Houston's The Fresh Market vs Whole Foods - which do you prefer and why?

[Zhang Fei]

Originally Posted by madrone2k

I like Central Market, but I don't like fighting the crowd at the sole CM location in Houston. Consequently, I was in the habit of going to the other Rice across from it. I find it really strange that Houston has only one CM, while DFW has, like, 5? I guess they either thought Houston "wasn't worthy" or perhaps they changed their strategy toward one of offering more upscale HEBs here.

Given the high profit margins of upscale grocery stores, I'm very surprised HEB hasn't followed the lead of Whole Foods, its Austin-based counterpart, and expanded into affluent markets nationwide. As it is, there are only nine Central Market stores, and all are in TX.

[golferadam]

The Fresh Market on Memorial is great. The customer service could be a bit better, but there seem to be good managers running things there. I have never been to Whole Foods so I can't compare, but I will probably check it out when it opens at Bunker Hill and I-10.

[madrone2k]

I used to shop at the Rice Epicurean on Memorial at Lantern Lane. It was great, perhaps the last holdout of old-time Houston grocery stores. I think that one turned into a Fresh Market, so I'm glad you like it.

Time change. I remember my dad recalling that the developer of the Lantern Lane shopping center mailed a letter to residents of the area when he was originally opening the center, apparently asking their support despite the commercial incursion into the Memorial area. I have other memories of that shopping center, but ultimately, I think it served its local area well.

[fnh]

I've been a Whole Foods shopper since almost the beginning, since the '80s in Austin. It may sound corny to cynics but as a business it strives for integrity at every level and I want to support that. You have to hand it to WFM, it has generated a sea change in the way people in this country shop for food.

I haven't been to Fresh Market to compare but at lunch recently two of my friends described it as 'meh'. From the previous posts it sounds as if FM's niche is pre-prepared foods, which we only very rarely buy anyway. But I'll stop in at some point.

[sonic0boom]

Originally Posted by madrone2k

I like Central Market, but I don't like fighting the crowd at the sole CM location in Houston. Consequently, I was in the habit of going to the other Rice across from it. I find it really strange that Houston has only one CM, while DFW has, like, 5? I guess they either thought Houston "wasn't worthy" or perhaps they changed their strategy toward one of offering more upscale HEBs here.

Your latter assumption is correct. I, too, would like to see another CM, but their Houston strategy is to offer the upscale HEBs with CM-features.

[Pairodice25]

Are there any of these places near 45 & 1960? I google mapped but cannot find them...

[placidian]

Fresh Market on Memorial closes at 9 pm. LAME. =(

[TXbywayof]

You can't really compare the two. Whole Foods leans organic/natural, The Fresh Market leans more gourmet. I love them both! Madrone, I am with you, I love Central Market the best but I hate fighting the location and their clientele. Why does DFW get several locations and Houston gets one lousy location? While I do like the hybrid HEB store, it still isn't Central Market.