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Categories: Grocery, Health Markets [Edit]
Neighborhood: Washington Square WestMon-Sun. 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
"I first discovered Penn Herb Co. when I lived in Colorado and became enamoured with Chap-a-Grips. On a frantic search to buy a dozen or so…" read more »
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I generally find this place to be overpriced. However, they offer a way better produce, meat, and fish selection than most other groceries in the area.
Also, they have a bulk grain and rice section.
More importantly, they have those vegan chocolate chip cookies that are simply amazing! And I'm not even vegan.
People thought this was:
Love it. I don't care what anyone says about the hot foods or salad bar sections being expensive. Nobody should go to a supermarket and attempt to find a bargain there to begin with. ANY supermarket.
I can actually find the things I'm looking for here and if that costs more, well, it seems fair to me. If you don't want to get your everyday items here like tissues or peanut butter, then don't, but here's a place where you can find things such as:
- Zucchini flowers. Great when beer-battered and fried.
- Dragonfruit. Who doesn't like to have a little mini break reminiscing about past vacations overseas?
- A selection of good drinks such as Kombucha, aka Koucha Kinoko.
- Organic, local vegetables.
- Frozen entrees not loaded with meat.
Plus more! Also, you also get the bonus of having a well-lit supermarket that is clean and orderly. And, the last additional bonus is that the checkout staff are not the usual rude jerks (at least, in my opinion, anyway) that I've encountered at other places. Like the time I was at the Fresh Grocer near UPenn and the check out girl looked totally stoned and kept repeating "nei-kst.. NEIKST?" and getting pissed off by herself that nobody HEARD her cause she was muttering like a crazy person!
Here they actually bag your stuff properly too and wish you a nice day. Little steps. Customer service all around here could use a great face-lift and I'm happy with the service I recieved here.
People thought this was:
I love whole foods south street for a number of reasons:
-The free Parking.
-Diverse employees.
-The PIZZA TUESDAY Buy one take one!!! I did the sun dried tomato, peppers, pepperoni and Extra cheese...beats any pizza in Philly hands down plus the ingredients are not brought in by SYSCO.
-Friendly cashiers except for only one experience, prolly a part timer from Walmart.
-The breakfast/salad bar which is a little expensive but sooo worth it, its healthy.
Veggies and Fruits and Croissants all are winners!
stiuff dont buy wholefoods: FISH only fish because theyre like double to my Ippolitos, anything else is fair game.
Dont hate Whole Foods in a Philly place much more compared to its next door grocery store it is sooooo much better.
People thought this was:
This location has a great salad/hot foods bar. It's huge with a ton of choices. And the offerings are a little different that at the Callowhill store (that seemed more in line with just the general seasonal menu of choices). The selection of bulk foods is pretty sparse--nowhere near the amount of choices as your usual WF. The dining area was very dark at night. There are lights but they don't provide much light. Since Whole Foods isn't a place I come to enjoy a romantic meal I found it weird and off-putting. I'd rather be able to see my curried wheatberry. The space is probably better during the day, with light streaming through the windows.
Me gusta ir a Whole Foods, pero me de pena. La cosa es, a veces olvido mi bolsa en la casa y cuando llego a pagar, siempre me preguntan "¿traiste su bolsa?" En este momento pierdo no solo mi dignidad pero tambien los cinco centavos que podria ahorrar.
-translation-
I like to go to Whole Foods, but it makes me feel guilty. The thing is, sometimes I forget my bag at home and when I go to pay, they always ask, "did you bring your bag?" In this moment, I lose not only my dignity, but also the five cents I could have saved [by bringing my bag].
People thought this was:
Whole Foods is good for what it is. Unless you have a lot of money it is not a good place to shop for everything. It is a good place to for bulk foods such beans and grains. The prices are decent for these items among others.
SIGH... I WANT to gove this Whole Foods a good review. I REALLY do.
But I simply can't, especially lately.
