Whole Foods

[kd5ili]

I agree that we can support a Whole Foods. Frankly, I think OKC could support more than one (some people apparently don't know what they're missing). There's really nothing like it at all in this area. As others have said, it doesn't have to be Whole Foods. It just has to be something like it...Central Market, Wegmans, Whole Foods, a local store...it really doesn't matter to me.

I don't know...I easily located this list online, and I'm sure that there are probably even more.

Oklahoma

• Nutrition Center - Health Food Store. (Ada)
• Veggies Health Advantage Ctr - Health Food Store and Vegetarian restaurant. (Ardmore)
• Billie's Health Food Ctr - Health Food Store. (Bartlesville)
• Bethany Alternative Health - Health Food Store. (Bethany)
• Herb Garden & Health Foods - Health Food Store. (Bethany)
• Omega Health Foods - Health Food Store. (Bethany)
• Martha's Health Foods & Herbs - Health Food Store. (Broken Arrow)
• Nana Ayaka Health Food - Health Food Store. (Broken Bow)
• Lynn's Natural Health Food Ctr - Health Food Store. (Chickasha)
• Nutrition Shop - Health Food Store. (Clinton)
• Whole Foods - Health Food Store. (Cushing)
• Health Food Store - Health Food Store. (Duncan)
• Family Health Food Store - Family Health Food Store. (Durant)
• Down To Earth Naturals - Health Food Store. (Edmond)
• Edmond Health Foods - Health Food Store. (Edmond)
• Back To Basics - Health Food Store. (Elk City)
• Pearson's Natural Food Ctr - Health Food Store. (Enid)
• Nature's Plenty of Grove - Health Food Store. (Grove)
• Country Store - Health Food Store. (Harrah)
• Whole Foods Market - Health Food Store. (Lawton)
• Healthy Living Distributors, LLC - Healthy Living LLC - organic and natural foods and produce. (Lindsay)
• Solis Health Foods & Herbs - Health Food Store. (McAlester)
• Oriental Food Market - Health Food Store. (Midwest City)
• Health Plus Nutrition - Health Food Store. (Moore)
• Noble Country Health - Health Food Store. (Morrison)
• Nature's Health Foods - Health Food Store. (Muskogee)
• Dodson's Nutrition Food Ctr - Health Food Store. (Norman)
• Earth Natural Foods & Garden - Health Food Store. (Norman)
• Native Roots Market - Food Picked Right!. (Norman)
• Nutrition Cupboard - Health Food Store. (Norman)
• Wrights Market - Health Food Store. (Norman)
• AKiN’s Natural Foods – Mayfair - Akin's Natural Foods - Your Vitamin Superstore!. (Oklahoma City)
• AKiN’s Natural Foods – OKC North - Akin's Natural Foods - Your Vitamin Superstore!. (Oklahoma City)
• Everything Low Carb - Health Food Store. (Oklahoma City)
• Healthway Natural Foods - Health Food Store. (Oklahoma City)
• Nutritional Food Ctr - Health Food Store. (Oklahoma City)
• Oklahoma Food Cooperative - We only offer products grown or made in Oklahoma. (Oklahoma City)
• Organic Gourmet - Health Food Store. (Oklahoma City)
• The Health Food Center - Natural Food Store. (Oklahoma City)
• Nutrition Shoppe - Health Food Store. (Okmulgee)
• Health World Natural Foods - Health Food Store. (Ponca City)
• Poteau Health Foods - Health Food Store. (Poteau)
• Harvest World Market - Health Food Store. (Sand Springs)
• Sapulpa Health Foods - Health Food Store. (Sapulpa)
• Vickie's Nutrition Store - Health Food Store. (Seminole)
• House of Health - Health Food Store. (Shawnee)
• Rogers Square Herbs & Health Food - Health Food Store. (Skiatook)
• Open Circle Natural Foods - Health Food Store. (Stillwater)
• Paradise Market - Health Food Store. (Stillwater)
• The Oasis Health Food Store - A true oasis of health building: Supplements, Herbs, Organic Food, and Love.. (Tahlequah)
• Akin's Natural Foods - Health Food Store. (Tulsa)
• AKiN’s Natural Foods – Fontana - Natural Foods Market - Your Vitamin Superstore!. (Tulsa)
• AKiN’s Natural Foods – Newport - Akin's Natural Foods - Your Vitamin Superstore!. (Tulsa)
• Anner's Wellness Works - organic market and coop. (Tulsa)
• Big Al's Health Foods - Health Food Store. (Tulsa)
• Herb Shop - Highest quality Herbs, Vitamines, Enzymes, Amino Acids and Minerals.. (Tulsa)
• Lee's Health Ctr - Health Food Store. (Tulsa)
• Naturalfarms - Good health starts with healthier foods. (Tulsa)
• Petty's Fine Foods - Health Food Store. (Tulsa)
• Sedona Natural Foods - Health Food Store. (Tulsa)
• Whole Foods Market - Health Food Store. (Tulsa)
• Country Gardens Health Foods - Health Food Store. (Yale)

