Milwaukee Observations (buy, living in, store)

[SickOfTheSunbelt]

Originally Posted by RonnieJonez

Outside this forum, Milwaukee is known as having fat people and a cheese obsession. Don't forget a Brett Favre obsession. He could run for Mayor and win.

If the Jets make the playoffs this year, he could run for mayor of NYC and win too.

[karfar]

Originally Posted by RonnieJonez

Everyone says it, now only a few say it. lol, You aren't the brightest crayon in the box.

Outside this forum, Milwaukee is known as having fat people and a cheese obsession. Don't forget a Brett Favre obsession. He could run for Mayor and win.

I have a little suggestion for you, why not leave? Simple, no? By the way, I happen to despise the Packers. And I'm not fat but I do love cheese

[quijote]

Originally Posted by RonnieJonez

Because it is unfriendly. There's probably a reason why everyone says that. Support local merchants, that is excessively pushed here, this might as well be Little house on the prairie.

There aren't "Super Stores" in the suburbs. Regular WalMart/Target yes, but not the Super ones. Not being able to buy alcohol after 9pm is strange as well. It must have to do with all the winos in the area.

It actually has to do with the powerful Tavern Lobby in Wisconsin. They want the nighttime drinking business to happen inside the state's taverns, not at home after a trip to the market.

But if you think the 9pm thing is bad, live in the South for a while. At least liquor is sold in markets in Wisconsin on Sundays, and there are no "dry" counties here.

And your fetish for "Super Stores" is interesting. For over a century, Milwaukee has developed as a city of neighborhoods, meaning that commerce was done in neighborhoods at a small or medium scale. The current retail profile reflects that fact, though non-local chains have developed a foothold here and will eventually muscle in those "Super Stores" you crave. But the Megabox trend has not taken root here in a big way because most people are still content with more traditional shopping formats. Sendiks itself is a home-grown supermarket, as are other local favorites such as Grasch's, Rupena's, and V. Richards. Even Pick-n-Save, the local giant that it is, is the latest incarnation of supermarkets that began in Milwaukee. At some point the "Super Stores" will make inroads, but they will have fierce competition with longtime existing retailers, and will have to fight for customer loyalty.

[JS20000]

I would say I was surprised by some of the friendliness amongst individuals here (they say hello with no provocation; some without eye contact). I was expecting the total opposite being from the South. Actually, some of the people here are nicer than where I was prior to coming here (Huntsville, AL).
The lack of a Super Wal-Mart or Super Target has had zero affect on my shopping (I did not shop at Wal-Mart). I personally prefer a grocery store for grocery shopping.
I see a lot of vagrants and panhandlers but I live downtown so that is to be expected in any large urban environment. Every place has its quirks-there is no utopia built just for you, at least that's what I think.

[#Littledog]

Originally Posted by karfar

I have a little suggestion for you, why not leave? Simple, no? By the way, I happen to despise the Packers. And I'm not fat but I do love cheese

Amen to that! I can't stand the Packers either , even though I've lived here for 17 years. Love that cheese, though, it's a good source of calcium .....no I'm not fat.

I'm confused why the OP hasn't posted where he lives (or where he's from). People are soooo friendly here. I don't tend to shop the Super stores but I'm almost positive places like New Berlin and Waukesha have what he's looking for. They're not going to put a Super store in the city. Does he realize this city is pretty darn old and it was planned out long before "Super stores" were around?

[JS20000]

I'm confused why the OP hasn't posted where he lives (or where he's from). People are soooo friendly here. I don't tend to shop the Super stores but I'm almost positive places like New Berlin and Waukesha have what he's looking for. They're not going to put a Super store in the city. Does he realize this city is pretty darn old and it was planned out long before "Super stores" were around?

It is always convenient to get a listing of any member's past postings by clicking on their username. He appears to hail from Iowa.

[karfar]

Originally Posted by #Littledog

Amen to that! I can't stand the Packers either , even though I've lived here for 17 years. Love that cheese, though, it's a good source of calcium .....no I'm not fat.

I'm confused why the OP hasn't posted where he lives (or where he's from). People are soooo friendly here. I don't tend to shop the Super stores but I'm almost positive places like New Berlin and Waukesha have what he's looking for. They're not going to put a Super store in the city. Does he realize this city is pretty darn old and it was planned out long before "Super stores" were around?

I'm amazed when people seem lost when there's not a Target or Walmart around, there's tons of other places to shop. I also find it interesting when people whine & ***** about how different a city & the people are from where they moved from. Yeah, it's going to be different, roll w/the punches. Instead, they decide to mock & criticize; like that's going to get you anywhere! And they wonder why they're having such a hard time adapting

[#Littledog]

I think this guy has an obsession with buying loads of CR**. I have a hard time believing people who shop at these Super stores on a regular basis end up saving a lot of money. It's very easy to blow your money on a bunch of stuff that you probably don't need.

[DavidBaldwin]

Pick 'N Save -164 stores (owner Roundy's Supermarkets) sucks big time. Long lines with 15 registers having 7 cashiers on a good day like Friday or Saturday. Private Label approved by Bob Mariano is barely average quality. The only good thing about generic is that it is cheaper!! Shop at Aldi's for great quality generic food. Pick N Saves motto is over promise/under deliver to the customers. It should be the other way around! Employees are unfriendly because they are worked hard with the grocery industry lowest labor rates per hour. All the VP Don Rosonova, Gary Fryda care about is order guides and production charts in the deli, bakery, meat & produce to save their company $MILLIONS in shrink. This organization sucks since BOB MARIANO took the fake leadership role. The company is now owned by investors that are Chicago Cub fans & reside in Chicago. And on top of this, they have been up for sale for the last 4 YEARS. DO NOT GIVE YOUR LOYALTY TO ROUNDY'S, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS. Also remember that all of the money they give to charity is given by the customer and the vendor, not out of Chairman Bob's pocket.


Long time fan of the OLD Roundy's Supermarkets/not this mess now!!

David Baldwin-EX-Roundy's Supermarkets

[Angorlee]

Originally Posted by RonnieJonez

Some things I don't understand...

The people here don't smile much, and just don't seem very happy overall, why is that? Maybe the weather? Why are people so close-minded and don't want to talk to you if you aren't from here? Occasionally some drunk guy whether it be downtown or North Ave will want to start a fight for no apparent reason as well.

I've literally noticed people can be shocked when they encounter someone who is outgoing.

Why is there no Super Wal-Mart, or Super Target? It's annoying having to goto a separate store like Pick N Save to go grocery shopping. This might be the only place in the country that doesn't have it, and as much as people may hate those companies, it just seems weird NOT to have one.

Why all the drag racing, it's out of control on Hwy 100.

Also, why is there such a high level of vagrancy in the area? Even decent middle-class suburbs like Greenfield are affected by this.

First of all this is the midwest and the midwest character is reserved as compared to some parts of the east coast states and other areas. Another thing to consider is that Milwaukee is a blue collar, down to earth town and blue collar towns don't seem all smiley like you might find (or might not find) in some other parts of the country. Get past the unsmiling front and you'll find many smiling people. You just have to get to know them. I'll agree with the vagrancy part of your statement but I think that there is a spike in vagrancy in every city now due to the changing economic conditions.