Comments on: Stop & Shop Revisited: Olives and SUVs

By: skyler

skyler — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 18:26:16 +0000

Oh boy, what you need is a Super Walmart! 24 registers and 8 self-checkout lanes. And talk about getting lost; you can walk around for weeks in there. Arrive late on a Saturday and you’ll walk 3/4 mile from the far end of the parking lot, too.
But the variety is amazing and prices are cheap.
I still prefer one of the chain grocery stores over Walmart. Here, where I live, in a large suburb, intense competition affords us variety, freshness, and uniqueness.
Two years ago I visited my hometown of Salisbury and shopped at Labonne’s. It was dark and crowded in the narrow aisles, with no choices in most products. The prices were outrageous.
Most fellow shoppers just scowled at me anyway, and the ones that were chatting with each other blocked the aisles. In other parts of the country, folks find other places to socialize. I’ll gladly give up the personal touch so I can have selection and cleanliness.
I was desperate for band-aids, for blisters on my feet from walking around Lakeville on it’s broken sidewalks, hoping to find an interesting gift shop. Shopkeepers, although their front doors were open in what seemed like a welcoming gesture, didn’t even look up from their NY Times to see if I needed help. I never even saw the shopkeeper at a sporting goods store in Salisbury.
I guess for amusement next time I’m in the NW Corner, I’ll go to Canaan and watch the perplexed locals!

By: Kris

Kris — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 03:51:50 +0000

Flies near the bakery products, out of date packages (still, and again as in the old S&S), don’t inspire me. LaBonne’s is a tad better, but they need to up their quality, which has been hit ‘n miss for years. They truck in their deli salads by the gallon from some big warehouse, pre-made, just like S&S, and most of them are awful, tasting like some chemical preservative. Guido’s, on the other hand, is worth the trip in gas cost. As far as price, Guido’s has their share of bargains, and rarely, even with their bargains, do you get rotten or out of date goods! And Guido’s can be cheaper on a lot of things than are LaBonne’s or S&S (ex., Amy’s frozen dinners). If we buy meat and fish, it’s ONLY at Guido’s, the only way to be sure that it’s fresh. I’ll do some absolute necessity shopping at S&S, when I don’t have the energy or time to drive up to either Big Y or Guido’s in Grt. Barrington. The Big Y rarely disappoints, and always has 2-fers. I just got a “random” coupon for $20 off with a $100 purchase at Big Y. Shocked the h..l out of me, but it worked! And for quality sandwiches, go across the street to the Maine Caboose. For a buck or so more, you get fresh home-made good stuff with generous proportions, including specially made ice cream. And no, I am not related to anyone there, and have no financial interest in the place. But I’d sure hate to see this great “small business” (along with a lot of others) suffer from the S&S monster with its woo woo factor. Oh, and do take a jacket if you go to S&S. It’s too cold in there.

By: Ali

Ali — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 02:51:33 +0000

I’d like to point out the Labonnes is in the process of a large renovation which includes moving all of their items around. You may not be able to find the toothpaste there either.

By: Amy

Amy — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 03:24:21 +0000

I was pointed to your blog by my mother, who wrote the story you mentioned and took the photo. While I have not read Mr. Shaw’s letter to the editor (as soon as I find a copy I will), I find it interesting that the only people who complain about the new Stop & Shop are the ones who have the time and money to shop around. If Mr. Shaw feels so anonymous at this “suburban” store, let him shop at Guido’s and pay twice as much for his free-range sprouts. I surely won’t miss him.

By: Fred S

Fred S — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 20:37:39 +0000

i dont mind having a union store in the area. and having to pay a fraction more than the competition is worth it. The Union offers the working class protection and security. they wont get elsewhere.

They are at least not stuck in situations like a Wal-MArt employee who is paid below poverty levels, and has management trained to take advantage of them in every way possible.

By: Doug Richardson

Doug Richardson — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 04:10:02 +0000

OK, so no human being on the planet needs a choice of olives 20 feet long. That notwithstanding, sniping as S&S for taking aim at the Weekend Warriors and their fat checkbooks is disengenuous; as you pointed out, LaBonne’s and Guidos have been thriving off them for years. That a new S&S is joining the feeding frenzy ought to be no surprise–nor should they be condemned for what they’re offering: more choices of more stuff.

And I’ve found the prices, BTW, very, very good. Your coffee aisle is rife with bargains and I bought enough Pepsi, at the best price I’ve ever seen, to last me the summer.