I'm going to start on a positive note, saying that the staff at Whole Foods has always been A+. Any time I have ever had a question about a product, regardless of how ridiculous I thought the question was, a friendly Whole Foods employee was there to answer it. Whole Foods employees at this location will even go as far as to run around the store to get an answer for you if they don't know it themselves. That is awesome customer service. That's where the stars that I just gave this Whole Foods comes in.
If it wasn't for the people who work there, I would be giving this Whole Foods zero starts lately. It used to be that Whole Foods did a great job of keeping their shelves stocked, whereas lately, I can find nothing that I need there. It is incredibly frustrating, especially since I only buy a few specific things at Whole Foods and I don't use it as my main grocery store. It puts me in a real tizzy when I take a few hours out of my day to make a Whole Foods shopping trip, only to find nothing that I need. Last night was a great example of this. All I needed was some extra firm 365 brand tofu and they were fresh out. How can you be a "health food" store and totally run out of tofu? Sure, they had the more expensive brand there but I refuse to pay over $2 for a brick of soy.
The prices there also kill me, which is why I don't use it as my main food shopping hub, and the craptastic economy hasn't made the affordability any easier. For produce and meat, I will continue to stick with Reading Terminal Market. I have found fresh fruit, veggies, and cuts of meat that are just as fresh as what Whole Foods sells. Sure, it may not be organic, but it's still good for me AND my bank account.
People thought this was:
I am not a vegan or vegetarian. I just want to eat healthier.
This store does exactly what it claims to do. It puts you in touch with thousands of items that are specifically chosen because of their pledge to be organic or as close to natural as possible.
I love how the store is set up and how they cater to everyone's needs. Most times I just run in and grab what I want, but when I take the time to really shop I find bargians.
The only reason it has 4 stars instead of 5 is the pricing. I am not sure if it's the location or the chain but this store is pretty pricey on most things. That being said, you get what you pay for. Whole Foods quality is unsurpassed. Their food is fresh and good looking.
Good grocery store - it's no Wegman's, but they stock everything a city dweller needs. Just avoid Sundays when this place is overrun by enough people to make you wonder if you didn't get the memo that the end of the world is approaching.
Sadly the original art machine that I mentioned is no more, which does kind of suck. But at the same time I found this out I found out that shopping here on late Wednesday afternoons is the best thing ever!
From 5 -7 every single department serves free food. and you really end up getting a whole meal out of the deal. So it's the only time that grocery shopping on an empty stomach really pays off.
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This Whole Foods has one thing that no other Whole Foods, or any other super market has - Ethan… Read more »
I have a love-hate relationship with Whole Paycheck.
My biggest problems with this store (and the Callowhill location) are the following:
* I swear, every friggin shopper must be a smack addict. That would explain why they don't understand the concept of WALKING through a store instead of stopping, cocking their cart at the most inconvenient, space-wasting angle and staring, mesmerized by FOOD....in a GROCERY STORE.
* The layout is sucky and cramped. It doesn't matter how big the store actually is, the Philly stores feel like an overcrowded shoe box. With the above-mentioned heroin addicted shopping cart drivers. Fun!
* There's a reason why I call the place "Whole Paycheck." I've easily torn up $100 on two bags of groceries there.
But, like I said, there is some love in my heart for Whole Paycheck:
* Their produce department and veg*n selection is awesome. The first time I set foot into a Whole Foods, I was in awe at the sheer amount of veg*n foods. And it's not just pre-packaged stuff, they have a great selection of funky ingredients and veggies that you wouldn't expect to find at a chain grocery store.
* Their salad/hot foods bar. I have been sustained by these bars more than once in my life. Most of the food is pretty good, and they ALWAYS have vegan stuff. They can be hit or miss, but they've got some decent stuff that isn't too badly priced and is very filling.
* Their employees and generally really friendly and nice and they keep the store....wait for it.....wait for it......CLEAN. Oh yes, I said it. There actually are CLEAN GROCERY STORES IN PHILLY. Unfortunately, you're dumping a mortgage payment into the stores just to get your food for the month, but whatevs. Sometimes I don't want to take a shower after grocery shopping.
