Comment Archives: Stories: Food & Wine
Re: “Sneak Peek: ¡Chiwawa!”
Is there someone that can please explain what the phrase, "Midtown Is Memphis" actually means?
Re: “Kroger's New Bag: "Be More Visible, Be More Accessible"”
I hate Kroger!!! I've tried them all...as far out as Collierville...and I live downtown. "My Kroger" would be midtown and the customer service is not bad there because there is no customer service. If you can find a manager they don't have a clue. There's usually one or no sackers and I can't tell you how many times I've been inconvenienced by the employees having personal conversations instead of focusing on the customer. I'm so sick of full aisles of Kroger brand...they should make it known that they're a discount store if the majority of merchandise is "off brand". The merchandising makes no sense and why do they feel the need to have non-food seasonal items...save those for the people that want to go to Wal-Mart...I DON'T!!! They let all the wonderful employees go that knew our names, had good grammar and greeted us with smiles...instead of "you got cho plus card". I have a plus card but have to drive 12 miles to use full credit. Now they're making the stores larger. That tells me they will also amplify the horrible customer service!!! I hate Kroger!!!
Re: “Sneak Peek: ¡Chiwawa!”
New sign: "Douchey Bloggers Unwelcome"
Re: “Kroger's New Bag: "Be More Visible, Be More Accessible"”
Kroger is at best a most mediocre shopping experience. Their pricing and frequency of price increases is appalling. And make sure you check for product out of dates as they are notorious for selling past sell dated items. Oh, and lastly, their check out system will conveniently not detect the advertised sale price so unless you are diligent about double checking your receipt, you will usually pay the higher price. Oh, I forgot, too... their summer produce, specifically fruit, is oftentimes inedible... where do they purchase it and is it even food???!!!
Re: “Kroger's New Bag: "Be More Visible, Be More Accessible"”
Depends upon the Kroger. I go to Kosher Kroger (Mendenhall) and their staff is terrific and improved when they redid the store. I have had, though, all the problems that you mentioned when I shopped Poplar Plaza. I am hoping that the staff is improved there, not just the merchandise, because I don't want to have to keep driving past them to go to Mendenhall, like I have been doing for 15 years.
Re: “Sneak Peek: ¡Chiwawa!”
Art Weinburg - I cannot like your post enough or agree more. I'm surprised and a bit disappointed by the general negativity of some of these comments...
Re: “Kroger's New Bag: "Be More Visible, Be More Accessible"”
I can gladly say that I have no need for Kroger. I have had more bad than good experiences in their stores. I buy the majority of my food from the farmers' markets and for the few things that I can't buy there, I go to Costco, Target, Whole Foods or The Fresh Market. There are good employees at Kroger but I've encountered enough rude and disrespectful employees, that I do not feel bad about avoiding Kroger's stores all together. The vendors at the Agricenter Farmers' Market and the MFM downtown are always happy and pleasant to deal with- and they are genuinely glad to have my business. I can't say that for Kroger. Actually, the last time I was in a Kroger (the incident that finally confirmed my decision to avoid their stores), I asked the man working at the seafood counter where I could find Seafood Stock. He didn't even know what seafood stock was.
Re: “Kroger's New Bag: "Be More Visible, Be More Accessible"”
As a former vendor to Kroger, I must add that the people of Delta region are some of the finest I have known. The managers are sharp, and helpful, and will actually take time to personally speak with customers on most all subjects. That...is unusual today! I have been in almost all of Delta Regions stores at one point, and am always impressed by a consistency of operations quality that is hard to attain and even more difficult to keep. Bravo, Kroger! Keep up the good work!
Re: “Sneak Peek: ¡Chiwawa!”
yay..a misspelling ...I guess that's one way to get Mid South morons to pronounce it correctly. :(
Re: “Sneak Peek: ¡Chiwawa!”
I don't care if the sign says, "Kim Jong-un Dined Here!" Just bring me a pitcher of margaritas , and I'll be your patron (Patrón?) forever.
Re: “Sneak Peek: ¡Chiwawa!”
