Hi friends ... how are you?
I know some of you will go to any lengths to avoid grocery shopping, but I've a new favorite past time ....
hanging out at Kroegers (aka, Fry's).
It was a sad, sad day when I first moved to Arizona and discovered there were no Publix supermarkets. Neither was there any Hellman's Mayonnaise .... practically a Deal Breaker before Tom informed me, "West of the Rockies it's sold as Best Foods." (Now, that commercial jingle makes sense: "Bring out the Hellman's and bring out the Best!")
OK, I digress. Again.
Anyway. I appreciate that someone smarter than myself discovered a long time ago, consumers are drawn to good lighting, wide aisles and clean, attractive displays. I think Kroger takes it one step further, hiring folks who, for the most part, seem to love what they're doing. One cashier confided he'd left his corporate managerial role, because he "enjoys making people happy."
So all was well until my hair guru asked one day if I'd checked out the new Camelback store. It's a few miles further, but boy oh-boy! (Oh-boy!)
This is but one section of their more than 100 varieties of cheese. They've even a 'concierge' who makes recommendations and logs customers' favorites! Once she let me sample the Espresso Bellavitano, I was a fan. Similarly, DH enjoys their whiskey cheddar. I told Tom, I may as well start rooting for the Green Bay Packers, on account I'm becoming a real cheese head!
A few feet away, a fellow was preparing and distributing samples of rib-eye steak. It's hard to make out, but their sign says, "We will gladly grill your meat or seafood purchases free of charge."
I can easily imagine the adjacent bar becoming the latest place for young people to go enjoy a nice glass of wine and steak dinner - at a fraction of the price - before bringing home the Pampers.
Tom's not as easily impressed; I think he's privately amused at my 'oohs and ahhs.' Kroger has a similar store in north Phoenix where they even feature complimentary valet parking!
What he not so amused by, I've developed the silly habit of placing our groceries on the roller-thingy, first by taxable v. non-taxable, then by category. (OCD, much?) Hey, it makes me happy and no-one's getting hurt.
* * *
Such a creature of habit, I am ... buying products because "that's what mother used", etc., etc.
Does anyone else do the same thing?
So, MadSnapper ...I finally broke down and purchased my first bottle of Dawn detergent the other day. :)
Except when I was rinsing the dinner dishes and those adorable little bubbles rose and exploded, there came to mind an olden, unmistakable scent of .... Geritol!
Remember?
Troy's dad (aka, my 'starter' husband) used to give it to me for 'iron-poor blood.' (LOL)
Now, my 47-y/o little boy says, "Never heard of it." Hmpf.
Like the nice young lady at DSW, he probably doesn't know what oxblood shoes are, either.
Color me, lost in the oldies tonight.
Please, have yourselves a wonderful new week!
Hugs from Phoenix,
Myra
What?? No Hellman's!! Well, I'm glad you get The Best. Never knew that about the jingle. I remember Geritol! And oxblood shoes! Egads I am old!! Thanks for this post. It made me smile!!
ReplyDeleteHappy to learn I'm in good company! :)
DeleteWell, I know what Geritol is. I remember it being a sponsor for...Lawrence Welk? I have no idea what oxblood shoes are, though.
ReplyDeleteMy dad always favored oxblood dress shoes. I remember them being a warm, dark brownish/red ... not necessarily maroon, but more mahogany.
DeleteGeritol and Hellman's I know. And I LOVE Kroger's too. You made me smile.
ReplyDeleteYay, a kindred spirit! Thank you for letting me know that this prompted you to smile.
DeleteWe were in a Frys in Scottsdale last year and it was really impressive with what it had. It too had a wine bar and some other areas for just hanging out (honestly I could have spent my whole day there and not be bored at any time). What amazes me is there is literally (maybe not quite literally, but TONS) of Frys all around; literally on every corner. We do the majority of our shopping at Wal-Mart but use the local Frys for things we need through the week (and take advantage of their fuel points). I do notice the customer service is "over the top" and everyone does make an effort to provide the best service available. I do feel sorry for the guys who bring back the carts. They are always scattered all over. I've adopted the concept of "bring back one" when we shop there. I'll find a cart close to me and wheel it back to the store (Imagine if every one did that, what a world this would be.....oops getting off topic here, imagine how the world would be if we all loved each other as we loved ourselves :)
ReplyDeleteI "loathe" grocery shopping but I am grateful I have the money to grocery shop. It doesn't help that hubby wants to linger down every aisle and I just want to power walk through my list :) (plus these days I just want out as soon as possible since we have the wee one with us and he's been good all the time we have taken him shopping, but I just know there will be that day..........)
betty
Chuckling at the visual of you and your hubby's different shopping styles! Thank you for mentioning those lazy so-and-so's who don't have the decency to return their carts. That makes me so mad!
DeleteI think the funniest story I ever heard about doing things "like mother used to do" was a woman who always cut the end off the roast before putting it in the pan to cook. She just threw the end piece in the pot with the larger piece and cooked as usual. When asked why she did that, she replied "that's the way my mother did ir". After checking with her mother to find out why, her mother replied " because my pan was too small".
ReplyDeleteAmazing how we become creatures of habit and know not why.
Now THAT is hilarious!!!
DeleteI wish we had a Kroger store nearby. We have to drive about 25 miles to the nearest Publix. But I do love that store.
ReplyDeleteR
Being that far, I'll bet y'all are far more organized/disciplined that we! More days than not, Tom thinks of something he needs ... and acts on it.
DeleteI never realized how much I'd miss a wide variety of supermarkets until I moved to a rural area - which has absolutely nothing. If I ever found a place that has 100 varieties of cheese, I'd think I died and was in heaven. I have a hard time convincing the hillbillies here that Swiss cheese exists......
