Susan goes on and on about how much she loves and misses Woodmans, her favorite grocery store. I don't think that many people really understand woman/ grocery store relationship. I do. I miss my old grocery store in Minnesota immensely--HyVee.
My mom and I (and all my little girls) drove to Des Moines to visit my sister Kristen this past week. We went shopping at Kristen's HyVee within 12 hours of our arrival. I was again reminded of just how great HyVee is, and more concretely how much I hate my grocery options here in Wisconsin, where (dare I admit it?) Walmart is my best option.
HyVee has fabulous produce and meat departments. They have a store brand generic label which is amazing in quality. I don't think that they are quite as cheap as Susan's Woodmans, but their prices are often competitive with Walmart. And to top it off, their staff is almost always energetic and friendly!
When I moved to Wisconsin 2 years ago, I wrote a letter to my old HyVee store telling them how much I missed shopping at their store every week. Who does that? I am such a nerd.
6 comments:
Ooh, when we lived in Wisconsin I wasn't very savvy about grocery stores but I absolutely LOVED the cheese selection. We shopped at Price Chopper, I think. But I also loved, and still love, Aldi. Their brands really do taste as good as the National brands. I'm a nerd too I guess.
A good grocery store can be as inspiring as a fabric store. There's a really cool place in Mequon very near Concordia (but you'd have to ask Adriane the name of it, I don't remember)that we always tried to get to when we would visit. It had classical music and both hardwood and carpeted sections, great lighting and wonderful, unusual produce and lots of other stuff. Inspiring for sure! Nerdy?? NO way-creative!
Gail,
I'm sure that you were shopping at Sendik's. It is a local grocery chain around Milwaukee, and believe it or not Mequon's store is not the best! Grafton (just north of Mequon) has a great store and I go there to stock up on unusual culinary essentials, but it is too expensive and out of my way for every week. I actually bought my birthday roses there...on the floral clearance rack for $5. My mom is very excited about the new Sendik's store opening in her area, but wishes that a HyVee would open nearby instead. :)
No worries Erin, I wandered around Hy Vee in Sioux City for an hour last Sunday after going to church with my parents. My attachment to Hy Vee includes being employed there for close to 10 years along with it being my favorite place to shop. I completely understand your difficulty transitioning into a new grocery store! Maybe we should start a Hy Vee fan club :)
Okay Erin, I'll think of you each week as I shop at Hy-Vee where I can buy a 1/2 gallon of local honey cheaper than the Hy-Vee brand (or at Sam's Club), buy locally grown lettuces and other veggies, buy my organic "goodies" for bread, and some delicious Hy-Vee brand brats.
I'm a Hy-Vee addict and I don't want to be cured.
Erin,
Oh yes. I would love to wander through there again!When I visit my girlfriend in Fairfax,VA I always ask if we can go to the grocery store down the street from her that has fresh truffles--they display them in a locked case, like jewelry! Quite the place. I'm so bad I wished I had my camera along...
I'm afraid the HyVee stores around here are lacking and I often can't get the simple things or size that I want. Like a can of beets. How difficult is that?
I must say though that last Christmas when I wanted to try a stuffed pork tenderloin the guy at the meat counter was a blessed help and carved a 1 1/2" diameter cylinder right out of the center so I could stuff it with a fig something-or-other. I wish I had gotten his name to go back and tell him what a great job he did, and with out whining or complaining or making excuses or looking at me like I was whacky. And the KNIFE he used was awesome,so sharp I wanted to steal it.
Let's get your mom a HyVee and I'll take the Sendik's.
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