never heard of it...it is like Costco?

I LOVE WF! The food quality, particularly meats, fish, poultry is WAY better than a 'normal' grocery store (at least in Houston). I actually don't think it's that expensive- e.g. my fiance loves Hagen Daz frozen yogurt and it's a $1.50 less at WF than at the 'normal' grocery store (Randall's) . . . additionally you can get local products which reduces carbon footprint by supporting local farms and reducing transportation costs of food products. I don't waste money on fancy cheese or anything I just got normal stuff, my bills are no more than when I go to a 'normal' store.

I stick with Sunflower Market and Trader Joe's. The prices are better, and they're closer to my house.

Our nearest Whole Foods is 90 minutes away, but when we know we're going to the city, we pack the cooler in the car and make a special effort to stock up on Amy's pizzas, Wallaby yogurt, fresh seafood and specialty cheeses.

I shop there often- for the better quality and sometimes convenience of location. It's amazing how quickly everything adds up, but I can't say the prices are outrageous for what you get and specialty items you can find. I wish I had a Trader Joe's a bit closer. Several in town but just not convenient. Love it that WF is getting a makeover- can't wait to see what they actually do.

The nearest WF to me is about 45 minutes away.

Most of the items at Whole Foods are specialty/organic, and therefore expensive, but I'll go there for some items that I've found are cheaper than anywhere. Their 365 store brand items are great. The extra virgin olive oil is the cheapest I've been able to find in my area (not including jumbo vats from Costco). Their milk is very competitive, especially since it's organic, and they carry the cheapest cage-free eggs I've found by at least a dollar/dz. They carry a brand of chocolate chips that's 10 cents cheaper than my regular grocery store's brand. They also carry most of their produce in bulk, so if I only need a carrot or two, it's cheaper to buy what I need instead of the whole package - same goes for mushrooms, greens, and other items you typically have to buy a package of in regular grocery stores.

I don't do all of my shopping their, but there are several things that I know I can get a great deal on, and I'll go for the specialty stuff too.

I live in a small city and there isn't a Whole Foods in my area.

I live in a small city and there isn't a Whole Foods in my area.

shelleymonster you are 100% right about all of those products- i always get 365 stuff and we love their olive oil, my fiance loves the 365 dark chocolate chips and i also love their "wheat-thin" style crackers which are only $1.69 for a box at our store in Houston. Milk, eggs- you are so right about them being better priced, I'm glad you pinpointed all these products!

i don't live near one anymoer- but i used to prefer wegmans instead- they had a killer bakery

I moved to the VA Beach area about 2 years ago, and have said goodbye to Whole Foods ever since, as they don't have one in the area. Though, when I lived in NJ/NYC I loved loved loved it. I often would go there just to get a lunch. YUM! Oh, and they catered the Lolla Lounge at Lollapalooza this year... absolutely delicious!

No Whole Foods here. If there were, I would probably stop in occasionally. I don't think I could afford to go all the time.

I go sometimes but it's usually pricey - I go to get things I can't really get anywhere else. Trader Joe's is way better!

I only buy what is on sale when I go but most of the time I go to New Seasons which is a locally owned version of WF. Almost everything is local and I do the same thing there I only buy what is on sale.

We've always called it Whole Paycheck - I only go when I need something specific that I can't find elsewhere or I want to splurge!

I honestly don't find the prices at Whole Foods to be higher than at a regular grocery store.

Sure, if all you buy is "organic," at Whole Foods it could be more expensive. But if what you're looking for are foods with quality ingredients and moving more away from "boxed" foods, then Whole Foods is a great place to shop.

We don't have one near us. We do have a Trader Joes which i love. I heard they might put a WF here eventually, but we will see what happens.

There isn't a Whole Foods here in Boise, but one will be opening up in Fall 09'. I'm pretty excited about it because when I lived in CA I shopped at WF and Trader Joes pretty regularly. I too really like their 365 product line.

Their entire meat/poultry and seafood selection is wonderful. Just the other day I saw Coho salmon for $6.99/lb. Even in Seattle that's a good deal.

Their eggs and milk are comparable and/or cheaper than Safeway (BTW, I HATE Safeway).

The thing that sucks are the "boxed" foods that I still buy that they don't have the "right" type of. IE: Mac and Cheese.

Sometimes. But not just for specialty items (like vegan stuff that the grocery store around the corner doesn't have). Sometimes I just go there because I like it. It's such a happy place.

I go to WF's about 2-3 times a month. Sometimes more sometimes less. I always get their fresh ground almond butter! When I do go, I usually drop between $50-$100 bucks. I do buy a LOT of 365 brand stuff, and it's the only place I can buy Cascade Fresh yogurt. I can't afford to have it be my "all the time" store though. I still shop at Kroger, Harris Teeter, Publix (my favorite, but the LEAST convenient in location), and the small independent grocery across the street.

