as guilty to most shoppers as spending on other consumables.
Recently at Whole Foods, I was standing in a line behind a woman with - OMG! THE MOST AMAZING ASS! So naturally, I picked up a magazine and feigned reading it while staring at this woman's butt like it was going to tell me the NCAA Tournament winner. Suddenly! she abruptly turned around.............. and told me that since I only had a couple of items I could go ahead of her. Luckily she said that because otherwise I would've fainted out of embarrassment. So yeah - agreed - going grocery shopping is also a great guilt-free way to get away from the wife and kids.
cc: did you know that Jessica Simpson's business ventures personally make upwards of $200 million a year for her alone! Crazy - gotta love her.
Posted 1 year ago # -
BreakfastwithNick
Clintonville
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I was actually just thinking about this. I noticed a bunch of older guys at the Clintonville Giant Eagle yesterday, just sitting and sipping coffee while watching March Madness in the cafe area. I kinda liked seeing it. It's a slower point of relaxation in midst of a business atmosphere.
Clearly some markets are aiming to keep you hanging out, and if done well, I think it really works. Obviously places like North Market and Hills Market do a really good job of this already. But Market District, Whole Foods, and others like the Clintonville GE have created decent places to sit, with a good selection of food. Heck, Whole Foods even does a specialized Sunday brunch in their 161 Diner. At the very least, these places make for good people watching.
Posted 1 year ago # -
tourist19
Merion Village
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I've grabbed lunch at Brewery District Kroger and eaten it there instead of taking it home from time to time. That patio/wine bar area is actually kinds nice, if a little too echo-y from the TVs. Last summer when I didn't have air conditioning I found myself spending more and more time there since going home wasn't appealing. I have not partaken of the wine on offering, but have seen people doing so and enjoying themselves drinking while shopping. I think if I was with other people it would be fun.
I don't even consider the North Market a "grocery store" so much as a wonderful place filled with wonderful things. I do spend time just hanging out there, I love the late afternoon after the lunch rush during the week. I can wander at leisure without running over a million strollers or conventioners.Posted 1 year ago # -
shmack
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The closest I ever come to "hanging out" in a grocery store are for the large Asian groceries out on the coasts. They seem to hit the trifecta between quick food, quality, and low costs (oh, and variety too). For example, Ranch 99s have a dim sum station, a Cantonese BBQ station, a stir fry steam table, and noodle soup station (with Cantonese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, and Japanese options). And it's pretty much mobbed at any time of day.
Seems like whenever I go to the Brewer's Yard Kroger or Market District, I never see anyone in their dining areas. Tho, Whole Foods always seem to have diners.
I'm really disappointed CAM doesn't have plans for a made-to-order prepared foods section for their dining area.
Posted 1 year ago # -
DavidF
Elysium Fields
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shmack wrote >>
The closest I ever come to "hanging out" in a grocery store are for the large Asian groceries out on the coasts. They seem to hit the trifecta between quick food, quality, and low costs (oh, and variety too). For example, Ranch 99s have a dim sum station, a Cantonese BBQ station, a stir fry steam table, and noodle soup station (with Cantonese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, and Japanese options). And it's pretty much mobbed at any time of day.
Seems like whenever I go to the Brewer's Yard Kroger or Market District, I never see anyone in their dining areas. Tho, Whole Foods always seem to have diners.
I'm really disappointed CAM doesn't have plans for a made-to-order prepared foods section for their dining area.That would be great. What a missed opportunity.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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shmack wrote >>
Seems like whenever I go to the Brewer's Yard Kroger or Market District, I never see anyone in their dining areas. Tho, Whole Foods always seem to have diners.I've seen the BD Kroger dining area slammed during lunch & dinner times. Especially on Fridays and during the summer. But yeah... other times it's a total ghost town.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Twixlen
Westgate, Columbus
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Walker wrote >>
shmack wrote >>
Seems like whenever I go to the Brewer's Yard Kroger or Market District, I never see anyone in their dining areas. Tho, Whole Foods always seem to have diners.I've seen the BD Kroger dining area slammed during lunch & dinner times. Especially on Fridays and during the summer. But yeah... other times it's a total ghost town.
And I've been to Market District when it's been jammed.... usually dinner-time. The downstairs isn't always full, but upstairs will be much more so (maybe the novelty of sitting upstairs?). Sometimes on Fridays they do this 5 for $5 thing - 5 samples of brew or wine + (great) snacks for $5.
Posted 1 year ago # -
parker624
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We eat a meal at whole foods at least once a week. We love it! There are so many vegetarian selections and you can get the green plate special, which is a sandwich or something from the prepared foods case, and then you get 2 sides for 2$.
No shame in loving grocery stores for meals.
Posted 1 year ago # -
melikecheese
Merion Village
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I hang out at Whole Foods, meaning I eat lunch there and will sometimes stop for a drink or a bit to eat.
The one in Austin is even better for hanging out!
But hang out at a basic old Giant Eagle, weird, no thanks.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Nikkiangel93
Downtown Columbus by Day, Downtown Delaware by night
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My husband and I love our grocery store dates. We usually hit them up later in the evening after all of the crowds are dying down (I actually browse when I shop, instead of just make a list and grab things off the list. I love an international food isle).
We always try to grab something to eat and sit down or get coffee before we start our shopping. Since we both love to cook it is a great place for us.
My favorite places are Whole Foods, Fresh Market, Kroger Marketplace in Lewis Center and the North Market.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Porky
C-Bus' East Side
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Barrel & Bottle in the N. Market is now doing beer and wine samplings on the weekend. We happened to be in the N.Market on Saturday and they had Rockmill Brewery out of Lancaster there with some of the Belgian beers they have been doing. Got to chat up Matt, the head brewer and brewmaster and that was cool. For the cost $2 for 4 samples it was quite nice.
Posted 1 year ago # -
LATFJoss
Columbus
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melikecheese wrote >>
I hang out at Whole Foods, meaning I eat lunch there and will sometimes stop for a drink or a bit to eat.
The one in Austin is even better for hanging out!
But hang out at a basic old Giant Eagle, weird, no thanks.This this this!! I love hanging out at Whole Foods on Lane Ave., and I have eaten/studied/had coffee there for well over a year now. My fave!
Posted 1 year ago #
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