* The high prices aren't meant to imply that the place is a rip-off. Actually, I've been very happy with almost everything I have purchased from Whole Foods. Even though I don't have the cash to regularly shop there, I will happily spend the extra money (when I can) for tasty, organic fresh and frozen produce. They have some bangin baked goods, too; I don't think I've ever had a bad bread/cookie/cake/muffin there.
* Whole Foods TRAINS THEIR EMPLOYEES REALLY WELL. Look, I normally hate the chatty nonsense that happens at most chain places because it's just a way to make you feel like the big chains aren't running Mom & Pop stores out of business. It's that Mom & Pop feel in a canned, corporate environment! But Whole Foods actually makes sure their employees know what the hell they're talking about! That, combined with the fact that they are a pretty decent company to work for, makes me feel a lot better about shopping there.
* They have a fairly diverse staff (speaking race and sexuality-wise). I don't mean that they have their two token gays and their three token Black people. No, they have an all-around diverse staff (from what I've seen at each of the stores), which is great that Whole Foods actually sticks to some of the values they promote.
It's a bourgeois grocery store marketed at upper middle class white people with too much money on their hands. Take that into consideration before setting foot into the store and try not to get too annoyed.
People thought this was:
I love their vegan cookies and cupcakes. Yea some of their products may be a little pricey, but I really do believe you get what you pay for. If you didn't give a fuck about eating healthy or organic there is another supermarket across the street you could go to for cheaper "regular" stuff.
Also, I've noticed that this is the cheapest place to get certain vegan products in the area. For example their soy milk is cheaper as well as their non-dairy yogurts and ice cream. So it really depends on what your buying.
People thought this was:
I'm not going to get into the hipster-bashing or political/controversial side of Whole Foods.
JUST SAYIN' the majority of their prepared foods section is vegan, so I can fill a little recycled carton full of 3 different types of grain sides/raviolis/faux chicken/dumplings/pasta/salad/tofu/whatever and sit in the section with plenty of tables and make fun on Rachel Ray on the muted Food Network, or sit at the counter and people watch out the window onto South St.
Also:
- Huge muffins in the bakery, and various other delicious carbs (some vegan, and marked as such).
-Parking above the store.
-As mentioned, big prepared foods section and seating/tables, which the WF by the art museum doesn't have.
People thought this was:
I think that the problems I have with Whole Foods are problems with the company, not the specific store. Some of the prices are outrageous. I love pickles as much as the next guy, but am I going to pay $7.99 for a jar? Um, no.
My main gripe is that you can't get basic, essential stuff here. I go here for my more extravagant things, with the exception of a few key things that Whole Foods somehow miraculously has cheaper than Super Fresh (frozen fruit, tofu, olive oil). The salad bar is the most enticing I've ever seen, but it seems like I can go out of my way to make sure there's no more than three pieces of lettuce in my container and it's still $23.
On the up side, I go to Whole Foods for meal inspiration. I feel happy in the store, and I never have to wait very long in line. Everyone is helpful and personable and they never make you feel like you're inconveniencing them. Another thing they don't seem to do in Whole Foods is take up the whole aisle with their restocking cart. I feel like a lot of grocery stores and drug stores do that, and I find it very annoying.
Another thing I always to go Whole Foods for is flowers. I can get a bunch of alstromeria for $4 and they last me like 3 weeks. If I'm giving flowers as a gift, they'll wrap them up all pretty for no charge.
I like Whole Foods, but being the miser that I am, I will never make them my one-stop shop.
People thought this was:
Without Whole Foods and Trader Joe's I'd be sunk.
So, Whole Foods - I am be-whole-den to you.
High prices and all - what choice do I have? My child must have chemical-free, persticide-free, herbicide-free non Genetically Modified organisms on which to feed.
That meat case is impressive! As are the baked desserts. The juice bar is a saviour - and sushi never hurts!
O, Whole Foods - how I love thee - though parking really sucks.
A least they'll validate the lot and save me a few bux.