Food Co-ops, Health Food stores, Natural Food Stores, health food, natural food

-Chris-

[gamecock]

Not to be difficult, but this is the misconception about why people like me want Whole Foods, or something like it. In my case, it isn't for the health products or natural foods. Rather, it is to shop in a pleasant environment that features a fantastic selection of fresh produce, seafood, meats, chef prepared meals, baked goods, deli, cheeses, flowers, and so on. There may be individual stores in Oklahoma that sell some of these things, but Whole Foods or Central Market offer far more, and it's all under one roof (which is important for those who don't have the time or the inclination to find all of these individual stores and somehow do all of their shopping there). Again, what we have now is completely inadequate for a city of this size.

[calitook]

I don't know...I easily located this list online, and I'm sure that there are probably even more.

Oklahoma

• Nutrition Center - Health Food Store. (Ada)
• Veggies Health Advantage Ctr - Health Food Store and Vegetarian restaurant. (Ardmore)
• Billie's Health Food Ctr - Health Food Store. (Bartlesville)
• Bethany Alternative Health - Health Food Store. (Bethany)
• Herb Garden & Health Foods - Health Food Store. (Bethany)
• Omega Health Foods - Health Food Store. (Bethany)
• Martha's Health Foods & Herbs - Health Food Store. (Broken Arrow)
• Nana Ayaka Health Food - Health Food Store. (Broken Bow)
• Lynn's Natural Health Food Ctr - Health Food Store. (Chickasha)
• Nutrition Shop - Health Food Store. (Clinton)
• Whole Foods - Health Food Store. (Cushing)
• Health Food Store - Health Food Store. (Duncan)
• Family Health Food Store - Family Health Food Store. (Durant)
• Down To Earth Naturals - Health Food Store. (Edmond)
• Edmond Health Foods - Health Food Store. (Edmond)
• Back To Basics - Health Food Store. (Elk City)
• Pearson's Natural Food Ctr - Health Food Store. (Enid)
• Nature's Plenty of Grove - Health Food Store. (Grove)
• Country Store - Health Food Store. (Harrah)
• Whole Foods Market - Health Food Store. (Lawton)
• Healthy Living Distributors, LLC - Healthy Living LLC - organic and natural foods and produce. (Lindsay)
• Solis Health Foods & Herbs - Health Food Store. (McAlester)
• Oriental Food Market - Health Food Store. (Midwest City)
• Health Plus Nutrition - Health Food Store. (Moore)
• Noble Country Health - Health Food Store. (Morrison)
• Nature's Health Foods - Health Food Store. (Muskogee)
• Dodson's Nutrition Food Ctr - Health Food Store. (Norman)
• Earth Natural Foods & Garden - Health Food Store. (Norman)
• Native Roots Market - Food Picked Right!. (Norman)
• Nutrition Cupboard - Health Food Store. (Norman)
• Wrights Market - Health Food Store. (Norman)
• AKiN’s Natural Foods – Mayfair - Akin's Natural Foods - Your Vitamin Superstore!. (Oklahoma City)
• AKiN’s Natural Foods – OKC North - Akin's Natural Foods - Your Vitamin Superstore!. (Oklahoma City)
• Everything Low Carb - Health Food Store. (Oklahoma City)
• Healthway Natural Foods - Health Food Store. (Oklahoma City)
• Nutritional Food Ctr - Health Food Store. (Oklahoma City)
• Oklahoma Food Cooperative - We only offer products grown or made in Oklahoma. (Oklahoma City)
• Organic Gourmet - Health Food Store. (Oklahoma City)
• The Health Food Center - Natural Food Store. (Oklahoma City)
• Nutrition Shoppe - Health Food Store. (Okmulgee)
• Health World Natural Foods - Health Food Store. (Ponca City)
• Poteau Health Foods - Health Food Store. (Poteau)
• Harvest World Market - Health Food Store. (Sand Springs)
• Sapulpa Health Foods - Health Food Store. (Sapulpa)
• Vickie's Nutrition Store - Health Food Store. (Seminole)
• House of Health - Health Food Store. (Shawnee)
• Rogers Square Herbs & Health Food - Health Food Store. (Skiatook)
• Open Circle Natural Foods - Health Food Store. (Stillwater)
• Paradise Market - Health Food Store. (Stillwater)
• The Oasis Health Food Store - A true oasis of health building: Supplements, Herbs, Organic Food, and Love.. (Tahlequah)
• Akin's Natural Foods - Health Food Store. (Tulsa)
• AKiN’s Natural Foods – Fontana - Natural Foods Market - Your Vitamin Superstore!. (Tulsa)
• AKiN’s Natural Foods – Newport - Akin's Natural Foods - Your Vitamin Superstore!. (Tulsa)
• Anner's Wellness Works - organic market and coop. (Tulsa)
• Big Al's Health Foods - Health Food Store. (Tulsa)
• Herb Shop - Highest quality Herbs, Vitamines, Enzymes, Amino Acids and Minerals.. (Tulsa)
• Lee's Health Ctr - Health Food Store. (Tulsa)
• Naturalfarms - Good health starts with healthier foods. (Tulsa)
• Petty's Fine Foods - Health Food Store. (Tulsa)
• Sedona Natural Foods - Health Food Store. (Tulsa)
• Whole Foods Market - Health Food Store. (Tulsa)
• Country Gardens Health Foods - Health Food Store. (Yale)