ReplyDeleteI certainly remember Geritol (even though I never thought the day would come when I'd need it). And I knew that Hellman's in the east is Best Foods in the west.
LOL! Well, I don't know that number for a fact, but it sure seems like it.
DeleteBrava for knowing Hellman's is Best! Seems sort of stupid; and I can't begin to describe my angst at the prospect of being separated.
My very first job working after school as a teen was in a bakery in a Krogers store. Sadly they left our area but still exist in some parts of Ohio. None of our local stores offers such fancy amenities. My goodness what a shopping adventure you have there ! Hope you have a wonderful new week too !
ReplyDeleteHow interesting working in that bakery had to be! With competition being what it is, I have to admire the way they think 'outside the box' to capture market share.
DeleteI enjoyed your joy over shopping, I will never feel joy because shopping is a chore, but I rather shop in a pretty store than not. BUTT that said. I shop Walmart because of prices. our Publix is 50 cents to 2.00 more on most items. I live .6 miles from Publix. 17 miles from us, in Lakewood Ranch where the rich folk live, there is a Publix. I used to shop there because it was next door to where I worked. it was just like this new store with cheese and olives and grills. another BUTT here. the prices in that publix were even higher than my closeby publix... so how are the prices in your new find
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I think Kroger's prices are very realistic; competitive with Safeway. I'm not opposed to Wal-Mart, but they're a ways out of our way; plus, the last couple times we shopped there, we encountered associates who were rude, or whose expressions looked like prisoners on death row. Sad.
DeleteWell, I never realized Hellman's and Best were one and the same. Learned something new today! I miss Kroger (from Ohio) but love Publix so am happy with them. A visit to Kroger is a must when we go 'back home'. Oxblood and Geritol....yepper. I'm old.
ReplyDeleteYAY ... another kindred soul! :)
DeleteInteresting, isn't it, what grocers exist in differing parts of the country? Half the ones in Montgomery (AL) I've never heard of.
AS ALWAYS a great visit to your place. Loved the shopping trip. Now if that idea could spread,"We will grill your meat!" Imma liking that! wow never even thought of the idea. The comments today are super also. I think you hit a GEM! THANKS Oh yeah, I assume you never heard of Duke's mayo. hahahaha Hellman's is a good substitute though. LOL
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jack! Like I was telling Ma, there's so much competition, I like how Kroger's comes up with ways to 'woo' their customers. For instance? 'Our' Fry's just down the road is in the process of building covered parking ... with solar shingles atop!
DeleteOh my you tell a story so vividly! I love it! Yesterday after dropping Nick off with his ride, Louis near the airport we came back home but stopped at King Soopers (a/k/a Dillons in KS and Krogers elsewhere)! This mega store sells clothing as well as everything under the sun! They have private parking for the click and order and pick up! HaHaHa! We just wanted bananas and butter pecan ice cream to make sundaes while watching our favorite college basketball team- The Kentucky Wildcats, lose a heartbreaker Sigh Sigh sigh!
ReplyDeleteI always appreciate your beautiful thoughts at my blog and had to stop here before the day really gets away from me! I was hopping about trying to get ideas to make my own journal There are some super talented people out here in blog world! But I still need a hand holding person to say ok here is the lsit of what you need! I did find a beautiful kit to make in honor of my sis Pat, a page for her. I have the best photos of her. She was so tall and leggy. So unfair! Sniff SNiff!
I use to like Miracle Whip but lately if bothers the ole gut so I switched with the happy hubby to Mayo! It is the only way to go with chicken salad for one thing. Good to see you here and hear your tales of the grocery store. You make everything so much fun! HUGS xo
My parents always had Miracle Whip in their pantry; I don't recall enjoying 'real' mayo until I was in my mid-30's! Chicken salad? I like to massage chunks of white meat with mayo and Marie's bleu cheese dressing. Yummmmmm.
DeleteMy hubby would be your BBF forever! He loves bleu cheese dressing when he can have the good stuff. HUGS
DeleteI just enjoyed my time at Publix in Florida, it is really a nice store. I know my family in Arizona likes their Fry stores. It certainly looks inviting.
ReplyDeleteI hope when things 'settle' in your life, you'll have an opportunity to visit your 'Arizona family' and check it out! (Of course, I'm hoping you n' I can grab a cheesecake, too.)
DeleteThis is the second post I read today about the dislike of grocery shopping! But you take the cake with this fancy store. I've been using Dawn for years as my detergent but also mixed with hot vinegar for counters. Have a grand week.
ReplyDeleteActually, there's nothing 'fancy'-looking about it ... like, for instance, A.J.'s. Have you ever? I mean, I can't get past their chandeliers above the cash registers! Way out-a my league!
DeleteI'm not one of those normal kinda people who loathe grocery shopping. Actually, it's the only kind of shopping I enjoy. When the shopping gene was given out, I must have been in a different line, (probably for smart-assery?) but I love exploring new grocery stores, finding bargains, and trying new things. We have some fabulous grocery stores and international markets here, and for someone like me who likes to cook, it's heaven.
ReplyDeleteI only use Hellmann's too, but I didn't know it was the same thing as Best. Why would I? Why would you? If we only lived in areas that sold Hellmann's, why would we know or care what it was called somewhere else? It DOES shine a new light on the old commercial, though.
Yep, I was pathetically anemic as a child, so I took Geritol every day. I kinda liked it... :)
Lawdy, you crack me up! :)
DeleteNow, I'm wondering if they still sell Geritol? I should buy a bottle just to see if it, indeed, does smell like Dawn.