Chicagoist: The New Kid on the Block

Rhonda

Tue, 12 Sep 2006 07:35:39 -0600

I am very impressed with Sunflower Market. The produce section is awesome. The variety and freshness totally seperate it from Trader Joes and Whole Paycheck. The all glass produce cooler is amazing, and the presentation was beautiful. The bakery has some tasty treats also! I sampled some cookies and had some organic plums and starfruit. I will definately be comming once or twice a week for their produce alone.

Paula

Tue, 05 Sep 2006 20:50:41 -0600

Regarding Michelle's Post about the rude check out clerk. It seems sort of judgemental to write off a new store just because one check out person got overly excited/obnoxious about a novelty technology. That is just one person!!! Did you try those organic nectarines? How about the cool produce room? The food was yummy and everyone I saw there was super nice. I've been there 3 times now and all they were all fine. Give it them another try - I think a new store deserves as much. I get a little worked up when a person takes one single data point and uses it to rip down an entire store. I am so happy that they are even here. Let's give them a chance.

Mr. Smith

Tue, 05 Sep 2006 13:43:18 -0600

SPD and Mike> Thanks for the tech heads-up. I think most of us are using Firefox or some other browser so we don't always see stuff like this. We had some CSS stuff set up but with all the tech problems we had in the last month, we stopped using them. We're going to switch back soon and this kind of stuff should no longer be a problem.

K

Tue, 05 Sep 2006 12:20:47 -0600

Those girls look like they just came from a Filipino car show.

nick

Sun, 03 Sep 2006 13:19:49 -0600

was she dressed in one of those funny green vinyl costumes during the argument?

Michelle

Sat, 02 Sep 2006 19:22:51 -0600

I went here today and everything was fantastic until I got to the checkout area. While I was purchasing my groceries, a very pushy member of the sales staff, what looked to be a manager, asked me if I wanted to sign up for the 'finger print' option of payment. I politely declined. Then she kept pushing why. I started to say that it made me uncomfortable and I didn't fully trust it when she went OFF. She then proceeded to lecture me on why people were afraid of ATMs at first, but that it was harmless and trustworthy. I tried to continue on to say that I just didn't want to try it and she interrupted me again to keep going. Finally, she let it go, after treating me very rudely, but when she asked my roommate, who was purchasing groceries behind me, and I shuddered a 'man, I just can't do that' and said, 'it just doesn't feel right,' she went OFF again and asked if I was speaking for my roommate, now, or if I was good enough to let my roommate finish. It was off-putting and there was no way I deserved that treatment. She pressed on, speaking condescendingly the entire time, and ignored everything I had to say after that point. The gentleman in charge of the sign-up was laughing at the exchange the entire time. I felt mortified and confused why she acted like that. I don't think I can shop at a place where someone makes me feel bad for not wanting to do something that is completely optional and is a giant bitch throughout the process. I wondered how she spoke to people who were actually rude in response to her request.

Paula

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 19:14:29 -0600

I went to that Sunflower Market today. It is pretty awesome. Their produce is as good as I have seen. The prices are way cheaper than Whole Foods. The whole plaze felt different - sort of a little European Market - very cute. They are also close to Trader Joes so I can just blow off Whole Paycheck now and shop Sunflower and Trader Joe's.

SPD

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 14:49:54 -0600

Mike

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 12:12:46 -0600

Scott, FYI, in my browser (IE6), the lede is bumped off to the side, which is why a previous poster asked for the address. I didn't see it at first either. I agree with the sentiment of previous posters. When I saw this was at 1910 Clyborn, I thought, "oh well it might as well be on Mars." I won't go near the Schumburd-in-the-city that is that area. I live in dense, gay/professional-heavy Edgewater (near Thorndale and Broadway) and, other than a very small organic market that I am in no way knocking, we don't have jack shit in the way of this kind of retail. None of these companies seem to want to "gamble" on sorry old Edgewater, even though a TJs would be absolutely mobbed if they opened one here. It's really frustrating.

mn

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 10:30:14 -0600

Too bad you have to dig to find this information but the last poster is correct, Sunflower is owned my the mega-chain "Supervalu"... try this link http://www.supervalu.com/sv-webapp/retail/banners/sunflower.jsp That is not to say they dont have good food, afterall Trader Joe's is owned by the same family that owns Aldi.

Jackie Huba

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 22:58:58 -0600

Did the manager mention that Sunflower Markets is a division of the mega-supermarket chain Supervalue, which includes Jewel-Osco and Albertons? http://www.supervalu.com/sv-webapp/retail/retail.jsp Guess the big boys are finally seeing the value in organic.

Spook

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 17:24:47 -0600

"Looks like Sunflower Market is doing the same thing. All the progressive grocery stores bundled in all the high income areas. that fucking sucks" Word! Especially after FINALLY getting tired after five years of playing "fish for non spoiled packaged meat at Tanguis "Fresh Foods" in Logan Square. I have to open, smell and toss that, that’s clearly spoiled back and purchasing what remains. Yesterday, I actually tossed back moldy pork. So I finally called 311 and then the health inspector the next day. After five years I'm just tired of it

navin

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 11:43:51 -0600

Looks like Sunflower Market is doing the same thing. All the progressive grocery stores bundled in all the high income areas. that fucking sucks. Yeah I was thinking the same thing. I'm actually shocked that a Trader Joes or something hasn't opened in the Wicker/Ukranian/Bucktown area. The area's certainly not lacking for people with enough money and interest to shop there. Seems like a no-brainer.

FUNKY LC

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 10:51:27 -0600

i was at trader joe's the other day and there was a sign at the checkout mentioning new stores opening soon in chicago. i asked where, and he rambled out locations where all the new whole foods are opening. south loop, broadway/lakeview, etc...positioned exactly how TJ's are now, a few blocks from a Whole Foods. what about sharing the good food love to communities that new, clean, and nice grocery options? Like Hyde Park, South Shore, Logan Square, Old Irving? Looks like Sunflower Market is doing the same thing. All the progressive grocery stores bundled in all the high income areas. that fucking sucks. BUT Sunflower market has this totally cute vitual sunflower you can download from there website. you water it and watch it grow!!! mine just flowered!

spook

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 10:44:28 -0600

does anyone else find the fetish GoGo dancers a little odd? Funny how people's bedroom "kinks" get consciously expressed in the working world

Mr. Smith

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 09:43:53 -0600

Yesterday Chicagoist checked out the new kid on the organic grocery store block, Sunflower Markets. Located at 1910 N. Clybourn Avenue and festooned in orange and yellow...

Peter

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 08:52:39 -0600

Location?

RDuffy

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 00:31:44 -0600

Hey, I'll have to check this place out. Funny that there are so many 'health' stores juxtaposed right next to the junkyard where they crush cars, and the air always smells like coolant fluid and battery acid.

Benjy

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 20:30:31 -0600

I'm thining they roll with Franco...

Gorfn

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 18:35:41 -0600

does anyone else find the fetish GoGo dancers a little odd? Odd?? I'm lovin' it! If those dames are there all the time, this is my new grocery!

Zak

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 17:11:52 -0600

I'm intrigued as hell at the prospect of organic foods at reasonable prices...but...does anyone else find the fetish GoGo dancers a little odd?

SPD

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 16:45:22 -0600

Your link to the Chicago Soydairy site is broken. Not that I give a fuck for anything soy, but I hate broken links on Web pages.