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DEL.ICIO.USWhere are the best grocery stores in Atlanta?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I hear often from people who complain about the supermarkets near them, or, more to the point, the lack of choice in the supermarkets near them.
Folks south of I-20 pine for a Whole Foods or a big farmers’ market like Harry’s or DeKalb. Some of my neighbors in Cobb regularly drive to the DeKalb Farmers Market because there’s nothing else quite like it out our way. And many neighborhoods are in what’s called a food desert, with few, if any, grocery stores that sell fresh vegetables and fruit. Instead, residents rely on convenience stores that stock mostly processed foods for their main source of food.
And then there’s Buckhead. Throw a rock and you hit a supermarket, but not just a run-of-the-mill one. Fresh Market, Whole Foods, Publix and Kroger are all there. EatZi’s used to be, until the chain closed most of its stores. Many smaller stores, like Souper Jenny’s and Savor, offer gourmet takeout. There’s a Wal-Mart Supercenter that’s just on the outskirts, a couple of blocks from Via Elisa and its fresh pasta, tomato sauces and Italian gourmet foods.
And Kroger may be considering opening a prototype natural/organic foods store, Fresh Fare, at the site now occupied by Disco Kroger, in the shopping center at Piedmont and Peachtree. (Next to the old Limelight, for you longtime Atlantans.)
What’s the grocery shopping situation like in your neighborhood? What kind of stores would you like to see more of? Or would you just change what the existing stores carry?
Permalink | Comments (26) | Post your comment | Categories: Food
Comments
By Rodney
March 31, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this
Thankfully, I live within 20 minutes of nearly every type of grocery you can imagine - everything from Asian specialty to Farmer’s Market to Kroger and Publix.
Throw in Alon’s and Trader Joe’s, and you can’t go wrong.
I can imagine how frustrating it must be to have to rely on only one grocery. Kroger/Publix are fine for staple items but for fresh foods I prefer The Fresh Market or Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. All of which are within 15-20 minutes of me so I count myself lucky in that regard.
The only drawback to buying “fresh” is the cost - I can easily spend 30+ dollars on one meal’s fixins at The Fresh Market. So you have to watch what you’re buying and make the best choice for you or your family - are the “just OK but cheaper” apples from Kroger acceptable or do you buy the “great, fresh, spendy” ones from a specialty market?
Being single, I’m more apt to spring for the better, more expensive fare more often than a family of four might, but that is only because I don’t have the added expenditures that a family does.
As for Kroger and this “Fresh Fare” idea - well I’m not so sure that they should go into that market as opposed to upping the quality and freshness of what they already carry. A company as large as Kroger could certainly afford to put better quality produce in their stores with a MINIMAL, price increase don’t you think?
By GP
March 31, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
Live in the Buford area and the grocery stores (Kroger/Publix) up there are deplorable . We drive to either ASSI or Super H in lawrenceville.
Quality and pricing of fruits and veggies puts Publix and Kroger to shame. Parking lots are dangerous though.
By Jen
March 31, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this
Well, about 3/4 of a mile from my house is the Candler Park Market, which has any staple you need, 2 rows of beer and wine, and a deli. Old fashioned corner grocery with a bent towards organics.
But for regular shopping I can go to the Dekalb Farmer’s Market, Whole Foods on Ponce, Kroger (either on Ponce or on Moreland), or Public on Ponce.
By LK
March 31, 2008 2:50 PM | Link to this
The DeKalb Farmer’s market is our mainstay shopping - we go each week and get all our produce, dairy and meat plus chips, cereal etc. The Berkshire heritage pork is so much better than supermarket pork and the Bell & Evans chickens are terrific. I supplement, if need be, at Whole Foods or Fresh Market, when I need something quickly. Publix is my choice for cleaning supplies, paper goods and that type of thing. Trader Joe’s is great for frozen and convenience foods. It sounds like a lot of places, but most weeks I just go to the DeKalb Farmer’s Market - the other stores are sporadically visited.
By Suzanne Elsberry
March 31, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this
I live on the edge of College Park and East Point. We have absolutely no choice of grocery stores —- we have one —- Wayfield’s in College Park. We have to drive 10+ miles to Publix at Camp Creek Marketplace or Krogers at Greenbrier … ridiculous!
