food stores (Denver, Colorado Springs: home, corporate, bars)

[Geezalator]

I've been reading this forum for several months. Have learned a lot. Thanks to the local participants for sharing so much with the prospectives.

I've lived in San Diego area for almost twelve years. Fairly familiar with the deli counters at the major groceries. And easy access to Trader Joes probably kept me from exploring as far as I might have otherwise. But just recently I discovered Whole Foods. It outclasses everything else I've seen around here, deli-wise, in terms of freshness, variety, and quality.

So I gotta ask the deli-delvers in COS: Can you give me a comparison between Whole Foods, Wild Oats, and Mountain Mama's? Any others I should know about before doing a reconnoiter visit?

thanks,
the Geez

[bashep]

You know, I have never heard of Mountain Mama's in the Springs. Whole Foods and Wild Oats I think are pretty similiar. Whole Foods has a pretty big store here, where Wild Oats seems a little smaller. I do not go there all the time. But that is my 2 cents. bashep

[Mike from back east]

Been to Whole Foods (aka "whole paycheck") a few times, but I'm a stalwart for King Soopers. I used to like Albertson's, but since the corporate takeover things have gone downhill on product selections.

One thing that standard supermarkets here do NOT offer is a salad bar. Back east all the chains had a decent salad bars, and that's the one thing we miss about grocery stores.

It's nice to go to Whole Foods, make a salad, and eat it right there at a table. Back east, Wegman's did all that and much more, they are like Disneyland for foodies, not even my local Whole Foods can compare to Wegman's.

s/Mike...always on a diet...from back east

[Jeremy Gibson]

One thing I noticed between the Whole Foods in Texas (last home) and Colorado Springs is the absence of beer and wine. It was there in Texas and not there in the Springs. I believe the same can be said about the Whole Foods in Denver. Just an observation that you may also notice if they sell beer and wine in the California stores.

[Mike from back east]

In Colorado, supermarkets are restricted to selling only 3.2 beer, aka near-beer, no wines, no liquor.

In Colorado, only licensed liquor stores sell regular beer, wine, liquor, and they may not sell foodstuffs, not even pretzels.

[Geezalator]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

Been to Whole Foods (aka "whole paycheck") a few times, ...

Mike, I can relate to that. You have to watch the meter. I was just in my local WF today, and I noticed there are some things that are not priced too high. Example: old world muesli power roll, 0.89. The maple-coated walnuts can't be bought anywhere else, and they're very good, and not priced out-of-sight. Not the place I would want to do a whole week's worth of shopping, though.

Originally Posted by bashep

You know, I have never heard of Mountain Mama's in the Springs . . .

bashep, it's supposed to be on W. Uintah between Mesa Rd and 31st St. However, nothing shows up there on the shots from zillow and terraserver. I'm curious about whether it actually exists.

I did a little poking around and found some very favorable reviews of a few bakery/deli shops. Does anyone know Wimberger's ?

[Jeremy Gibson]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

In Colorado, only licensed liquor stores sell regular beer, wine, liquor, and they may not sell foodstuffs, not even pretzels.

And they are closed on Sundays...along with car dealerships.

[bashep]

Wow, I have never heard of it. I am curious now. Thanks for the info! bashep

[COflower]

Mountain Mama is located on the south side of Uintah, just barely east of the King Soopers...before the self-serve car wash going west.

Do a quick Google search "mountain mama colorado springs".