The Bay Area (San Diego, Oakland, Corona: health insurance, purchase, closing)

[Nineties Flava]

Originally Posted by andyadhi01

Well its only a matter of time before economic competitiveness triumphs over hippie sentimentalism and fascination with old and dysfunctional relics! Such are the ways of capitalism whether you like it or not

Seriously. You should have stayed in TX. No point in contributing to the growing number of annoying transplants that drive up the rent and manhattanize the city more than it already has been.

[Nineties Flava]

Originally Posted by andyadhi01

People in SF don't seem to have a problem with Whole Foods (even though its from Texas) and Starbucks though! I guess chains are okay as long as these hypocrites can act snooty and give the holier-than-thou speech to rest of the country.

That's because they cater to the population that was already here.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by andyadhi01

Well its only a matter of time before economic competitiveness triumphs over hippie sentimentalism and fascination with old and dysfunctional relics! Such are the ways of capitalism whether you like it or not

That character ADDS to SF's economic competitiveness because it makes it a more attractive city, and that is a comparative advantage SF has, especially considering how important tourism is to SF's economy.

Why don't you just move to LA if you feel that way? (Although I'd recommend you stay out of Venice, Silver Lake, and Echo Park if you do....)

[majoun]

Originally Posted by andyadhi01

People in SF don't seem to have a problem with Whole Foods (even though its from Texas) and Starbucks though! I guess chains are okay as long as these hypocrites can act snooty and give the holier-than-thou speech to rest of the country.

I personally don't patronize Starbucks and I wouldn't patronize Whole Foods even if I could afford it.

[andyadhi01]

Originally Posted by majoun

I personally don't patronize Starbucks and I wouldn't patronize Whole Foods even if I could afford it.

You might be an exception but most people in SF seem to have an orgasm when they think about doing grocery in Whole Foods. Its not just doing grocery, its like a huge lifestyle statement here. After all their status goes up among their peers if they shop at Whole Foods. Only a super phony would define themselves by their shopping preferences. They complain about business practices Walmart which has significantly lowered the cost of drugs in US market, yet shop at Whole Foods whose CEO is a big vocal opponent of universal health care. So much so for an enlightened populace the city boasts to have.....it's more like hypocrite galore!

[Nineties Flava]

Originally Posted by andyadhi01

You might be an exception but most people in SF seem to have an orgasm when they think about doing grocery in Whole Foods. Its not just doing grocery, its like a huge lifestyle statement here. After all their status goes up among their peers if they shop at Whole Foods. Only a super phony would define themselves by their shopping preferences. They complain about business practices Walmart which has significantly lowered the cost of drugs in US market, yet shop at Whole Foods whose CEO is a big vocal opponent of universal health care. So much so for an enlightened populace the city boasts to have.....it's more like hypocrite galore!

Maybe you need to change the crowd you hang around.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by andyadhi01

You might be an exception but most people in SF seem to have an orgasm when they think about doing grocery in Whole Foods. Its not just doing grocery, its like a huge lifestyle statement here. After all their status goes up among their peers if they shop at Whole Foods. Only a super phony would define themselves by their shopping preferences. They complain about business practices Walmart which has significantly lowered the cost of drugs in US market, yet shop at Whole Foods whose CEO is a big vocal opponent of universal health care. So much so for an enlightened populace the city boasts to have.....it's more like hypocrite galore!

Um, you have to admit that Whole Foods offers a superior grocery shopping experience than most places. In terms of store amenities and layouts.

Many Bay Area people shop at WF because it matches their ideals: green, sustainable, organic, high quality, high variety. Other indie markets with the same ideals do equally as well (Bi-rite, Mollie Stone) it is just a lot harder for a smaller organization to make it through the ridiculous planning department hurdles.

Walmart, on the whole doesn't match these "ideals" since its grown based on cheap labor and so on. And SF has never been in the position where the only shopping option is Walmart. Walmart is supported by places that have no options.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by jade408

Um, you have to admit that Whole Foods offers a superior grocery shopping experience than most places. In terms of store amenities and layouts.

Many Bay Area people shop at WF because it matches their ideals: green, sustainable, organic, high quality, high variety.

More like snob appeal. That's what keeps WF going in and out of the Bay Area.

[Setsuko]

I don't go to the supermarket to socialize, I go to shop and you have to admit, whole foods has a superior product to Vons/Safeway, Walmart, Lucky's. Etc. The meats are better so are the fruits and veggies. They also have a larger selection. Not sure what it matters the personality of people who shop there. What does that have to do with anything? Who cares. As for price, it's really not that much of a difference between WF and Safeway or Vons, if any difference at all.

[Radical347]

Originally Posted by Setsuko

I don't go to the supermarket to socialize, I go to shop and you have to admit, whole foods has a superior product to Vons/Safeway, Walmart, Lucky's. Etc. The meats are better so are the fruits and veggies. They also have a larger selection. Not sure what it matters the personality of people who shop there. What does that have to do with anything? Who cares. As for price, it's really not that much of a difference between WF and Safeway or Vons, if any difference at all.

Yeah, this is true. People rail on Whole Foods for being "Whole Paycheck" but really for most things Safeway is just as expensive, and much worse quality.

It was different 10 years ago. That was partially because they carried high-end brands that nobody else carried and these were more expensive. But they've started carrying middle-range (and yet still high quality) brands (like their in house "365") and the prices of produce has come down quite a bit, in fact it's comparable (and usually cheaper, for organic produce) than Safeway. Meats are on average are still more costly, but they're also much better quality. Usually I get meats at Whole Foods and produce at farmers markets.