New Fresco market (Pasadena, Highland, Monterey: for sale, neighborhood, living in)

[CALGUY]

For those living in the Monterey Hills, Hermon, Highland park, and South Pasadena areas, the Fresco market finally opened.
If you have been there, what are your opinions of this market?
I think they tried very hard to be an enormous Trader Joe's.
To say the least, they are a bit pricey.
The store is beautiful compared to what was there before.
I think they have way to many employees though.
Great place, but I can't afford to shop there.
Bob.

[Lovehound]

Sounds like Whole Foods Market, really really great stuff but too expensive. What I love about Trader Joe's is that they have good products at good prices.

By the way, anybody who wants to find good prices should try some of the ethnic markets. Latino: Vallarta Market. Asian: Bang Luck Market (in Reseda) and Greenland Market (in Van Nuys), 99 Ranch Market (also Van Nuys). You have to be price aware in the ethnic markets and know how they compare with your local Ralphs, Von's, Albertson's, etc. For example Greenland has really great seafood prices but meat is as expensive or more expensive than Ralphs. However Greenland's produce is about half or two-thirds Ralphs prices and often better quality. It feels a bit strange to go into some of these markets and almost all the customers are Latino (Vallarta) or Asian (Bang Luck, Greenland) but you get over that quickly (unless you're Latino or Asian of course). I've saved huge amounts of my grocery expenses by shopping at ethnic markets!

By the way I love "Two Buck Chuck" (Charles Shaw) wines at Trader Joe's, $1.99 per 750 mL bottle and IMO comparable to wines sold in big chain markets for $10-$20.


Note: You'll have to check in your own neighborhood for ethnic markets. I know "Valley" because of course that's where I live and shop.

[Juvo]

This is a wonderful breath of fresh air for this area. I've lived in this area for over 30 years now and this is the first (of many markets in the same location) that is a "true" market. It's clean and the staff is very nice and helpful and I love the coffee shop inside the store.
I love the philosophy of the market, in the people they hire and why the store got started in the first place.
I really want this market to make it, although as much as I go there, I too wish they would reduce the prices of everything so they can at least compete with other markets in the area. In this economy we have right now, price does matter to most of us.
I love the fact that they BBQ right out front of the store and then sell the meats and veggies inside (great idea!).
The veggies for sale in the fresh produce area seem to be too few and not as fresh as when the store first opened. I guess it's because the prices are a bit too high and they don't sell as fast as they should.
I will keep going there in hopes things improve. It is a must to check out despite the price.