In love with Central Market (Dallas, Austin: allergies, organic, live)

[gsupstate]

Just moved to Dallas and must say, I am totally in love with Central Market. I live just off Preston near Royal and absolutely adore the smaller Central Market there. Have been to the larger location on Lovers but it feels too mass. Every day, I find some reason to "need" something and run to the Central Market at Preston and Royal. . Crazy obsession....maybe?
The real question, why, why, why does anyone even darken the doors of Whole Foods when Central Market is available?

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by gsupstate

Just moved to Dallas and must say, I am totally in love with Central Market. I live just off Preston near Royal and absolutely adore the smaller Central Market there. Have been to the larger location on Lovers but it feels too mass. Every day, I find some reason to "need" something and run to the Central Market at Preston and Royal. . Crazy obsession....maybe?
The real question, why, why, why does anyone even darken the doors of Whole Foods when Central Market is available?

Because they're not the same store and don't cater to the exact same clientele.

I go to Whole Foods because Central Market does not carry some of the specific items I get at Whole Foods...and vice versa. I don't see the stores as competing with each other. CM is a high-priced, high-end 'foodie' store. WF is for people who want organic, natural, sustainable food (that also comes at a high price) or for people on the gluten-free bandwagon.

[TrueDat]

Yeah, I once went looking for gluten-free bread at Central Market and they didn't have a clue. This was some time ago though so it might be different now. But I do prefer CM's produce.

[ggolf]

We like Whole Foods' steaks.

Love the new one open in Allen/Fairview.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by BigDGeek

Because they're not the same store and don't cater to the exact same clientele.

I go to Whole Foods because Central Market does not carry some of the specific items I get at Whole Foods...and vice versa. I don't see the stores as competing with each other. CM is a high-priced, high-end 'foodie' store. WF is for people who want organic, natural, sustainable food (that also comes at a high price) or for people on the gluten-free bandwagon.

This. They are both great stores and cater to different customers.

[ChristieP]

Originally Posted by BigDGeek

I go to Whole Foods because Central Market does not carry some of the specific items I get at Whole Foods...and vice versa. I don't see the stores as competing with each other. CM is a high-priced, high-end 'foodie' store. WF is for people who want organic, natural, sustainable food (that also comes at a high price) or for people on the gluten-free bandwagon.

Agreed. I was never a fan of Whole Foods simply because I'm not a fan of organic, gluten-free, etc. food.

I love Central Market for their meats and produce selections, and the prepared foods and bakery just complete the picture.

[pinipig523]

Either one is expensive.... CM or WF... my wife likes both though. I try to stay away because of the cost, but they are both nice places to shop for food and your stomach always leaves happy.

But certain things are ridiculous like $8 for 2 lb of mussels... $8!! At H-Mart, it's $2.99 for the same 2 lb of mussels.. and last time I checked, there's no difference between the 2 bags of mussels.

[Souleiado]

Originally Posted by BigDGeek

Because they're not the same store and don't cater to the exact same clientele.

I go to Whole Foods because Central Market does not carry some of the specific items I get at Whole Foods...and vice versa. I don't see the stores as competing with each other. CM is a high-priced, high-end 'foodie' store. WF is for people who want organic, natural, sustainable food (that also comes at a high price) or for people on the gluten-free bandwagon.

Agree. I use both store on a regular basis for different products .

[PlanoGirl]

Originally Posted by BigDGeek

Because they're not the same store and don't cater to the exact same clientele.

I go to Whole Foods because Central Market does not carry some of the specific items I get at Whole Foods...and vice versa. I don't see the stores as competing with each other. CM is a high-priced, high-end 'foodie' store. WF is for people who want organic, natural, sustainable food (that also comes at a high price) or for people on the gluten-free bandwagon.

Yep...what she said!

I used to frequent WF a lot, because my son has milk/egg/nut allergies, and they carry many allergy-free brands and products. My local Kroger Marketplace carries just about all that stuff now, so I don't go nearly as much. Only thing I really miss from there is the Austin-based Out to Lunch brand hummus...yum!

I liked to go to CM for lunch because they had a great prepared menu.

[pappy97]

I've come on here before asking for Italian Delis other than Jimmy's (because of location) so I could find the most delicious deli meat ever, hot coppa. On NYE I went to Plano CM and now they finally have it, and it comes from the company Molinari, which is based in SF and I'm a big fan. Only knock is they charge the regular price $17.99/pound, while Jimmy's still has the ridiculously and suspiciously low $9.99/pound. I'm okay with the price because the Molinari Hot Coppa is expensive, it makes sense.

FF to today when I find myself at that Preston/Royal CM, sure enough they have (Molinari) hot coppa too! So now I really test my luck and ask for a sandwich but with a quarter pound of hot coppa. Sure enough they do it...and ONLY charge me the price for a regular sandwich with cheese ($6.29), when the Hot Coppa alone would have cost $4.50.

Seems like now CM's around here in general are carring Molinari Deli Meats, which means Hot Coppa. Try it, it's pretty awesome stuff. Make sure you specify HOT coppa, it has an extra kick to it.

But yeah, I love Central Market and it totally pwns Whole Foods in many respects (not just the now availability of hot coppa).