People thought this was:
The beast, the monster, the unavoidable demon on South Street- Whole Foods. A target for bougie jerks who drive Range Rovers only to carry bags to their cars proclaiming how shopping there "saves the environment"- Whole Food has consistently sucked the life out of me since it opened at this location. I am never in here for less than half an hour- maybe because I used to work here and stop to chat with friends, maybe because I am enchanted by the bright boxes of tea, or maybe because I spend time hiding behind end caps so former customers don't see me- but for whatever reason- I bet I spend about 3 hours a week in this store.
I'm working on my crankiness :)
Some people berate Whole Foods and call it Whole Paycheck- and I am not here to dispute the high cost of shopping here- but I do have to admit- their produce is much higher quality than anywhere else in the city (except farm stands), few stores carry hard to find vegetarian items, NOTHING in the store contains hydrogenated oils, and nothing in the Whole Body dept. is tested on animal friends.
What I love:
1) Rescue Remedy
2) Veggie Ham and Cheese Wraps
3) Free refills of any drink from the little cafe for 52 cents in my own cup
4) Cinnamon Soy Delicious yogurt
5) Brussels Sprouts- is there any food nearly so perfect?
People thought this was:
This review is actually for the Whole Foods at Rodin Place but I couldn't find it on here.
I like WholeFoods just fine, I'm not a vegan and I don't need to eat organic but it's right next to Philadelphia Sports Club so I can walk over there to eat after I'm done at the gym.
The other day I got some brown rice sushi and sat at a table to eat and relax. The sushi was good and fresh, the ginger was alright, but the wasabi was ridiculously hot!!
I'm not kidding, I was crying and hyperventilating, while sitting alone trying to play it off like nothing was wrong. My nose was running like a 3 year old!! I want to know if I'm the only one this has ever happened too. Am I the only one who thinks the wasabi is hot enough to kill anyone 150 lbs. or less?
People thought this was:
Whole Foods would have definitely got 5 stars if only I could have actually found the parking lot. I feel like the prices were reasonable. The selection and range rocks. The beauty aisles are well worth checking out. Everything here is super fresh----and if you are a cheese lover---they have a kick ass selection of cheese. The location for parking sucks if you are like me and cant find the parking-haha
I also wanted to mention that their customer service is awesome. I had asked the lady at the checkout counter if there was parking for the market, she informed me that it was on the top and then asked if i wanted to have the bagger wait with my groceries while I brought my car around. Now thats what I call service!
People thought this was:
What ever happened to the days of crunchy granola co-ops? Did these never exist in Philly?
Anyway, whole foods is here and carries the overpriced gourmand essentials I've become used to in the new america.
I go to this one because it's a few blocks from where I live, but I gotta say I have never seen a sadder produce and meat section at a WF before. And, oh well, this is PA, so the wine section that rivals the produce section is also missing :(
I guess I'm not going to run into Alton Brown anytime soon (he likes the WH at Briarcliff and Lavista in Atlanta).
I need to find out what I can get at the Italian Market.
People thought this was:
Reading these reviews brought back some good times... The art machine used to be one of the coolest things I knew about on South Street, when it was still the magical place of mural gardens and Pearl Paint, before the orange tourists and ever present construction took hold.
Anyway, one time when I stopped in whole foods to get a cheap, generic Whole Foods "healthy soda," there was this unbelievable bonanza of free food. Everywhere, people were just handing it out. Here, have some delicious salad, some cake, some pasta. Ok, Whole Foods. Thanks. I basically ate dinner for free. Whenever I'm in the area I stop by to see if they'll do that again, even if I don't want to buy anything.
What I like best about Whole Foods (and this is actually the only location I've been to) are the loose canisters of grains, nuts and legumes (this is where I get quinoa and french lentils) and the produce section. When the farmers markets go into hibernation, this and Ivine's in RTM are the only places I buy produce that aren't onions, garlic or lemons. I also like the cheese section, with the "taster sizes" cut from larger blocks. Yum.
People thought this was:
For me Whole Foods is just incredibly convenient. Working in Center City there are only a handful of genuine "health food" shops where I can get a decent lunch full of the foods I like and the ethics to match.
Strangely, though, I am seeing more conventional fruits and vegetables being shipped in from places like Costa Rica and Mexico and not enough organic and local, which is the reason I first starting frequenting Whole Foods. This is particularly important to me in the colder months when farmers markets aren't readily available.