Food Co-ops, Health Food stores, Natural Food Stores, health food, natural food

-Chris-

Most places that label themselves as a "Health Food Store" are tiny little shacks full of questionable supplements. I'm not saying ALL of them, because clearly I haven't visited every single place on this list. But getting a Whole Foods is about having a good grocery store, not a "health food store". There is just no place in Oklahoma City that has the variety of good FOOD that Whole Foods has.

[gmwise]

Just asking how many of the posters have written/contacted WF in (say) the past 3 mos about coming here?

[kd5ili]

Most places that label themselves as a "Health Food Store" are tiny little shacks full of questionable supplements. I'm not saying ALL of them, because clearly I haven't visited every single place on this list. But getting a Whole Foods is about having a good grocery store, not a "health food store". There is just no place in Oklahoma City that has the variety of good FOOD that Whole Foods has.

But my point is if you (not YOU you, but folks in general you lol) don't go and visit these stores and see what they have, you will never know. We have sold out our local business for the sake of convenience...what a shame.

-Chris-

[flintysooner]

As I recall Pratt's store in Edmond was a pretty good effort at offering something very similar to Whole Foods, et al. I think it was not very well supported.

[brianinok]

There seems to be a BIG misconception of what a Central Market or Whole Foods is. It is a pleasant shopping experience in a warm environment, not a stale grocery store. It is thoughtfully laid out, not just rows of aisles. It offers freshly made, fully prepared meals. It offers a plethora of upscale items not found in other stores in bulk. It offers a knowledgeable staff that knows about preparation, parings, etc. It offers high quality, fresh meats, seafood, fruit, vegetables, cheese, olives, etc.

None of the stores on the long list above offers these things at the same location. I resent that someone says I have "sold out" our local stores for the sake of convenience. I support local stores where I can, but I hold ALL STORES to the same standard. If the local stores do not offer the products I need, I certainly won't shop there. Same story with a chain. I have neither the time nor inclination to drive to 17 stores to do my grocery shopping.

[kd5ili]

None of the stores on the long list above offers these things at the same location. I resent that someone says I have "sold out" our local stores for the sake of convenience. I support local stores where I can, but I hold ALL STORES to the same standard. If the local stores do not offer the products I need, I certainly won't shop there. Same story with a chain. I have neither the time nor inclination to drive to 17 stores to do my grocery shopping.

Thank you. You just validated my point.

-Chris-

[Steve]

Flinty, I remember Pratts. They were in a bad location (what was then the north fringe of Edmond, not centralized to population, and they didn't do a good job communicating how they were different from WalCrapMart.

[bluedogok]

Flinty, I remember Pratts. They were in a bad location (what was then the north fringe of Edmond, not centralized to population, and they didn't do a good job communicating how they were different from WalCrapMart.

