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Boise Co-Op will always be the King of organic in Boise no matter which store comes to town, but Whole Foods will do fine here, it will be a hit. There are too many people here who have moved from other cities that had a Whole Foods and they are going to support the new store in Boise. There are over 600,000 people in this valley so there are more than enough people to support this new Whole Foods. This valley could easily support a second Whole Foods out in Eagle or Meridian if that time comes.
Agreed. And... it would probably do quite well in that area of Eagle and Meridian.
Because we are discussing organic food I thought I would post this link about a new Brown Box Organics Market which is opening at the 36th Street Garden Plaza at Hill Road in July/August. I have not been there yet, I've just seen it from the street, but this is a great way to support locally grown/produced organic goods and support a local business and local growers
Will the poor schlubs who work there in low paying positions be able to afford to shop there? Whole Foods is an elitist company whose products are made to make rich liberals feel better about shopping and what they eat. They've done enormous damage to small indie organic producers. They're sort of the Walmart of organic food. They may be coming to Boise but unless there are enough well to do people willing to pay their outrageous prices they will fail. I wouldn't think of shopping at one but you go ahead and welcome them.
If this valley can support an overpriced Albertsons on every corner it can support a Whole Foods. Most of us will continue to go to Winco and Costco as well. It's not really the kind of place most people do 100% of their shopping, you usually go there just to pick up a few things.
Save the "elitist" and "liberal" comments for a topic where they're actually relevant. Not everything is about politics.
Is it a good thing? We have the co-op which is obviously a local cooperative. Isn't whole foods just Yippie Wal-Mart? Why is it going to be any better than the co-op. I think it would be good to build out in West Boise or Meridian, where an option like the co-op isn't available, but only a few blocks from the North-End seems like it is trying to compete with the co-op. In a few years the co-op will close and every one will be crying about how we lost a Boise gem to another large faceless chain.
Is it a good thing? We have the co-op which is obviously a local cooperative. Isn't whole foods just Yippie Wal-Mart? Why is it going to be any better than the co-op. I think it would be good to build out in West Boise or Meridian, where an option like the co-op isn't available, but only a few blocks from the North-End seems like it is trying to compete with the co-op. In a few years the co-op will close and every one will be crying about how we lost a Boise gem to another large faceless chain.
RIP
I understand what you are stating, but again in a valley of over 600,000 people there is more than enough room for more organic grocers. I really think that people who love the Co-op, which there are many who do--thousands who do, will continue to support the Co-op and Whole Foods will attract a lot of suburbanites who don't want to pay the membership fee at the Co-op. A friend of mine who works at a Whole Foods in Portland said that the chain usually prefers to open stores in downtown areas, not the burbs unless a city already has a store in their downtown. If Boise was a city the size of Twin Falls I would be worried about Whole Foods opening up near the Co-Op, but Boise is a pretty decent sized city.
Will the poor schlubs who work there in low paying positions be able to afford to shop there? Whole Foods is an elitist company whose products are made to make rich liberals feel better about shopping and what they eat. They've done enormous damage to small indie organic producers. They're sort of the Walmart of organic food. They may be coming to Boise but unless there are enough well to do people willing to pay their outrageous prices they will fail. I wouldn't think of shopping at one but you go ahead and welcome them.
Probably not. There are a few Whole Foods stores in my area and we don't call them "Whole paycheck" for nothing! Granted, the raw meats, seafood, poultry, deli, and the prepared foods are very good but very overpriced. It is more of a once-in-a-while treat to go pick up some gigantic scallops or something special from there, but not for all your regular shopping unless you have deep pockets.
Quote:
Originally Posted by truckingbronco
If this valley can support an overpriced Albertsons on every corner it can support a Whole Foods. Most of us will continue to go to Winco and Costco as well. It's not really the kind of place most people do 100% of their shopping, you usually go there just to pick up a few things.
Save the "elitist" and "liberal" comments for a topic where they're actually relevant. Not everything is about politics .
"Will the poor schlubs who work there in low paying positions be able to afford to shop there?"
-Whole Foods Team Members are eligible for up to 30% discount on all purchases. WFM Team Members health insurance premium is paid 100% by WFM as well, so money saved there can also go to more healthy, organic food
"Why is it going to be any better than the co-op?"
-Well, you can start with better selection/better variety - including complete meat, poultry, and seafood departments. European hearth breads baked on the premises. Comprehensive beer and wine departments, with regular wine and beer tastings. Any cheeses cut to order to any size you want. Plenty of parking. Plenty of cash registers. Clean stores. Those are some things that come to mind, there are many more reasons why WFM will be better than any co-op. No, not a local company, but the Boise WFM will sell a greater variety of local Idaho products, and will sell a higher volume of local Idaho products, than all of the co-ops in Idaho combined.
Last edited by blurooster; 08-05-2010 at 06:12 PM..
"Boise Co-Op will always be the King of organic in Boise no matter which store comes to town"
What? Have you ever been in a Whole Foods Market? Last time I was in BC, I counted about 35 organic produce items. Whole Foods usually has a large sign hanging in the produce dept clearly stating how many organic items they have that day. In Boulder, CO last month - 136 organic fruits and vegetables on the day I was in. So you must mean Boise Co-op is "king" for sentimental or historic reasons, but not for quality or quantity of organic produce.
Like I said, I also bet most of these supporters are young, better off liberals who came to Idaho from places like California, Oregon, Washington, etc. WF is indeed an elitist business that has hurt, like Walmart, smaller local businesses. It's phony baloney organic food that costs way more than it should or than normal, average, non-elitists can afford. I bet you'll get their oh-so-cool organic shopping bags and leave them where others will see how tres cool you are too.
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