One of the things I do love about Whole Foods is their vitamin and personal product selection. They even offer their own store brand of generic goods which for the most part are comparable to the leading brand products. Since I am a vitamin freak and HATE pharmaceuticals this can come in handy.
I love their assortment of vegetarian and vegan cuisine and for when I do actually eat meat [which is infrequent] theirs is one of my first stops for some delicious bangers or steaks from grain fed cattle. Their meat selection can vary at times, so when it does I usually find the organic meat market in the Reading Terminal sufficient.
The hot foods bar is a healthy convenient treat, but their price is a little steep for my pockets all the time. The regular and vegan burritos and sandwiches are great in a pinch for a filling lunch or quick dinner on the go. For these the prices are standard for the area.
I'll admit that at times I feel guilty shopping at Whole Foods when their neighborhood independent rival Essene is only a few blocks more away but their prices are a few dollars cheaper on some items, which is good for the working-class-artist-type that I am. I do try to give some regular business to Essene as well so I guess it balances out my karma a bit.
I've never had a complaint about staff but I do miss my Rice Cream Cheese, so until you put it back on the shelf I am withholding a star from you.
People thought this was:
The food is fantastic with a great selection of cheese (if you are a fan of such things, but I have found the people at the cheese stand are outstanding) but I typically find myself wandering back there for lunch at the open salad bar. Every day the items are rotated and everything just kicks my ass. Be prepared though, good food doesn't come cheap.
You go to Whole Foods for: cheese, olives, fruits, vegetables, Stoney Field Farms yogurt, "specialty meats," fish, hot/cold buffet, and the sushi.
Save your money and go across the street to Super Fresh to buy everything that you need: toilet paper, canned goods, cleaning products, meats, and so forth.
Whole Foods makes me tired because they don't have anything useful beyond specialty foods. I shop there first then head over to Super Fresh.
People thought this was:
As much as I want to hate Whole Foods for being so outrageously expensive, I always find myself coming back here, and here's why.
First, it's open at extremely convenient hours. I can't think of another grocery store except for the Superfresh on South Street that's open past 9 on Sundays.
Secondly, they have a very good selection of fake meat products that I can't find anywhere else. And truth be told, it's not that expensive compared to similar items at Trader Joe's.
Thirdly, the samples are amazing. I think they've starting putting out even more samples than they did before - it seems like every section of the store has something new for you to try.
Make sure you try the bakery's raisin challah, the premade hamburgers or fish (the coconut crusted fish is amazing), Skyr yogurt, and the frozen mango chunks (less than two bucks a bag!).
People thought this was:
Easy to find, FREE parking in their weird garage! It's not Whole Foods fault that South St is so effing busy...but then again, they did choose the location.
Where else can you get overpriced but healthy foods, buffet style???? Tons of great vegan choices with a very descriptive label for each dish. Useful and handy, but a pain to read!
Love love love the bakery - try the vegan carrot cake! OMG it's so effing good and yummy!!!!!!!!! This WF rocks b/c they also serve a great selection of other vegan goodies - cookies, breads, bagels, cakes, etc.
WF storebrand cranberry italian waters are great and tart! also, they have terra TARO chips! it's so thick and salty and delicious but unforunately, expensive ($5/bag!).
I dont' know why, but whenever i shopped WF, i tend to walk out w/ just 5 items and end up spending over $30.......
People thought this was:
Please, please, please! Stop pestering the poor hard-working people who run this expensive organic establishment. You picky yuppies who constantly attack them for not carrying a certain item or confusing them with your vegan thesaurus because you know more uses for wheat grass then you know that your three year old has just said the words "Blood for Oil!". STOP IT! You're not fooling anyone. You disgust me. So stop complaining they don't carry the rare cat-digested coffee poop or that llama milk that's supposed to help fight cellphone cancer. STOP IT!
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I must say that the food is fantastic at this Whole Foods. They always have just about everything in stock, and the prepared foods are fantastic.
