Goodbye Rice Epicurean (Houston, Kirby, West: closing, disposal, price)

[EasilyAmused]

Strangley the are keeping the Fountain View location open. The least nice of all of them.

Rice Epicurean Markets closing four stores; only one to remain open | abc13.com

Freshmarket is nice though. Its like Whole Foods meets Trader Joes. But I like it better than those two.

[14Bricks]

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

Strangley the are keeping the Fountain View location open. The least nice of all of them.

Rice Epicurean Markets closing four stores; only one to remain open | abc13.com

Freshmarket is nice though. Its like Whole Foods meets Trader Joes. But I like it better than those two.

Thats close to my house. I don't shop there though, they are too high priced, maybe that's why they're going out of business. I'll stick with HEB up the street.

[crbcrbrgv]

Originally Posted by 14Bricks

Thats close to my house. I don't shop there though, they are too high priced, maybe that's why they're going out of business. I'll stick with HEB up the street.

I agree. It seems high-end grocery stores are on their way out.

This excludes Whole Foods, which has a bizarre, cult-like following.

[ethanw]

Give it time mate. Economically "Whole Foods" don't make any sense in Houston and they will be out in no time

Originally Posted by crbcrbrgv

I agree. It seems high-end grocery stores are on their way out.

This excludes Whole Foods, which has a bizarre, cult-like following.

[Cavaturaccioli]

Can't beat Central Market on Westheimer for variety.

I did like Rice's on Memorial, though.

[tstone]

I grab a few Mexican-ish type things from Central Market on the occasional lunchbreak when the wife wants to cook up something 'different'. I can understand how that place would easily take business away from the Rice Epicurian nearby.

BTW- the vibe in those particular high end grocery stores creep me out, almost like I've stepped into a time machine.

[crbcrbrgv]

Originally Posted by tstone

I grab a few Mexican-ish type things from Central Market on the occasional lunchbreak when the wife wants to cook up something 'different'. I can understand how that place would easily take business away from the Rice Epicurian nearby.

BTW- the vibe in those particular high end grocery stores creep me out, almost like I've stepped into a time machine.

That's because the wealthy of Houston dress like often times dress in dated clothes and wear dated hair styles (not to mention the tendency for spandax and toes of the, well, you know).

Any women who are wealthy that post on here are excluded of course.

I imagine they are pretty nicely coiffed with a mixture of clothes that actually come from Nordstrom's or greater as opposed to TJMaxx.

[EasilyAmused]

Overly expensive is the downfall, but Freshmarket will be more aimed to specialty as well. I really only went to Rice for specific yummies or just wanted to run in for milk and not deal with massive crowds. but mostly the T&C Randalls fits that bill.

On the flip, I've taken to avoiding the mega HEBs, like the one on Bunker Hill. While I loved it when it opened, the shopping experience has become more of an endurance event and obstacle course. Like commuting, I don't have the patience to deal with the volume of people crushed in there any more...ambling down the middle of the aisle, having in-depth conversations on their cellphones, and not paying attention to other shoppers.

[feufoma]

Originally Posted by ethanw

Give it time mate. Economically "Whole Foods" don't make any sense in Houston and they will be out in no time

And you base your opinion on what exactly? Whole Foods Kirby and Waugh locations are always busy. Plenty of people afford to shop there.

[feufoma]

Originally Posted by crbcrbrgv

That's because the wealthy of Houston dress like often times dress in dated clothes and wear dated hair styles (not to mention the tendency for spandax and toes of the, well, you know).

Any women who are wealthy that post on here are excluded of course.

I imagine they are pretty nicely coiffed with a mixture of clothes that actually come from Nordstrom's or greater as opposed to TJMaxx.

Truly wealthy people dress like they want. I know many who have substantial means at their disposal that dress quite normally. I find that those who are simply putting on airs are usually the ones who strive to keep up with fashion trends. I guess that's all they have. Pretending can be fun, too.