Value Village relocating, Grocery Outlet moving in

Geeky Swedes Ballard

People have been emailing us wondering what is going at the old QFC location at the corner of 15th Ave NW and NW 85th St.

Workers are busy transforming the old grocery store into a new Value Village. Daniel snapped the above photo with his Blackberry before the sign was covered up with plastic.

Meanwhile, Grocery Outlet is planning to move into the location that is currently Value Village (8700 15th Ave NW.) We spoke with Peyton Robertson with Grocery Outlet who tells us they plan to have their new location open the beginning of May “provided that construction goes as planned,” she tells us.

Geeky Swedes

The founders of My Ballard

113 thoughts to “Value Village relocating, Grocery Outlet moving in”

  2. Boy oh boy…Crown Hill is getting more and more classy. First it was Value Village years ago. Now we have Labor Ready next to the fire station and Grocery Outlet is coming to the old VV?

    This is sad.

  3. The parking lot at the current VV is tiny! I'm surprised that GO thinks it's a good spot…the lot at the GO on Aurora is always packed.

  4. CM — I don't think any real planning went into this. Why don' they just take highway 99 and route it on over to crown hill, they may as well put the final nail in the coffin.

  5. Oh, spare us from Value Village! Why people can get clothes there for less money! Ruins the neighborhood, if you ask me. You look in there, and there's nothing but families as far as the eye can see. Reprobates, the lot of them!

    Yeesh.

  6. boatgeek — please email me, it sounds like you are on board with the petition. We need to make sure we keep crown hill from turning into lynnwood.

  7. Ballard has been a blue collar fishing community for 120 years, so I dont get the “keep it high end” part of your comment. Its only been the past decade and a half where it has been yuppified.

    The Grocery Outlet has good prices on a wide range of overstocked items, including “high end” items like imported cheeses, meats, and coffee. Not to mention organic meals from companys like Amy's.

    Have you ever been to one before or are you just shooting from the hip with another whiny petition from a typical yuppie transplant?

  9. The beer/wine license is already posted in the Value Village window! Grocery Outlet doesn't waste anytime.

    I'm looking forward to Grocery Outlet and a bigger Value Village!

  12. owenwick — hmm. well what whas it BEFORE it was a blue collar fishing community?!? good idea, lets make sure that the neighbor never ever changes or improves.

    I admit I have not been to a Grocery Outlet, but many of my friends have had bad experiences with their products and the quality and freshness of them. Believe me, I've had enough bad reviews from friends to know it is not for me.

    I don't care if they have a 'wide range' of high end products, if the products are probably best suited for a dumpster due to near expiration.

  13. with the think tank that engineered such feats as moving a grocery outlet and retaining a value village in the neighborhood, it is VERY DIFFICULT to figure out why crown hill is less desirable.

  15. wait, was that sarcasm? In reading again, I think it might be, except it lacks the usual components of sarcasm, like wit and humor.

  16. We are getting organized. I'm actually hearing from a LOT of people that they don't want this eyesore here. More details to follow, but thanks to all for your support.

  17. Secretary please don't misread that. If it was not Crown Hill you would not be able to afford to live there so sometimes less desirable is a good thing.

    Realestate speculation is the major reason we are such a downturn so do not do as poor stopgo and hope for the bubble to come back. I'ts a sure loser.

  22. My petition, and my supporters, are for the prevention of Grocery Outlet moving into the area. Our official group name is No, Crown Hill will not become Lynnwood.

  23. How is it an eyesore? Would you rather the building be vacant? I’d rather a business have the opportunity to open, create jobs, pump some money into the Ballard/Crown Hill economy. I’d rather it not sit vacant and create a Mecca for our area homeless… Believe me if you had driven by Sunset Bowl over the last few months you’d know what I was talking about.

    I support anyone who desires to voice their opinion but again you are not being forced to shop at any of these businesses.

  24. We are looking into protesting the application for Liquor license at the moment. There are a lot of drug sales already occurring on or new the premises. Call our lawyers as we type.

  25. Please spare me the elitist BS. If there wasn't a market for the store it wouldn't be opening here. It's a free country and everyone deserves an opportunity. Both stores offer a needed service to the low and fixed income in the area. I have a hard time ever picturing Ballard as an upscale community due to the fact that there are so many multifamily homes crammed into such a small area. If you don't like it, move.

