Kroger vs Kroger: A Shopping Experience

Soooooo.

Last week, I had to return the lens I rented back toAperturent in  another part of the Atlanta Metro area known as Sandy Springs. While I was waiting for them to open, I decided I might as well do my grocery shopping while I was at it.  I chose Kroger since it was right across the street.

Now, I have to put in that I hardly ever do my FULL grocery shopping at my Kroger down here in Southwest Atlanta.  It’s not worth it. The only reason I’ve been going in lately is because their gluten free section is the closest I can get to Whole Foods which is too far away.  But the rest of the store always always leaves a lot to be desired. Dark, cluttered, produce and meat not always the best. Can’t even find Chobani yogurt on the shelves. Or even the kids Yopliat that Pookah likes. It’s dark, it’s dingy. It’s depressing.

Now, back to the Sandy Springs Kroger.

I walked in and the first thing that hits me?

The Starbucks in the front of the store giving off that wonderful aroma that I gave up for Lent.

OK OK.

Then the light…..it looks inviting. Like somewhere I’d want to shop.

The deli section: cheese everywhere. Smelly cheeses, nice cheeses….I felt like I was at Whole Foods across the street. I actually did a double take going through their deli. They had a hot bar. Where you could get hot food( and not just fried chicken)salad and pasta salad etc etc etc.

We don’t have a hot bar at EITHER of the Kroger’s near me. #FAIL

And then, I found the gluten free section.

Now, the gluten free section at MY Kroger is nice. But limited. And sometimes I have to question, how long has this stuff been on the shelf?

But the Sandy Springs Kroger??????

My lord! Foods, flours, pastas….you name it, it was there. I got all but two of the flours I needed to bake for Pookah.  None of these could be found at MY Kroger.

I continued through the store in a daze: the fruit and vegetables were fresh and looked appealing. The meat was gorgeous. No old bloody meat to be found. The seafood section almost sent me into palpitations.  Something other than catfish and tilapia?? And of course, I found my Chobani and Pookahs Yoplait.

The frozen food section…why do they have Lean Cuisine’s that I’ve never heard of before??( and just to be sure, I did check my Kroger before I wrote this)

And then I saw the wine section…….

And I was done.

Just done.

Why is there such a difference in the same grocery store chain? In the SAME metro area? Barely 20 miles apart???

Do they think that we on the southside wouldn’t like a Starbucks in our Kroger? Take a look at the one on Cascade and the one on Camp Creek. They are always packed.

Do they not think that we like yogurt? That we don’t want to eat healthy?That we don’t notice when we don’t have a good variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and seafood?  That I don’t want quality good priced gluten free foods for my son?

And the wine section!!!WE LIKE WINE IN SOUTHWEST ATLANTA!

SMH.

I paid for my selections, left and got cheap gas at the Kroger gas station.( And that’s another thing…)

I stoped by Whole Foods across the street where the only difference really in the two  stores, was selection of natural products and the Starbucks.

All of this leads me to the question: why do the haves always have access to “better” products and services and the “have nots” don’t?

I agree that there are a few socio-ecomomic factors that may keep things like freshly wrapped funky cheeses out of stock on my side of town. And the wine section….well, some folks on this side of town DO like their hard liquor. But still…..

The sad thing is, the area that I live in is a thriving area. Yes, it is an urban area, but there is also a thriving middle class and upper middle class and even dare I say a few of that population that makes 7 fiugres and above.

So why can’t we have a Kroger with at LEAST a Starbucks in it??????And can I get Chobani?????And a HOT BAR!?!?

Just a thought.