By tina
March 31, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this
I love Publix for BOGO used with coupons. Other than that I shop Aldi’s, Sams and Costco’s. Every now and then I shop Kroger for sale items. I would live to shop Dekalb Farmer’s market and Trader Joe’s but they a hum from Covington.
By Harry
March 31, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this
Folks south of I-20 cant’ afford to pay Whole Paycheck prices which is why they aint any down there.. You gonna pay the 30 cent some Italian Parsely is worth or you wanna pay $2 for it at Whole Paycheck? Gimme the 30 cent please. Whole Paycheck is such a joke! All that money goes into marketing not organics. They food is the SAME THING.
By Ritza
March 31, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
I live in Fayette county and the only groceries shopping we can rely on is Publix and Kroger, we will like to see a Whole Food Store in the south, My husband and i travel at least 40 miles to an Whole Food located at North druhill,don’t get me wrong, we love our new Publix and Kroger But PLEASE bring us a Whole Food Store.Thanks!
By dawgdan
March 31, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this
In Woodstock, I buy my staples at Wally World when I’m feeling patient. If I’m having a bad day, I’ll go to Publix. I find Publix meats and veggies to be pretty decent - miles ahead of Wally World. But the one place that I keep going back to is Trader Joe’s. They don’t have a ton of variety, but I’ve yet to have anything from them that I don’t like. And the staff!!! Those people LOVE that company! It makes me want to enter the retail world!
By Rodney
March 31, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this
DawgDan:
I completely agree with you about Trader Joe’s. I’ve found only one or two things (from the nearly hundreds I’ve tried) there that I didn’t like.
The carmelized onion, ham and gruyere cheese pizza (I think they call it a tart) is FANTASTIC.
And the produce selection, while tiny, is really pretty good.
By Erin
March 31, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
When I lived in the Atlanta area, we used to go to Kroger’s all the time.
I moved to Texas and discovered HEB … I like it much more than I liked Kroger or Publix.
Don’t get me started about Super Wal-Marts.
By Erin
March 31, 2008 4:37 PM | Link to this
When I lived in the Atlanta area, we used to go to Kroger’s all the time.
I moved to Texas and discovered HEB … I like it much more than I liked Kroger or Publix.
Don’t get me started about Super Wal-Marts.
By Joe Tech
March 31, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this
We live in Brookhaven and do the majority of our shopping at Publix. The fresh veges, seafood, and meats are above excellent. I shop Kroger only for sales canned goods, frozen veges, and cheese…their meats suck.
For specialty items we go to Trader Joes (frozen pizza’s, nuts, etc), Whole Foods, Fresh Market (their rotisserie chicken salad cannot be matched; also their carmel popcorn is great) and Costco (their meats are great and cheaper than most grocery stores).
The service at Kroger sucks, while the Publix store in Brookhaven/Chamblee is clean, and the service is outstanding.
By Organic1
March 31, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this
I’d like to see more farmers markets, especially in the Alpharetta/Roswell area. We should have access to locally-grown produce instead of having to pay a fortune for produce that’s been shipped from half-way around the world.
By Anne
March 31, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this
I have fresh, organic produce shipped to me weekly. I buy meats from the local butcher’s shop (a little pricey, but definitely worth it) or go to Costco, where I also buy any canned goods I need. I will shop now and then at Trader Joe’s, mainly for specialty items. I find Whole Foods overpriced and overrated. I’ve been to Dekalb Farmer’s Market, which I loved, but that’s a day trip from Woodstock! I will also hit Buford Highway Farmer’s Market and when the season is in, any small local farmers market as well.
By Kev
March 31, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this
I live about five minutes from two Whole Foods, two Krogers, two Publixes, a Trader Joe’s, and Sevenanda. Plus, the DeKalb Farmer’s Market is a 15 minute drive away and there are the intown farmer’s markets on the weekends. I love living intown!!
Sevenanda is a great place for spices and Trader Joe’s is good for some good things at good prices. I shop at Kroger or Publix whenever there is a sale on whatever I need and I try to go to the Dekalb Farmer’s Market at least every two weeks because their selection is outstanding. I can find things there I can’t find anywhere else and their cheese, seafood, and produce departments are top-notch.
By John Tackett
March 31, 2008 6:05 PM | Link to this
Suzanne,
I live 2 blocks from a Wayfield foods in East Point and do not shop there. Why, because the quality is poor and being a runner and triathlete, I want/need a better selection of fresh wholesome food. Can’t get that at Wayfields, can barely get customer service there.