  26. To me, its as bad as a having a strip club in the area (which there is also one of). Not good for the general feel and appeal of the neighborhood. We have a places in Washington for this kind of store (i.e – outside the city limits or on highway 99)

  27. Aaannd give the man a cigar! Yes, it was sarcasm. My point is that I appreciate Value Village in particular, a place where I and my family can get clothes, books, and other stuff at a fraction of new retail. And given the number of people we see in there (and the packed parking lot), it seems that a lot of other people do, too. You know, families and stuff. People who might be saving money on clothes so they can afford to go to the latest sushi bar or pho place. Or people who spent most of their disposable income on a house. We'll stick our heads in at GO when they open, too. If it's as advertised, we'll probably buy stuff. If it's crap, we won't.

    I'm not trying to be an ad for VV–there's often a lot of crap there. But amongst it is a lot of good stuff. I just don't understand why it's an undesirable business, since it seems to be frequented by non-bums who live in the neighborhood.

    If you want to get rid of the places that make Crown Hill far too like Lynnwood, go after the strip joints.

  28. Ballardog — Time will tell, but I predict that it is not the people PURCHASING property in the area that will be leaving. I have a feeling once obama gets this economy turned around that we'll be back on track.

  30. Taken from the Grocery Outlet's website:
    “Headquartered in Berkeley, California, Grocery Outlet currently encompasses 130+ independently operated stores in 6 Western States. Grocery Outlets are located in cities large and small and serve all kinds of neighborhoods. Most stores are independently operated by locally-based families. We are truly a family business.”

    I can't think of any locally owned stores who currently specialize in selling overstocks, so its not like they are stealing anyone's business.

    Lighten up, not everyone can afford to get all their groceries from PCC.

  31. Dougie…is that you? You've stopped taking your medication again, it appears. I realize that your usual cyclic agitation is exacerbated by the imminent full moon, but I really wish your mommy would keep a closer eye on you.

    Long live Grocery Outlet!

  32. Agreed about the strip joints. Fo' sure.

    VV does a HORRIBLE job of maintaining their property and the junk that spills over from collecting just about any piece of trash someone drops off at their store. It creates a pretty legitimate liter problem, take a stroll around their lot if you have any doubts.

    Yes, there are people who go there – maybe they'd be inclined to hitch on up to shoreline or lynnwood though. I hate the thought that people from up north are coming IN to town to go 'garage sale shopping' at VV.

  33. A strip club and grocery market to me is not even in the same field. A grocery market pumps money into the local economy. It provides jobs for people who then spend that money at other local businesses… For example a Grocery Outlet worker goes to Dick’s for a lunch break… Guess what that worker has just contributed to a local business which provides a great healthcare and tuition plan for students.

    Take into account the various vendors, (bread, meats, cheeses, and even dare I say… beer), these local businesses provide a continuance of jobs for people who pack and deliver these items to any grocery store. Or how about the local printing company that prints publications and store ads… yes that creates more work for them which enables them to continue providing jobs for people, local people.

  34. “Calling our lawyes as we type”

    Stopgo, you are really cracking me up. I have never seen anyone react so strongly to a grocery store! I love it, quite entertaining.

    But seriously stopgo, indulge me for a moment, what are you really going after here? Do bargain hunters really scare you? Do you hate penny pinchers? Is it because we ride the bus to the store? Sometimes we ask for double plastic bags as well cause we have to carry the heavy cans on the bus. Is that it?

  35. “legitimate liter problem”, what the heck is that?

    When I was working (and living as a homeowner in Ballard), I bought most of my clothers from Value Village or Goodwill. There are many deals to be had. If there is a problem with trash around the store, that is what we should focus on.

  37. Grocery Outlet is great! Lots of organics, cheap good wines…etc. The only reason people would think Grocery Outlet isn't “high end” is because you enjoy spending $800/ month on groceries from Ballard Market. If I had the grocery budget to shop exclusively at Ballard Market and Whole Foods, I would. Grocery Outlet offers a lot to people on a budget or a fixed income. And believe it or not, there are underprivleged people that live in Ballard.