And I'm a member of a CSA, so I actually get lots of veggies locally!

Support your local farmers and dealers! WF's "local food" isn't truly local.

They have great stuff... but I can't afford it for everyday shopping Trader Joes is much less expensive and still organic !

They're building one near me. I wont be able to afford it and its in a highly trafficed kinda far away area so I wont go.

don't have any near me

I'm six miles away from one, and there's another being built only two miles away from that one. It's the scariest parking lot I've ever been in - I've never seen so many SUVs in one place outside of New Jersey before, and they can never see me while they're backing out of their spots. On rare occasions, their produce is about the same price as at Kroger, but the quality's better. I also go to Whole Foods for lunch - I don't buy, I just make three circuits with a shopping basket while snacking on samples.

No, they are like the Costco for Hipsters. Truly.

I think not only are they overpriced - Ive found better produce elsewhere and for alot less. AND yes, it was organic as well. Its not hard to find organic items.

I think for so many people, its more about the image really.

i'll go whole foods because i'll dont eat meat or diary.

The nearest WF to me is about 30 minutes away so I don't go often, but maybe every other week or so. I usually buy specialty items, fruits and veggies there. Organic milk and eggs and coffee. They can be expensive though.

I prefer Fresh Market. Whole Foods is expensive and HUGE! SENSORY OVERLOAD! I also find that that pre made foods are really mediocre.

I get my milk, fruit, veggies, meats, fish, and eggs from Whole Foods. The eggs I buy are from cage free chickens, which I'm sure you can get from a regular store.

In San Francisco we are blessed with many choices. I prefer Andronicos.

cheers,

Angela

too expensive. =[

i used to shop at whole foods a lot but now things are just to oexpensive there in relation to what i can pay at other stores - so i haven't shopped there recently (as much as i would like to) oh well....

I love Whole Foods. I go there very often and what I spend there compared to what I spend at local grocers isn't much different and the quality is often better. I think that WF has just gotten the wrap that its high end and expensive but in reality if you really compare prices its very similar to other stores. To keep my costs low i love buying produce that is in season. It will taste better, cost less and is better for the environment.

I wish we had any kind of specialty grocery for those hard-to-find items.

whole foods is the closest grocery store near me but i hate it. dont buy the whole organic hype. and with their prices...wth??? no thnx.

eggs- our whole foods does support local growers, and I often see the locals selling right in front of the store- an area right in front that Whole Foods has set up for this purpose.

They don't carry half of the stuff I need, so I stopped going. Great produce, though.

WF in Palo Alto leaves a lot to be desired, they are over priced - Lunardi's is far superior over WF and has a much better choice of everything I'm with Sun_Sun - who's regulating this organic craze? I choose to grow all my veggies and I'd have chickens and cows if I had the space.

I honestly don't understand all the love for Whole Foods. It doesn't strike me as special and I have trouble finding things I want there, never mind that it's costlier. My brother calls it Whole Paycheck.

Maybe because I'm in Manhattan and have a lot of choices, but I find I prefer other stores over Whole Foods and rarely ever shop there.

Whole Foods is actually the closest grocery store to my apartment. I can walk there in about 15-20 minutes. I love Whole Foods, but I don't go there that often because of the high prices. I'll usually go only if I have to pick something up for a potluck (which happens to be every few weeks or so). While I'm there, I'll often pick up a few grocery items. Their private label (i.e. 365 and 365 Organic) products are reasonably priced and good quality.

In my old apartment, I was practically in Whole Foods parking lot, so I went there a lot out of convenience and if I ever ran out of anything I could be there and back in 2 minutes. Now I just go there for the meat and sometimes the produce. Their butcher is incredible.

I go there once in a while if i'm craving something they have that other stores don't but the prices aren't worth it. A lot of labels say organic and hike their prices up but if you actually read statistics, those who eat organic to those who don't have no differences in their bodies. Trader joe's is really good btw

Once in a great while to get something special or to eat lunch there, but normally it is way too pricey. I prefer Trader Joe's or regular grocery store, which are starting to carry way more organic and healthy foods!

Mainly go to Trader Joe's and Costco but will go to WF every once in a while. Depends on how close I am to one at the time.

I love whole foods, but they're too expensive. I might go there once a month as a treat. Their 365 brand pita chips with sea salt are so addictive! And their in-store made hummus is great too. I'll go there to get salads sometimes for a picnic or a party. But I mostly shop at Trader Joe's.

i go to henry's more than i go to whole foods.

Thankfully the closest Whole Foods is about 45 minutes from my house, so I only go there a few times a year. Otherwise I would be taking out a second mortgage just to pay the grocery bill! Not especially because of the high prices, but because everything in the store is so hard to resist.