Why are there no quality grocery stores in OKC? (Oklahoma City: hotel, college)

[Goodpasture]

what ethnic are you talking about?

The Chinese Supermarket has all the oriental you want. There is a Hispanic market south of I 40 i midtown that has most of what I look for in New Mexico and south Texas. Not sure where you find Italian, Greek, German, etc....but I bet I could find them without too much problem.

[Annemieke Roell]

Originally Posted by colleeng47

Hey Schousse, if I wanted to find "ethnic" stores in OKC, how do I go about it?

Well, we usually find them by accident, but there are a ton of them. Let me look into that. I know of several Mexican and Oriental markets. Just not their locations off the top of my head.

GP .... can you help here?

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Schousse

I doubt it. I am not familiar with Trader Joe's but considering there are multiple locations on both coasts I can only assume that it is more of the same ..... inflated prices for underwhelming quality. Like Whole Foods.

I'll just stick with my ethnic stores .... thanks

Ethnics are fine, but Trader Joes is nothing like you are imagining. Quite the contrary, they are moderately priced, have a good selections of wine, gourmet foods and yes, regular goods, not the organic overprices produce. You can often find produce in trader Joes that you don't find everywhere. It varies from week to week. Aritchokes are usually dirt cheap and they have the baby ones, great for appitizers or just for regular meals. I have gotten baby pearl onions there, so inexpensive I can't believe it, and the cheese selection is the best around or almost.

The rumor is, Trader Joe's will not come to the south including OK and TX until they can build a warehouse. Why they can't build one, beats me but that is the story.

Just wanted to let you know, there is very little comparison between Trader Joes and Whole foods.

Nita

[colleeng47]

Originally Posted by Goodpasture

what ethnic are you talking about?
.

Primarily Greek, Italian, Mexican and Oriental. I have seen Mexican and Oriental, but no Italian or Greek. German would be good too.

[Goodpasture]

For German........I am not familiar with any German suppliers in the area. I would imagine one of the German Restaurants would have information for you. I know in Tulsa there are several Persian restaurants that have middle eastern and Greek styled foods available. Canned and dried foods can be purchased on line.

I guess I am lucky.....I prefer steaks and simple foods. I can't think of anything better than a 20 ounce Ribeye with some sauteed mushrooms and some fresh picked grilled squash. I really don't care that much for Kim Chee or salty goat cheese, or pasta. Give me smoked ribs, goose, goat, pork or chicken anytime. Just straight meats with fresh veggies.......there isn't a cusine in the world that can compete.

[colleeng47]

Originally Posted by Goodpasture

For German........I am not familiar with any German suppliers in the area. I would imagine one of the German Restaurants would have information for you. I know in Tulsa there are several Persian restaurants that have middle eastern and Greek styled foods available. Canned and dried foods can be purchased on line.

I guess I am lucky.....I prefer steaks and simple foods. I can't think of anything better than a 20 ounce Ribeye with some sauteed mushrooms and some fresh picked grilled squash. I really don't care that much for Kim Chee or salty goat cheese, or pasta. Give me smoked ribs, goose, goat, pork or chicken anytime. Just straight meats with fresh veggies.......there isn't a cusine in the world that can compete.

I like that stuff too, but I also like the gourmet cheeses, the various things available at an olive bar, and some of the more exotic pastas. I'm actually not a big meat eater. I've eaten more since we moved here, but it's not my first choice. I would LOVE to find a decent seafood store.

[Goodpasture]

Originally Posted by colleeng47

I would LOVE to find a decent seafood store.

I do't know of any to speak of in OKC, but Tulsa has two good seafood markets.........White River Market on north Sheridan (has been written up in Gourmet Magazine and has been there since 1938. And Bodeans at 51st ahd Harvard area.......more upscale and a bit more pricey, but very very good.

[colleeng47]

Originally Posted by Goodpasture

I do't know of any to speak of in OKC, but Tulsa has two good seafood markets.........White River Market on north Sheridan (has been written up in Gourmet Magazine and has been there since 1938. And Bodeans at 51st ahd Harvard area.......more upscale and a bit more pricey, but very very good.

Thanks, it will probably be worth the trip up there with my cooler to stock up.

[houston transplant]

It is hard for Oklahoma City people to understand what a great grocery store is if you have never been to one. Whole Foods, HEB Central Market, Trader Joe's and Sprouts are all great stores that have great selections of gourmet and regular grocery items. Whole Foods is on the high side, but an HEB Super Store, (not their huge Central Market concept) would thrive. Their prices are the lowest in town and the quality of their produce, seafood and meat is top notch. Sprouts is a small model with great prices on produce and meat including herbs and vitamins as well as organics. Unfortunatly these models all require the profits from wine and imported beer sales to offset their low prices on food. The median income in the Oklahoma market is alot different than incomes on the east or west coast, therefore wine and beer sales would offset this and would incourage these companies to invest in the Oklahoma market.

[okcpulse]

Originally Posted by houston transplant

It is hard for Oklahoma City people to understand what a great grocery store is if you have never been to one. Whole Foods, HEB Central Market, Trader Joe's and Sprouts are all great stores that have great selections of gourmet and regular grocery items. Whole Foods is on the high side, but an HEB Super Store, (not their huge Central Market concept) would thrive. Their prices are the lowest in town and the quality of their produce, seafood and meat is top notch. Sprouts is a small model with great prices on produce and meat including herbs and vitamins as well as organics. Unfortunatly these models all require the profits from wine and imported beer sales to offset their low prices on food. The median income in the Oklahoma market is alot different than incomes on the east or west coast, therefore wine and beer sales would offset this and would incourage these companies to invest in the Oklahoma market.

houston transplant,

I support wine sales in supermarkets in Oklahoma, however I disagree with your assessment on those models requiring wine and beer sales to offset lower prices on food. These stores have locations in states that do not allow wine sales in grocery stores such as Kansas, Colorado and Utah.

Income in Oklahoma is on the rise, and fast, but median income is a poor way to measure the wealth of the local economy. Per capita personal income is the best way to measure wealth in a city, county and state.

Moreover, many people in Oklahoma City have been to Texas, namely Dallas, and have shopped at HEB, Whole Foods (a location already exists in Tulsa) and the like. I guarantee that if one of these grocery stores were to set up shop in OKC, they'd make a killing. Right now Wal-Mart is holding us hostage.