I must also say that the prices at Whole Foods are completely outrageous and I would not buy most groceries here. I only buy what they don't carry at the Super Fresh across the street. Only when I have an extra $20 for a salad do I go in.
People thought this was:
No I didn't buy anything here. All Whole Foods are the same, the variation comes in customer volume and how well layed out it is.
But what i couldn't help notice while i was in here to use the bathroom (the staff was incredibly nice while ushering me to the freezer area, which I thought could either mean I could be hanged up and used for meat or there was actually a bathroom there), I think this is hipster-central for Philly, at least in that area. I was the only one wearing a t shirt all night at the bars, but in the Whole Foods everyone looked like a more suburban version of what you'd find in New York EV or billyburg. It kind of stood out to me.
Oh and here was the whole foods where I realized that THEY SELL MAKEUP. what the shit?
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Came here to see some kittens on the Pet Day on Saturday and also sampled some free food from around the store. I don't shop here but it's a nice respite from the heat and the animals were cute as hell.
People thought this was:
Excellent grocery shopping experience, if you can afford to shop at "Whole Paycheck" all the time. I tend to do most of my shopping at the Superghetto across the street and come here for specialty items. The produce, meat, seafood, bakery, cheese counter, food cases... all extremely fresh and in great condition. The service is very good, I've only had one or two weirdos and they didn't last long at the store.
The Good:
1) Wonderful Cheese Case, you can find a constantly rotating cast of blocks, wheels and rinds.
2) Sushi is above average... still supermarket sushi though.
3) High caliber veggies, well done!
4) Started providing things previously not in stock, like recycled paper plates, toilet paper, dish soap... the stuff I used to go to Superghetto for. They just need some sort of bio degradable zip-lock bag.
5) Fun events planned on a bi-weekly basis.
The Bad:
1) Sometimes the mushrooms are less than fresh.
2) Sometimes the mussels and clams have gone off before 2pm.
3) Sandwiches are less than great. Stop using thick rolls a thiner bread or less dense roll will work better.
People thought this was:
Ah yes, my neighborhood Whole Foods.
As this is a corporation, it's pretty much identical to all the other Whole Foods. But, this one has a slight difference worth noting in a review:
It seems a lot smaller than other Whole Foods and, as a result, has a smaller selection. For instance, I can usually get apple cider year round at the Whole Foods in Marlton. Also, the Whole Foods by the Art Museum has chocolate dusted almonds, whereas the South Street store does not.
My advice -- if you have a car and like to bulk shop, you should take the slightly longer drive to the Whole Foods by the Art Museum.
People thought this was:
I happen to like this location a great deal. The layout is easy, the salad bar huge, the deli and prepared food case beautiful. The produce looks wonderful. The section for dry goods meaning vitamins, makeup, holistic healing, tee shirst ( huh?) is wide. It frozen section- huge. Maybe that's not so special- aren't supermarkets supposed to be this way?- but the staff is simply really helpful and nice and friendly. And oh so hip and granola. Part of the fun of coming to this location is people watching the staff and the customers. Makes me sound very suburban, I know, but just trying to be honest. Other suburban locations may have same products but can also be very vanilla. This location has great product and selection and the added bonus of feeling apart of something unique- it really reflects the South Street personality.
People thought this was:
Yes, you've heard the joke: Whole Foods = Whole Paycheck. They are very expensive, which bums me out b/c I really love their food, but I'm a grad student, so I can't afford to shop there on a regular basis. They've got a great organic selection, including shampoos and such. Their prepared foods are delicious. It's a great place to grab lunch on the go. It's also clean and friendly, more so than other grocery chains. I wish I made more money b/c I'd shop at Whole Foods all the time. Alas, since I don't, I only go there once in a blue moon, to treat myself.
Also, FYI, they don't carry headache medicine or anything. I went to the Whole Foods in Baltimore once when I was spending a weekend down there. I had a killer hangover headache, and Whole Foods was pretty much the only store near our hotel, and I was very sad to find that they didn't sell any product that could relieve my headache. Just keep in mind that Whole Foods isn't your average grocery store.
People thought this was:
I'm going to go with 4 stars on this one. They do have great products, I'm just not really willing to pay the prices.