Plus some of it is name association, to most people a Pratt's was a generic grocery store long established in the market so a different concept needed to be marketed differently. Much like HEB does with Central Market, for the most part it is a completely different concept than a regular HEB store although some elements are creeping into the newer HEB stores but it still has a distinct identity.

I still think something of a Chelsea Market concept with many different local stores co-located in the same area would be a solution to both the availability and convenience issues.

[flintysooner]

Point is that Pratt's, a local grocer, attempted a concept about as similar to Whole Foods as I've seen and it did not receive enough support to make it. Name recognition, reputation, location and so on really have nothing to do with it.

[easternobserver]

okc pulse - grocery stores absolutely do seek incentives to locate a new store, especially in a new market. albertsons sought and recieved incentives, including direct payments for construction costs and sales tax rebates, on a number of metro-area locations. word is that crest has done the same. even wal-mart often seeks incentives.

[okcpulse]

Flinty, I remember Pratts. They were in a bad location (what was then the north fringe of Edmond, not centralized to population, and they didn't do a good job communicating how they were different from WalCrapMart.

You and I are on the same page concerning Wal-Crap. Except I don't even address the existence of the word "mart". Just Wal-Crap. They butchered the Oklahoma City grocery market.

[mugofbeer]

You and I are on the same page concerning Wal-Crap. Except I don't even address the existence of the word "mart". Just Wal-Crap. They butchered the Oklahoma City grocery market.

That's called competition.

[okcpulse]

Indeed, it is competition, but ask any Oklahoma City grocery patron.

Q: "Do you shop at Wal-**** Supercenter for the prices?"
A: "Yes"

Q: "Do you think Wal-**** offers quality food and quality presentation."
A: "I just shop there for the prices. It's just Wal-****."

Many people do shop there because it saves them $$$$, but many think Wal-**** is nothing compared to a quality supermarket.

So, yeah, they butchered the OKC market by offering good prices in a grease garage. F*** 'em.

[mugofbeer]

Somehow I don't think Wal Mart was the sole reason Safeway closed. I don't think Wal Mart was the sole reason Albertson's closed. Wal Mart wasn't the sole reason Kamp's closed. These companies cannot compete against Wal Mart due to union labor and poor management. Its no different than what is happening in most any other city. Besides, Target has groceries too. Do you feel the same way about Target? Why don't you criticise them? Or is it just because to demonize Wal Mart is politically correct?

[ljbab728]

That's called competition.

I agree and I do shop for food sometimes at Walmart. It's normally only for staple things like canned food or frozen food. It can be much less expensive than for the exact same items found at other stores and I do compare prices. I don't think you can expect people who are on very limited budgets to pay higher prices at locally owned stores just to say they are supporting local businesses. Not everyone has that luxury. I rarely look for things like meat or vegetables there even if it is less.

[rcjunkie]

Indeed, it is competition, but ask any Oklahoma City grocery patron.

Q: "Do you shop at Wal-**** Supercenter for the prices?"
A: "Yes"

Q: "Do you think Wal-**** offers quality food and quality presentation."
A: "I just shop there for the prices. It's just Wal-****."

Many people do shop there because it saves them $$$$, but many think Wal-**** is nothing compared to a quality supermarket.

So, yeah, they butchered the OKC market by offering good prices in a grease garage. F*** 'em.

All local stores Walmart, Homeland, Crest, Target, Best Buy, carry essentially the same products, they just come in different packages and their trucks are a different color. To say people only shop Walmart is for low prices is not totally correct.

[ronronnie1]

Indeed, it is competition, but ask any Oklahoma City grocery patron.

Q: "Do you shop at Wal-**** Supercenter for the prices?"
A: "Yes"

Q: "Do you think Wal-**** offers quality food and quality presentation."
A: "I just shop there for the prices. It's just Wal-****."

Many people do shop there because it saves them $$$$, but many think Wal-**** is nothing compared to a quality supermarket.

So, yeah, they butchered the OKC market by offering good prices in a grease garage. F*** 'em.

^^^The best post of this ENTIRE thread, right here.^^^

[JerzeeGrlinOKC]

Nooooooooooooo. We can, it's just that their hoity-toity asses won't put a store here for us to support.

