Quality grocery stores in OKC

[bradh]

This may be a bit off topic, but one of my big complaints about the grocery stores in OKC and OK in general is the lack of private label/store brand selection. Virtually every store is supplied by the same warehouse, and the only store brands available are Best Choice and Always Save. I buy a lot of things in the store brand....and it's these brands or Wal Mart brands...or nothing.
There are several Kroger and Safeway brands that I shop for when I'm at Dillons in Kansas or Tom Thumb or Kroger in Dallas.
I have applauded Buy For Less for changing their supplier this year and offering Shurfine brands in their stores. Many of the Shurfine items are very good--some better than the national brand.
Just heard thru the grapevine though that Buy For Less is going back to their old supplier...and the Shurfine will be replaced back to the Best Choice items that every other store offers.
I was shopping at Buy For Less a lot because of the variety of brands they offered..now I guess you can go to Crest, Homeland, Buy For Less or almost any other independent store and get the same stuff.

You know who typically makes that private label stuff right?

[terryinokc]

You know who typically makes that private label stuff right?

Yes,, but I don't like having to pay the name brand prices for the same stuff that's packaged in other labels...but not every store brand is made by the same name brand company,

[ctchandler]

You know who typically makes that private label stuff right?

Pahdz,
No, I don't, clue me/us in.
C. T.

[shriekingviolet]

Has anyone heard when we can expect the new Uptown Grocery on May to open? The last time I drove past it it looked really far along but not completely finished. I had hoped they'd be open by Thanksgiving, but that's obviously not happening.

[Pete]

^

Best estimate is January.

We have a separate thread for that store if you want to monitor it for updates:

Uptown Grocery to the Village - OKCTalk

[Pete]

So, after being here for a couple of months and shopping at most the decent grocery stores around town, I've come to the conclusion that Walmart Neighborhood Market is probably going to be my every day store.

I just did $200 worth of shopping at the Homeland on Classen and it was a horrible experience, of course. Their prices aren't good and their produce is terrible. As in, I really regret buying what I did there and may go re-buy elsewhere. And of course, it's just a junky, old, depressing place with surly employees who all give you the distinct impression they hate their jobs. It's really as bad a modern-day grocery store as you are going to find.

I couldn't find a couple of things there I needed so I finally broke down and went to the WM on 23rd and Penn. Way, way, way better store. And way, way better prices. Plus, open 24 hours (I'm a notorious early riser and often out late) and self-check out. And, much wider aisles, decent selection, etc.

Not sure why these stores get such a bad rep, apart from the WM association.

I went into the Buy for Less at NW Expressway and Portland and was not impressed. Really like Sprouts but it's too far away and hard to get to for regular visits. Target is okay but it's a tremendous hassle since the store is so big and the groceries are in the back, plus there are the typical limited hours and checkout is almost always quite long.

[Plutonic Panda]

Pete, what is the deal with WinCo? Are you sure this is still happening?

[Pete]

Pete, what is the deal with WinCo? Are you sure this is still happening?

Yes! They are just taking their time but they have already purchased property at 3 locations.

But living downtown, I'm not likely to go to 39th & I-44 very often. Still, love their stores and operation.

[Plutonic Panda]

Yeah. That's exciting even though I won't be here, it'll still be nice to have them.Where are you going to Walmart NM though? I didn't realize there was one that close to the core. If Uptown Grocery comes downtown or perhaps Crest decides to go urban, they have reasonable prices and great stores.

[Pete]

There is a Walmart Neighborhood Market at 23rd & Penn. I rent a storage unit at Shepherd Storage right near there and am over there all the time, so it's pretty convenient.

One thing that seems to be quite different between WMNM and a regular Walmart: the former has wide aisles that aren't cluttered with stuff piled up everywhere.

The 24 hours and self-checkout are huge advantages as well.


I just don't think I can handle that Homeland. It's just a horrible shopping experience to the point of being downright depressing.

[turnpup]

Having recently moved downtown, we're stuck in the same boat as Pete. We just got back from the 18th and Classen Homeland ourselves. Pete is spot on about that sad, sad store. It's laid out funny. The baskets are all rusty and old. They don't have things you'd expect (things that are common even at a limited-grocery Target), like frozen pre-cooked plain chicken breasts. At least I couldn't find any.

The employees do appear sullen and/or dissatisfied with being employed there. I made an attempt to cheer up the lady who was at the register we checked out from. She did warm up to us after we chatted for a while. I asked her if she had heard any rumors or information about whether or not that store would renovate/update. She laughed and said she figured it'd close before doing anything like that. That's only anecdotal, but her demeanor and response to our question made it clear that that store doesn't have much pride or effort placed into it.

Pete, make sure you get one of the Homeland customer value cards (or whatever they are). Our total was $240, and then the cashier asked if we had a card. My husband said he had one but couldn't find it, and the cashier went ahead and swiped her card for us. It took the total tab down to $199! I've never been a fan of having my purchases tracked, but if it saves that kind of money, then so be it!

[Plutonic Panda]

Yeah it'd be nice to get a development like this with a Walmart or Crest.

