Subj : Grocery Getters
To : Ruth Haffly
From : Dave Drum
Date : Sat Jan 11 2025 06:00:00
-=> Ruth Haffly wrote to Dave Drum <=-
DD> more-or-less an afterthought. They began in a nearby small town and
DD> were denied zoning to expand operations for the slaughtering and
DD> processing of "on the hoof" animals. So they moved to my town where
DD> they are doing a good business. Bv)=
RH> I grew up in a small town, population was about 850. At that, there
RH> were smaller villages in the area that had no grocery stores so the
RH> folks came to us for shopping. Going over the mountains in winter was
RH> not a fun experience; one place in particular was notoriously bad. I
RH> think most people stocked up when they came, and, a lot of the farmers
RH> were able to do their own butchering. My parents, having white collar
RH> jobs, bought meat from the grocery stores.
I didn't always live in the "metropolis" that is the State Capitol. But,
both Taylorcille and Carlinville were larger than 1000 population. Still,
it was "small town America."
DD> 8<----- EDIT ----->8
RH> Most often now we shop at Wegman's, for the convenience and quality. We
RH> will stop at Lidl sometimes; it's just up the road from Wegman's to
RH> we're there for other, non food, stuff.
DD> My regular non-meat/produce grocery orders I get from Hy-Vee. If you
DD> but $25 or more in product they will pick and bag your order. Then you
DD> ull in to the "pick-up" area, pop the trunk (or raise the hatch) and
DD> your bagged groceries are loaded and you're ready to go home and stow
DD> your plunder.
DD> When my shift at the Zone is done at 11 o'clock I'm swinging by to get
DD> a nice order of frozen and dry goods. All of the attendants in the
DD> pick up section know me and my car so they just automatically pull the
DD> tote with my order and bring it out to the car.
RH> We've not tried that, doing all of our grocery shopping in person. May
RH> hve to change that as we get older, but I'll not like not being able to
RH> pick my own produce, etc.
I still buy/select my own produce and fresh meat. Staple items are all
that I let/have them pick and bag for me.
RH> We've got Aldi also; they were here before Lidl. We've been there for
RH> shopping, but not that frequent.
DD> I'm not frequent, but regular. Especially when I'm jonesing for
DD> chocolate to snack on. Their Moser-Roth is as good (in my estimation)
DD> as Ghirardelli and less $$$$.
RH> I know; I've got some of their mint chocolate in the pantry currently.
DD> eggs, packaged bread and milk. I don't eat a lot of bread and their
RH> We usually get our bread at Wegman's.
DD> I don't do a lot of bread so l'Oven's long shelf life is a plus. When
DD> the penicillin starts to grow I turn it into bird/squirrel food.
RH> We don't do a lot of bread either but probably more than you do, since
RH> it's 2 people eating from the loaf. I'll use the crusts, etc from my
RH> home made 100% whhole wheat for bread crumbs--haven't bought any in
RH> decades.
Used to get my bread at the "used brad store" of which we had at least
five examples. Two for Wonder Bread and three for Butternut. Now we're
down to just one ... a Tasty Kake outlet that I am told is the only
store of that type between Chicago and St. Louis. And their prices/
savings aren't that stellar. Plus the toots that runs the checkout
is a grumpy old trout - so I'm not there often. Customer sdervice
does count for a lot with me.
DD> here named "Harvest Market" which is part of a local(ish) mini-chain
DD> whose "schtick" is locally grown/processed/fresh meat and produce and
DD> packaged products. They have a nice in-store restaurant like Wegman's
DD> or Hy-Vee which I have tried a couple times. I have yet to buy any
DD> groceries at that location.
RH> Sounds like an interesting place to check out.
Oh, I've cruised their produce and meat aisle. And, of course the canned/
boxed goods too. Pricing is pretty "up-market". And I am a careful shopper.
DD> It is/was. But, it's about as far from me as it can be and still be
DD> "in town". I've done some 'walk-about' when I've met folks there for
DD> a lunch or similar occasion.
RH> We may be out in that area in spring, going to the Dayton Hamvention.
RH> Also have some things we want to donate to the Chicago Public Library
RH> so need to resume (stopped when Covid shut the country down) talks with
RH> them.
I don't think CoVid shut it down as much as changed the marketplace. The
"weak sisters" did not survive. But the well run, well done places seem
to have survived.
DD> Then there are the ethnic markets. We have Indian, Chinese, S.E.
DD> Asian, Italian-American Imports, etc. I buy my miso paste at one of
DD> the Chinese markets. And some Indian specialities at Masala Mart.
RH> Those are all down in Raleigh, don't think there are any in WF.
DD> Probably not enough volume of business to sustain a presence.
RH> Possibly, but the way the town has grown, it won't be long. When the
RH> Wegman's development was announced, it included plans for a number of
RH> other stores and apartment buildings. The other stores are across the
RH> highway, more small restaurants than stores actually. The latest one to
RH> open up opened yesterday, Bibibop Asian Grill. Fast Asian style (mostly
RH> Korean-ish) bowls; we tried it for lunch yesterday. Had a good sized
RH> crowd but that could be opening day novelty; we'll see if it lasts.
RH> Food was ok, not the best Korean we've had but could have been much
RH> worse. We'll go back, but it most likely won't be a regular.
BiBimBap is, after all, a Korean specialty.
DD> 8<----- AGAIN ----->8
RH> We're not in an HOA either, nice for Steve putting up all kinds of
RH> antennas. Understand that the previous owners raised chickens, some
RH> older Google Earth pictures show the chicken coops.
DD> I've raised chickens - but, they're a lot of work if done right. And
DD> whilst it would be nice to have he fresh eggs it's a lot easier to
DD> just grab a dozen down the ALDI - once this bird-flu thing settles
DD> down and prices go back where they should be. Bv)=
DD> Not to mention, I don't have te facility, area, nor ambition to catch,
DD> kill, pluck and clean my own chicken dinner at my advanced age. Lots
DD> easier to let Mr. Perdue or Tyson handle that.
RH> Steve's family tried raising them when he was young, guess it turned
RH> out to be much less than successful. Our daughter Deborah raised some
RH> (and quail) for a while, until her dogs got into the cages and did a
RH> good bit of damage. It was an experiment but I think she's at the point
RH> where she's just as glad to be not doing it any more.
When we kept chickens, geee and guinea fowl on the farm I had to "put
down" my Springer spaniel because he was raiding nests and eating eggs.
I was 11 at the time. My father and grandfather both said "Your dog -
your responsibility" as they handed me the rifle. That was pretty earth
shaking for a young boy. And probably one of the hardest things I've
ever had to do.
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