No I am starting to seriously believe that the Oklahoma grocery lobby has something to do with it, similar to how the liquor lobby enables the laws to be so anti-consumer choice around here. I truly suspect protectionism. Besides Walmart and Target, there is only one distributor for grocery in the entire state (barring the WF distributor for the one in Tulsa, which is only there by default). The distribution lobby can't want this kind of competition, they have to be fighting it. I don't think Walmart shoppers will be switching over to upscale grocery any time soon. But for shoppers of some of the nicer Homelands...this could be a real problem, especially because local chains already don't do well as a result of Walmart.

In any case, I used to take it personally, but one really has to wonder all that is involved here...

[progressiveboy]

No I am starting to seriously believe that the Oklahoma grocery lobby has something to do with it, similar to how the liquor lobby enables the laws to be so anti-consumer choice around here. I truly suspect protectionism. Besides Walmart and Target, there is only one distributor for grocery in the entire state (barring the WF distributor for the one in Tulsa, which is only there by default). The distribution lobby can't want this kind of competition, they have to be fighting it. I don't think Walmart shoppers will be switching over to upscale grocery any time soon. But for shoppers of some of the nicer Homelands...this could be a real problem, especially because local chains already don't do well as a result of Walmart.

In any case, I used to take it personally, but one really has to wonder all that is involved here...

I agree. It does make me wonder that with the antiquated liquor laws and with the poor choices of grocery chains in the OKC area that residents would want to step up to the plate. It appears that Oklahoma operates more and more from a socialistic form of government instead of a democracy or the "will of the people". This will always hinder the true potential that OKC and the State for that matter can have. They cannot even put a fricking Q-Trip in OKC because there is suppose to be a "gentlemen's agreement" between the franchise owners of the 7-11's in OKC and the owners of Q-Trip in Tulsa. What ever happened to the free enterprise system in Oklahoma? Competition is healthy in the marketplace but because of the "special interests " that operate in Oklahoma and the enept goons that make the laws in Oklahoma makes it increasingly difficult to do business in the State.

[Millie]

As has been stated many, many times before, Whole Foods et al operate in several other places with similar liquor laws.

[mugofbeer]

Quote:
Originally Posted by okcpulse
Indeed, it is competition, but ask any Oklahoma City grocery patron.

Q: "Do you shop at Wal-**** Supercenter for the prices?"
A: "Yes"

Q: "Do you think Wal-**** offers quality food and quality presentation."
A: "I just shop there for the prices. It's just Wal-****."

Many people do shop there because it saves them $$$$, but many think Wal-**** is nothing compared to a quality supermarket.

So, yeah, they butchered the OKC market by offering good prices in a grease garage. F*** 'em.

^^^The best post of this ENTIRE thread, right here.^^^

Both are silly, mindless statements. Wal Mart succeeds because it is able to secure better prices for its products than other grocers, and can sell for less. The other grocers struggle because they exist in an industry with razor-thin margins. Albertson's is struggling nationally. Safeway is struggling nationally. Other grocers put in large stores that carry higher-margin, non-grocery items that help them improve their profitability. There is nothing going on in OK that isn't going on elsewhere. The difference is we don't have a Kroger or Publix to continue the competition.

[JerzeeGrlinOKC]

As has been stated many, many times before, Whole Foods et al operate in several other places with similar liquor laws.

Of course its not the liquor laws themselves, which yes has been established many times before. That is not the point. Its many things. And I have a hypothesis that one of them is related to unseen pressure from the grocery distribution lobby (which is akin to the way the liquor lobby serves to prevent many beer/wine/liquor labels from reaching Oklahoma shelves due to potential competition for the big three). Not that we know what that would do specifically, but lobby pressure from distributors is probably one of many variables blocking upscale grocery from coming to this state.

Just saying, and I think progressiveboy has a good point - I think something fishy is going on in this state which continues to hinder the will of the consumer.

[mugofbeer]

Just saying, and I think progressiveboy has a good point - I think something fishy is going on in this state which continues to hinder the will of the consumer.

I don't feel there is much "fishy" going on. What I see is a state with a relatively low population, a state known for it's "value" shopping habits, and a state who'se overall income level is lower than the national average. OKC also has a dispursed population of more affluent people (meaning there isn't a large, concentrated area of people with disposable income). This makes it far harder to figure out where to locate a single store.

For a business such as a grocery store to come into an area, it is far more efficient for them to come in with several stores and a distribution center. Especially in this economy, I don't see many chain grocers willing to pony up the money to do this.