Are people who love New York self obsessed? Should people in New Orleans pipe down about their love of their city? No one is stopping another part of the city from boasting. Go for it.
Re: “Sneak Peek: ¡Chiwawa!”
The saying Midtown Is Memphis is boastful - in a good way – Midtown does represent the very best of Memphis – diverse, liberal, arts-minded, a place where white voters vote democratic, new ideas are appreciated and chain stores are shunned by many. Midtown is the most urbane and cosmopolitan district of our city. You know… the area of Memphis that the New York Times writes about. Know this: if Memphis is looking to attract and retain young, mobile, creative talent Midtown is the best area of Memphis to show them. Across the country young families are flooding into the urban core to escape suburbia. Midtown is Memphis.
Re: “Sneak Peek: ¡Chiwawa!”
And I bet the guy above think TGIF's should only be open on Friday and I'd hate to tell him how McDonald isnt really named after Ronald McDonald
Re: “Sneak Peek: ¡Chiwawa!”
I think this place looks amazing. It is better than I imagined and I can not wait to go out on its porch and enjoy some of their spirits. And Midtown is Memphis is a great sign, I like all the artwork that Midtown offers in terms of signs and wall art and this adds to its growing art presence. Cant wait for this watering hole to open.
Re: “Sneak Peek: ¡Chiwawa!”
I hate that the sign says "Midtown is Memphis". As a business, why would you want to alienate people from other parts of town? Why not show pride in the city by just saying "Midtown Memphis"? The sign is as douchey as naming your bar after someone that has never existed in any form (Jack Magoo's) and contrived from an 80's bumper sticker, when Midtown (I lived there then) was fighting for a piece of the Memphis pie. A town that has as big of an inferiority complex as it does and is arguably in decline deserves better.
Re: “Sneak Peek: ¡Chiwawa!”
Maybe the sign should read, "Memphis, the New Austin."
Re: “Sneak Peek: ¡Chiwawa!”
I am SO SO glad that space is finally being used. I have thought for years that it was such a shame that nothing was there. Can't wait to visit the next time I'm in town.
Re: “Cash Saver Cost Plus Food Outlet”
I live next door to cash save an used the store for meany years there are really no up side to this store its nasty food out of date homeless everywhere crime is off the hook + the trash is so bad i pick up a 5gl bag of it every day out of my yard someone please help whit this madness
Re: “Wheelin’ and Mealin’”
Ermyias, a good fellow and a fine DJ as well! Good luck, old friend!
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Re: “Kroger's New Bag: "Be More Visible, Be More Accessible"”
I never objected to Kroger per se. (Though I would like to know what became of the staff at the Union store, many of whom had been there since the Sessels days and appear to have been unceremoniously dumped in favor of teenagers, not that we don't have a desperate need for teen jobs around here). Kroger has been a part of the Midtown shopping community for almost a century and have been the best store in Memphis for decades. What distressed me — and I think a lot of people — when they bought out Schnucks was just that the acquisition severely constricted out already limited shopping options. Sure there are still the high end stores and the surprisingly strong farmers markets. But in that sweet spot of large, broadly stocked, value conscious stores Kroger has no competition, and lack of competition is never a good thing. Aldi and Cost Value Warehouse or whatever its horrible name is are limited niche markets. The small World Market chain is great but strictly a phenomenon of eastern Shelby County. Superlo operates one pretty great store out east, but its location nearest me in Frayser is such a depressing pit you'd think it was owned by a different company. And Save-a-lot is so bad I think I would actually protest one coming in near me. My great hope was that Easy Way would actually see the opportunity before them and, putting a local spin on the Wal-Mart Market or Fresh Express concept, actually expand their chain of neighborhood markets, maybe revamp their inventory and stores, and freshen their brand. ("Your neighborhood farmers market," that sort of thing.) But alas, for whatever reason, they have actually retreated somewhat from the marketplace. So for the time being its Kroger, who to their credit are spending a lot of money to give customers a good experience. We could do a lot worse. I just wish we could also do more.