Best Chicagoland Whole Foods (Evanston, Wheaton: organic, live in, prices)

[adele115]

Ok, I'm a Whole Foods fan. I think their prices are outrageous and such, however, quite aside from the whole organic thing, I just like their prepared foods.

My question is, in all of Chicagoland, which one is the best?

Here's my take, though I've not been to everyone in the area - mostly city and collar suburbs.

I live in Oak Park, and frankly, this one is the worse. Prepared food is often day old or longer, the soups are ALWAYS depleted by mid afternoon, the layout sucks, and the parking lot is a pain. Evanston is not much better....

My favorite (now) is the south loop location. Always fresh, huge selection, convenient parking, etc.

The WF in Willowbrook is pretty awesome. So is the one in Lincoln Park. The one in Hinsdale still feels like a wild oats (let's get rolling here!). I love the one in on Halsted in East Lakeview!! Great prepared foods.

Not so familiar with others. Still, my rank would be:

1. South Loop
2. East Lakeview
3. Willowbrook
4. Lincoln Park ( a new one is coming that will blow the rest away)
Last....Oak Park and Evanston

What's your thought?

[kelly0404]

There is no Whole Foods in Oak Park, are you talking about the one in River Forest?

[oakparkdude]

Of course the OP is talking about the one in River Forest. Its about 300 feet from Oak Park. Personally I have no problem with WF in RF, although I can't say I've had extensive experience with other WF in Chicagoland. The one on North Ave and Sheffield always has crowded parking and a weird, cramped layout. Haven't been to any of the other ones.

[Sunday1]

I actually like the WF in River Forest....I shop 5x/week (seriously) at the one in Willowbrook and I think their bakery is poor (frequently out of the best sellers and moldy stock on others). The clerks however are outstanding -- friendly, helpful, etc. The meat dept not so much. My favorite in Chicagoland is the Wheaton store. Nice layout, lots of parking and they manage their turn-over of the perishables quite well which is no easy feat in stores focused on organics and prepared goods without chemical preservatives, additives, etc. I so agree with the OP about Hinsdale. It's still a Whole Foods essentially. Can't get the feel of the place and evidently, neither can the employees. Not a smooth transition.

[elikhom]

South Loop, Roosevelt & Canal.