Give me a Whole Foods, or a decent farmers market locally and I would be happy. Could also use a good bakery with fresh breads.
By SA
March 31, 2008 6:18 PM | Link to this
Kroger opening a natural/organic store is a joke. The Brookwood Kroger is disgusting: Produce, milk/dairy, bread are all past expiration or rotting.
By J
March 31, 2008 6:18 PM | Link to this
To the person who wanted more farmers markets in Alphaturkey/Roswell area… Uhhh where have you been? Harry’s…on Upper Hembree. Fresh Market on Old Alabama. Trader Joes on Holcomb Bridge. Melon stand Eves Rd….HELLO!?!?
By Jessica
March 31, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this
Whole Paycheck. That’s funny. Maybe if you work at McDonalds. I buy all my meals for a week for my husband and I at Harry’s (same thing as Whole Foods). Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, 21 meals total and snacks. Usually it’s about $160. You are what you eat dude, and believe me there is a difference. I’ll never eat Wal Mart cancerous antibiotic tumor infested meat again. Oh, and by the way, you can have the 20 pounds I’ve lost just from switching grocery stores. Quality ingredients = hot bod. Can’t wait until the new Whole Foods opens up on Old Milton. Woooohhh!
By Sherlock
March 31, 2008 7:04 PM | Link to this
I agree with JoeTech about Kroger and Publix. If it needs to be fresh, avoid Kroger. That includes seafood, many meats, and the produce. Publix is cleaner and fresher and their people generally aren’t as surly.
I did shop yesterday at the Kroger on Johnson Ferry (old Harris Teeter) and there was one checking lane open at 4:30 in the afternoon. Hey Kroger: Grocery stores with one open lane are called CONVENIENCE STORES. And know what? Yours isn’t.
Costco is the place to go for steaks and chicken. Kroger and Publix aren’t in the same league when it comes to the great steaks at Costco.
By Is Jessica really Cyndi??
April 1, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this
Thank the Lord Jessica doesn’t live intown with the rest of us - I’m not sure I could stand the trip to Whole Foods were she there with her “hot bod” and “dude” vocabulary.
Who uses the term “bod” anymore, anyway?
By Kar
April 1, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
The last couple of times I’ve gone to Dekalb Farmer’s Market I was really disappointed. Mwaybe my concept of “exotic” has changed but fresh taramand doesn’t thrill me. Tired old produce that you could get for half that cost up Buford Highway and at twice the price. Not to mention ridiculous crowds.
The imported items are fairly varied and the breads are decent but again, nothing you can’t get up at International Food or Buford Highway Farmer’s Market. The meats though are nice and they have probably the best cafeteria in the city.
But to be honest, for ridiculous variety of produce at ridiculously low prices, try the different ethnic places on Buford Highway, especially the bigger places. Need five different types of chives? How about six different types of bok choi? Looking for those small eggplants, both purple, green & white? Radishes so fresh a Frenchman would weep and grasp for butter. Onions, apples and oranges the size of grapefruit on steriods. Not to mention fish & shellfish so fresh that if it doesn’t jump out of the net, it’s not fresh enough. Most places have soggy tofu mini “noodles” but why settle when you can find long strands of shredded tofu that hold up better in broth and taste better. That’s not even mentioning the range of tofu’s from so fresh it’ll melt before your eyes to baked stuff that will stand up to any treatment and won’t crumble. Industrial size bags of palaak paneer to fill a buffet line? You can find that too.
I was stunned at the level of detail and care at places like Mercado, looked like the traditional green grocers. Some of the best sushi and kimchi in the city at Buford Highway Farmers Markets counters. Not to mention those fresh noodles, breads, etc. Plus, if you like specialty organ meat, they’ve got four types of tripe and more vegetarian “meats” than you can shake a joss stick at.
By jr
April 2, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this
As a standard if ethinic markets are not acessable I would gladly shop at publix my first choice with price and quality in mind. Other than that it is ASSI or H MART for fresh veggies,fish and meat. Costco and SAMS for my regular groceries meat and fish. Whole food’s is more out of necessity than choice because i feel it is over priced and many good options are available otherwise it would be a completely different story.
By ma278zda
August 23, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this
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By ma278zda
August 23, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
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