My first husband is a meat cutter and worked at several grocery store chains. In 24 years, he never saw meat dyed. Did they just start doing that in the last five years or so? We've read that chains did it but it never happened anywhere that he worked.

Thunder have you ever even been to a Whole Foods? Comparing it to Crest is laughable.

I've not been to a Whole Foods store either but I'm looking forward to it. But, I betcha they don't have 45 cent Fancy Feast cat food. We went back last Sunday ... still 45 cents. Got 2 more loaves of their bakery's unsliced white bread ... not as good as my grandmother's but it is really very good.

My first husband is a meat cutter and worked at several grocery store chains. In 24 years, he never saw meat dyed. Did they just start doing that in the last five years or so? We've read that chains did it but it never happened anywhere that he worked.

Recently, I was talking with the widow of the owner of my company. She told me that when she was little, her father owned a small grocery store in Altus. One day, he caught the meat department manager dying the beef red. He was fired on the spot. This would have been in the late 30s or early 40s.

My first husband is a meat cutter and worked at several grocery store chains. In 24 years, he never saw meat dyed. Did they just start doing that in the last five years or so? We've read that chains did it but it never happened anywhere that he worked.

My family used to own a small grocery store with a meat market. We wouldn't have even known how to dye meat red if we wanted to.

I work as an assistant manager for a pretty good sized grocery chain having worked in most of the stores in the chain, none dye their meat, and I highly doubt anyone ever would, too many whistle blowers out there looking for a little face time on the local news.

Thunder have you ever even been to a Whole Foods? Comparing it to Crest is laughable.

Before you make that statement you might want to keep in mind that in Oklahoma we tend to get the watered down version of national retailers. This is simply because companies have mixed results in Oklahoma. Many want to wait until they are here for a while before they build the crown jewel. We hardly ever get the same type stores you see in Dallas, Los Angeles, Orlando, Houston, St. Louis, etc, etc. I am willing to bet the new Whole Foods store on Classen Curve will not be the same type store you see in other cities. It will probably be a junior version with reduced space, products and services.

Before you make that statement you might want to keep in mind that in Oklahoma we tend to get the watered down version of national retailers. This is simply because companies have mixed results in Oklahoma. Many want to wait until they are here for a while before they build the crown jewel. We hardly ever get the same type stores you see in Dallas, Los Angeles, Orlando, Houston, St. Louis, etc, etc. I am willing to bet the new Whole Foods store on Classen Curve will not be the same type store you see in other cities. It will probably be a junior version with reduced space, products and services.

This maybe true, but a watered down Whole Foods is better than anything we presently have.

I'm well aware of that, but as rcjunkie said, their most watered down store (if there is such a thing, it's probably the Tulsa store) is still light years better than anything we currently have in OKC. I've been to numerous Whole Foods in several states including the one in Tulsa, which is one of their smaller stores. I understand our store will be 5,000-7,000 sq. ft bigger than theirs so I'm hoping we'll have even more selection. I've also been to the flagship Dallas store at ParkLane. Which is one of their top 3 stores. No matter the size, it's hard to water down a Whole Foods compared to the competition. After 40,000 sq. ft, you're only talking about more cafe' areas, outdoor plants, etc. Stuff I can definitely do without and still be content. The food selection isn't much different at the large stores versus their small ones, additionally we know we can't carry wine in grocery stores in Oklahoma, so that frees up some of the space for more food selection.

Amazing place all round. The owner/founder of the company was there the other day and his son had to stop him from helping people take their groceries to their cars. You'll never see anything like that from a Wal-Mart or even a Whole Foods. I'm now a dyed-in-the-wool Crest fanatic.

I'm sensing a few diehard Whole Foods fanboys. Like Apple fanboys. Only worse....

I'll agree WF is the organic Walmart if you will, but by far there is nothing remotely close in the metro like it. Not to mention, the local culture could use more local food, high quality ingredient, organic, green mentality around here.

I saw Sam Bowman there last night with a cart full of groceries.

Okay, we've been in the store about eight or nine times now. Reflections on what we see as the good: wide aisles, good selection of brands, some prices, good-tasting meat; however, on the other side, the not-so-good: the baskets (way too big and cumbersome!), limited selection of bakery and deli (some will disagree, no problem, just doesn't measure up to what we'd been told the store was going to be; Kroger's in Los Colinas has them beat!), prices (you have to know every price of everything you buy, which is tough to do; while it won't pay to drive somewhere for an item or two, going for the best price can pay off if you have a number of items to buy). There are a number of favorite things we've become accustomed to buying that they don't carry, and their items like vitamins are basically non-existent. So will we continue to shop there? Sure. It's close, great for dashing in for a loaf of bread and some milk, but we will also "plan" shopping trips to Homeland and Walmart Super Center for those items they carry or price better than Crest.

Overall, our reaction is a feeling of being "underwhelmed." We'd SO hoped for a store like the Albertson's was before Homeland took it over or an upscale Kroger's.

What makes a comparison of Crest to WF inherently "laughable?

Is it the number of overpriced products?

Is it the frequency the word "Organic" is splattered across the shelves, knowing that the numbed buying public has no clue what that means except that if its organic, it MUST be good..., and thus are willing to pay ridiculously more than other retailers? Its kinda like the way retailers slap the word "Digital" on a pair of rabbit ear TV antennas and charge $39.95 for them.

Seems to me the best beneficiary of a WF is the WF owner....

I live literally within walking distance of the new Crest, and it is absolutely fantastic.

I think the main thing that makes the comparison inappropriate (maybe a better word than laughable) is that they don't really stock many products that you can't easily find anywhere else in town (e.g., at Walmart or Homeland). The store is really nice, and the aisles are huge, but as someone else mentioned, they do stock a lot of the same products. Look, Crest is the "home of rock bottom prices." So, I don't think it should really be expected that they would compete with Whole Foods, which certainly isn't pursuing a "low price" strategy. The quality of the bakery and fresh foods, and the selection of unique products is where, I think, you are going to see the biggest difference. For now, this is the nicest grocery store in town. In other towns, though, this kind of store would not be considered so exceptional.