Chicagoist: Market: Whole Foods Northalsted

guest

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 00:09:37 -0600

I was very disappointed that this store has eliminated bulk food with their Whole Paycheck strategy. The selection is more meager with every trip to other Whole Foods. Hopefully they won't takeover and ruin the Wild Oats store in Evanston, so I can still go there for flax seed, wheat berries, and other healthy whole foods. With Sherwyn's now kaput, Wild Oats should come to Lincoln Park/Lakeview. And how did the Center on Halsted manage to ignore bike racks?

guest

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 11:53:19 -0600

"Lakeview NEEDS another grocery store! If you consider the population density and the lack of a grocery store in the area bordered from Lakeshore, Belmont, Ashland, and Diversy. There is nothing inside that box." Yeah, nothing "inside" that box, but there is a Marketplace on the south side of Diversey, a Jewel on the west side of Ashland and another Whole Foods a block from Belmont/Ashland. That's absurd line drawing to make a point. How about Broadway/Belmont/Southport/Diversey which doesn't rely on technicalities to be accurate?

JamesR

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 11:01:36 -0600

Obviously not John Mackey. Really just stating the facts. Peronsally, I wish more companies were like WF.

guest

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 10:39:28 -0600

WF is a wonderful company that makes a positive impact on the lives of workers, local communities and the underprivileged through its millions of dollars in charitable contributions. Plus it offers great/healthy food and it is a fun place to go! Uhh, thank you John Mackey.

guest

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 07:12:41 -0600

I cannot fathom how anyone would long for that horror known as the Broadway Dominick's with it's near rotten produce,the graying occupants of it's meat case, and deli selling all the newest and hippest pastries from 1978. As it burned that summer day two years ago, I commented to a stranger standing next to me. "I wonder if they'll upgrade the store interior now?" Treasure Island has it's work cut out for it with the arrival of Whole Foods. And, that's good for the neighborhood shopper. In the past few weeks, I have noticed a substantial upgrade in the quality of what TI sells on both it's fish and seafood counters. I only hope that they can meet the challenge with regard to their produce and deli areas, too. The Whole Foods Store is lovely. But, in three visits in the past week, i have yet to exit without dropping at least a hundred bucks.

JamesR

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 06:39:42 -0600

"Look at their survey methodology -- flaws galore." -- where are your facts to back up this statement. "And whether or not most of its employees are "quite happy to work for the company" is completely irrelevant to the issue of workers' rights." -- ?????? this comment makes no sense "In any case, saying Whole Foods is one of the top companies to work for in the U.S. isn't saying much." "You know - the type of democracy that actually means something." -- honestly sounds like you have much bigger issues that with Whole Foods. WF is a wonderful company that makes a positive impact on the lives of workers, local communities and the underprivileged through its millions of dollars in charitable contributions. Plus it offers great/healthy food and it is a fun place to go!

been hecht

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 03:09:27 -0600

My gawd, this 'review' seems like it is straight outta the Red Eye.

Jason Guthartz

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 23:46:13 -0600

Well, whatever Fortune magazine reports must be true. (wow) Look at their survey methodology -- flaws galore. In any case, saying Whole Foods is one of the top companies to work for in the U.S. isn't saying much. And whether or not most of its employees are "quite happy to work for the company" is completely irrelevant to the issue of workers' rights. The problem is the company's attitude and actions towards workers who want to strengthen their bargaining position and have a greater voice in how the company is run. You know - the type of democracy that actually means something.

guest

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 23:42:41 -0600

To the guest who mentioned the fact that the Whole Foods is in the Center on Halsted, while that's a good point, the author of this piece didn't mention it in the article. This writer must be new or something. A review of a store that's no different than any other Whole Foods except for its placement in/by the Center on Halsted and that part doesn't even get mentioned? I hope for Chicagoist sake this writer is new. Don't worry, you might be able to train her yet!

JamesR

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 23:10:33 -0600

Anti-worker policies? Whole Foods has ranked as one of the top 100 companies to work for in the US (among all companies) in each of the past 10 years. In the 2007, Whole Foods ranked 5. I believe Whole Food's employees are quite happy to work for the company. http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/fortune/0701/gallery.bestcos/5.html

Jason Guthartz

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 22:18:50 -0600

"But walking around the large airy store with Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Starting Something” playing in the background, we quickly forgot all about our faux pas as well as that of Whole Foods CEO John Mackey and his Wild Oats Market blog bashing" Can MJ also make you forget Whole Foods' anti-worker policies?

guest

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 16:01:23 -0600

Lakeview NEEDS another grocery store! If you consider the population density and the lack of a grocery store in the area bordered from Lakeshore, Belmont, Ashland, and Diversy. There is nothing inside that box. Up north, there are more stores but for people who don't have a car this is an excellent new option for purchasing top quality food!

Shannon

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:44:34 -0600

i personally am jazzed cuz i could just hop the #8 bus to these new digs from my place. a little more troublesome to get the broadway bus for me.

guest

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:28:58 -0600

"a neighborhood that doesn't have much in the way of grocery stores"... say what? Within a couple blocks of this new Whole Foods are both a Jewel/Osco (Broadway & Addison) and a Treasure Island (Broadway & Cornelia). A slightly longer walk north leads to another Jewel/Osco at Sheridan & Montrose. I fail to see how the neighborhood "doesn't have much in the way of grocery stores." But mind you, I'm cool with this new Whole Foods store. It's walking distance for me, and it provides stuff that the Jewels don't have. I will probably mainly be using this Whole Foods as a supplement for the more hard-to-find gourmet items, for the ready made meal options listed above like the stir-fry rice bowl counter, and for the amazing pastry counter. (drrooooool.)

guest

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:24:22 -0600

This is also a worthy review becuase the Whole Foods is renting space from the new Center on Halstead. Not only is the Center an amazing new community center, but the building takes environmental construction to a new level of sophistication for Chicago.

guest

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:10:59 -0600

YES! to that last comment. I live in the hood, too, so I'm happy about the new store as well, especially since the spot where the Dominick's once stood--a mere block or two from me--is still vacant. And please, I would love some recommendations to check out so bring 'em on.

guest

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:06:11 -0600

Is this really abut what isn't out there? Or ... is this about a big addition to a neighborhood that doesn't have much in the way of grocery stores? Either Chicagoist could sit and whine about the lack of these "quality" indpendent stores or bemoan a burned dwon Dominicks ... or, they could review the one that is now acutally standing there. Chain or no chain. Which is what they did. Geez.

guest

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 13:54:20 -0600

It's not a matter of "Mom and Pop vs. the Chains." The point is that the opening of another chain store supermarket in the city is not noteworthy. I am not sure why this merits a post other than, perhaps, the Chicagoist writers are running out of ideas.

guest

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 13:15:35 -0600

Where are the Mom and Pop food stores in Lakeview? The neighborhood definitely needs more food stores escpecially since nobody has done anything to fill the void left by the Dominick's that burned down. Treasure Island in Lakeview East is definitely an Independent grocer, but they operate a very different concept from Whole Foods.

guest

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 13:02:06 -0600

Shhh....don't tell anyone about the Peterson Ave. Target!!!

guest

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 13:01:01 -0600

Hmmm, I guess I come from the school of thought that not all chains are bad. And while I prefer catering to mom and pops, I don't assume just because a store is independently owned that makes them great either. But that's just me.

guest

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 12:38:11 -0600

Great. A review of a chain grocery store. I can't wait for your take on the Peterson Ave. Target.