[Pete]

Yeah, I have one of their cards. But honestly, I hate those things (I give them my phone number and they always enter it wrong, then we do it again) and it's yet another advantage to WMNM, Sprouts and Winco because they don't require cards and that extra little bit of hassle.

Really, really hope we get a Sprouts downtown. Uptown Market would be great too but that probably won't happen for a few years, if then.

[Plutonic Panda]

Yeah, I have one of their cards. But honestly, I hate those things (I give them my phone number and they always enter it wrong, then we do it again) and it's yet another advantage to WMNM, Sprouts and Winco because they don't require cards and that extra little bit of hassle.

Really, really hope we get a Sprouts downtown. Uptown Market would be great too but that probably won't happen for a few years, if then.

They have a new Sprouts on La Brea close to Fountain which they are opening. It's a cool development. I'll try and get a picture of it soon.

[okatty]

Is the reason the Homeland at 18th and Classen has not been updated and improved just the lack of competition? They renovated the one at NW 122nd and Rockwell about a year ago and it's nice - new floors, produce area, great cheese area, etc. Prices are way higher than Crest and quite right you have to use their card to make it even close to reasonable. Still, would think they'd do something like this at 18th. Went in there to get milk late one afternoon and was sorta shocked how bad it is compared to other stores.

[Pete]

The 18th & Classen location is quite a bit smaller than most the other Homelands so they'll always be limited in what they can offer there. It will never be like the Britton and May store, for example.


I don't mean to sound melodramatic but I've come to the conclusion that shopping at that establishment makes me feel worse about OKC. It really is that bad and the more I shop there the more I see how truly horrible it is.

It's an embarrassment to our city.

[okatty]

It is a lot smaller. Hadn't thought about that. Unfortunately you are not overstating how bad it is.

[Pete]

Interestingly, Trader Joe's opened a ton of their locations in old grocery stores like that Classen Homeland because it's the perfect size for them.

Starting in the 80's and 90's the chains were all building new locations around 40,000 square feet and leaving behind these 18-20,000 SF spots and TJ's would move right in.

I would almost sell my soul to get TJ's to take over that Homeland location. In fact, almost that exact thing happened when I bought my house in California and Whole Foods (which I've never liked) moved out of an old Safeway to a huge new location and TJ's moved right in.

[okatty]

^Had never been in a Trader Joe's until couple weeks ago - was in DC and spending time in Alexandria and went in one in Olde Town. Really cool and was pretty surprised how reasonable prices were. Lines were long but moved fast. I told a lady in front of me it was my first time in TJ's and she said "I don't know how you live without TJ's!"

[Pete]

Yes, one of the huge draws about Trader Joe's is the prices.

Almost every one of their stores is crazy busy all the time -- and for very good reasons. Great, great operation.

[Urbanized]

Every time I go to that Wal-Mart NM the produce is horse than Homeland's and the customers around me feel super-sketchy. I don't know what it is precisely, but I really dislike that place.

[Pete]

More sketchy than that Homeland? Some of the people in MP / HH / Gatewood shop there but they are the minority in that place.


Yet another huge gripe about Homeland: They are frequently completely out of things. I've never seen a store so poorly re-stocked. It is easily the worst retail operation I've ever seen; at least in the last 20 years.

[bchris02]

I don't mean to sound melodramatic but I've come to the conclusion that shopping at that establishment makes me feel worse about OKC. It really is that bad and the more I shop there the more I see how truly horrible it is.

It's an embarrassment to our city.

I agree and it is the same way for me. After moving back to OKC it took me a long time to get used to the poor quality of grocery stores here and it still bothers me. I really miss Harris Teeter, which is a great grocery store with locations everywhere in Charlotte and almost every location is similar to the N May and Britton Homeland or an Uptown Market. Even the worst Harris Teeters that were a little dated were still kept clean and well-stocked. The 18th and Classen Homeland is awful and it doesn't appear they have any plans to improve it. It wouldn't surprise me if Homeland is just waiting to close that location in a few years after something else opens in the urban core. It's so bad that it only gets business because its the only option for miles. It really is the last of the really bad Homelands in the metro as they have either closed or remodeled the others over the past few years.

It's hard to believe with all the improvements in downtown OKC, that Homeland is still the only grocery store in the immediate urban core. If there isn't enough rooftops to support a downtown grocery store, there should be enough to have something a little further north in the core in the 23rd/Classen or 23rd/Broadway area.

[oklip955]

I know that Aldi's is not what most of you would call a quality grocery store but I'm supprised that they have not opened one in the area. They are built on a small foot print but do do a lot of business. I often see a lot of older people as well as young famiies shopping at the Edmond store. Sure they are cheap and not always the top quality products but they do a lot of business. Anyway, they are always cheap on a few things that I go in there to buy. (avacados, pineapples, mangos and some German food items) If they built in the Downtown area, they are ok for some basics.

[White Peacock]

Aldi (23rd & MacArthur) is my usual go-to because of proximity. Occasionally we go to the Walmart Neighborhood Market at 63rd and MacArthur, which is also quite nice. Not the best produce, but other than that it's a good store, and one of the few non-scummy Walmart locations in the city.