Here is what I do love there...the woman at the cheese counter! She's the one with grey hair...usually wears a Black hat...does the ordering...I love her!!! She has great taste in cheese and always knows something new to recommend. Though Whole foods doesn't have the selection of cheese that Dibruno's has...it's great to stop in just to see what's she's munching on. She's not been wrong so far!
I love that there are never long lines even on Sundays and the place just makes me feel healthy. But let's change up the salad bar now and the, shall we? Oh, and big ups to the new multi-grain sushi rice.
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Stupid Whole Foods. I have such a hard time with this store because I want what's in there but I always feel slightly abused at checkout. I guess this may seem dumb but without the little lights above register lanes, I can't tell which lane is open and which one is not. Plus, every time I'm there there seems to be a number of employees hanging around a register chatting so its hard to tell if that one is open or not. Last time I was in there, I was waiting in line behind two people, no problems and an employee walks up and says, "Uh, that lane is open." and I said, "Oh, I didn't notice, thanks" and then - I swear to god, he says in a mimicking voice, "Ohhhh. didn't notice." and walks off. What's that about? And I'm sure that they are probably required to ask if you have bags with you but some of the people really give you a hard time when you need a bag. And why are they double bagging my paper bags if its such a crime to ask for a bag? And just because my bag that I take to work with me every day happens to be huge, it doesn't mean its okay to put fish and fruit in there. So, yes, I need a bag.
Aside from all that, they have a lot of great, delicious items inside. Just wish it wasn't such a hassle to get them.
People thought this was:
Only one nice person seems to work here that's willing to acknowledge you & she works in the vitamin section. Everyone else seems to have the 'better than thou' attitude that south streets good for. I much rather support my local venders. Just don't call me out if you happen to see me here.
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Back when I first met Whole Foods, I'd have 5-starred it in a heartbeat. Tofu as far as the eye can see, and what's that there on the horizon? Vegan oatmeal chocolate chip cookies? Though I never really "grocery shopped" here, I paid $10 to get at that salad bar for about 2 years (it's the hard-boiled egg that puts it over the top, and it's the difference between homecoming and prom). Then I worked here for a year and a half, stacking the fruit and wrapping the flowers, and there went the allure. I've seen the lettuce before its morning shower, I know the darkness that lies beneath the tables. Worse yet, I've watched the rudest customer get the most free stuff. It's like seeing your boyfriend for the first time without make-up; the mystery is gone. Whole Foods is my sexy mistress when I'm bored with my faithful companion, PathMark. Four stars for the people working here alone, minus one for encouraging snooty people to be that way.
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Whole Foods is fairly standardized, so I'm not going to bother talking about the products. We all know what they have and what we like and don't like.
However, not every Whole Foods has the same employees (although I know of two Whole Foods that employ members of Hail Social- not the same thing, I realize, but funny).
I find the employees of the South Street Whole Foods to be pretty awesome. For real. There are a few that really take service to the next level. For instance, I went in just to buy two 49cent bottles of Whole Foods water. I grabbed them from the cooler, but they weren't cold because they had just been placed in the cooler. My cashier picks one up to scan it and says, "We have cold ones! Do you want cold ones? Let me get you cold ones!" Takes my water, walks over to the cooler and tries to find some cold water. There isn't any, so she asks the guy loading the water into the cooler if there is any. There still isn't, so she apologizes profusely and tells me that if I want cold water that I can go to the customer service desk and get a cup full of ice. Then she continued to apologize even more for the water not being cold. I thought that was way too nice of her and also a little bit funny... because I really didn't want my water that cold, anyway.
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Haddonfield, NJ
Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Queen Village
Category: Health Markets
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Category: Health Markets
Philadelphia, PA
Category: Desserts
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Category: Grocery
Ugh. I hate to review chain establishments, but…
Recommended vegetarian/vegan-friendly places in…
408 (and growing) is a lot of reviews to go…
You want a piece of this? I said, you want a piece…
I can't go to these places without running into…
Some spots to check out in the city that loves you…
Basiclally if you can't find me at any of these…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