  43. “And believe it or not, there are underprivleged people that live in Ballard.”

    stopgo – is this what you are concerned about, more poor people coming to Crown Hill/Ballard? As the middle class disappears, more poor people are being created in place.

  44. I don't understand stopgo's reaction to VV. VV supports community service programs, it promotes reusing items instead of more consumption of new stuff, it provides more affordable things for people. I regularly see new expensive cars in the parking lot, so the argument that it attracts poor people doesn't even hold up. It attracts people who don't want to waste money and who would rather reuse than buy new.

    Yesterday I parked behind a woman in a mercedes, saw 2 kitchen workers(both wearing chef's pants) looking for some utensils, talked to an antique dealer, saw a grandmother w/her daughter and grand-daughter buy a children's book/vintage apron/antique shirley temple doll, woman buying bed linens, man buying shoes. How is this undesirable?

    Not to mention, that the people working there are very nice and seem happy to work there, which tells me they're treated well.

  45. StopGo11 is only interested in making people mad. It will be interesting to see if he will be able to stay out of the Open Forum.

    The only problem I see with that location is that people are going to try and turn left, instead of using the street behind GO to get to 85th, and turning left from there.

  46. Ok, let me weigh in since I have a business across the street from the up and coming Grocery Outlet. Stores like these and Value Village are full of Cheap products for sure, but the people they are attracting are families, poor or not, they are families. The real problem is the Labor Ready! These people shift between there and the plasma/liquor store area getting easy quick money and drinking and sleeping out back. Our parking lots are overflowing with Malt Liquor cans and cigarette butts. Please bring me poor families who are trying to feed their children and give them decent clothes, get rid of Labor Ready!

  47. Stomp your feet all you want, stopgo, you'll have little to no effect other than to look like a giant whiner.

    If you don't like it where you are then move. No one is keeping you here but you.

  48. I can't wait stop by value village for some clothes for the youngsters, catch a lap dance at Centerfolds and pick up a gallon of milk on the way home at Grocery Outlet.

    For the petition to “stop” Grocery Outlet – why didn't you gather 100 of your closest friends and buy the property? Then you could have a say in what goes in there. Its a grocery store, not a porn factory or nuclear waste processing facility. I will probably never shop there as I am a fan of Greenwood&Ballard Market, but they have the right to have a business and try to make it successful.

    As for the neighborhood going “downhill” – both Ballard and Fremont were pretty salty not long ago in certain areas after dark, filled with scary warehouses, and young women were smart enough not to dawdle alone after dark. I worked in a cafe where drunk fishermen ordered oatmeal and a beer for breakfast frequently. The point being – this part of the city has a shiny new coat of paint, but scratch it too hard and you'll see it has warts as well.

    As for Crown Hill being less desirable the Ballard? My lot size is three times bigger than the ones near Market street. I see way more families with kids up here than I do in downtown Ballard or Fremont, and plenty of free street parking. And, in 20 years, it will be just as over developed.

    To be non-sarcastic for a minute – all of north ballard, crown hill, and pretty much everywhere, is going to be this way for another 10 years until the real estate cycle ramps up, as it always does. Then it will “gentrify”, over-develop again, and slump again. This has always been the way it is, and will continue as long as people keep having babies and growing the population.

  50. Not at all. I have no issues with those folks, though they seem to take me not wanting at Grocery Outlet in Crown Hill as a personal attack on the less fortunate.

    I simply find the store undesirable. Snoopy you couldn't pay me to come pick up your trash and eat it, and neither can Grocery Outlet.

    Its not something I want in my neighborhood, and I don't think it is a postive step for the community. Am I a yuppie, and do I spend way to much money on healthy locally grown food? Yes, without a doubt…which is why I don't want the store here. Much prefer a PCC.

    I know it sounds silly, but honestly putting that garbage in the neighborhood is about the worst thing I can think of next to a strip club.

    Did you know that Americans spend close to the lowest amount of their disposable income on food? ~10%. In the fifties that number was closer to 20%. I know it is hard to believe because cheap seems good so folks can go out and buy their ipods and whatever, but it actually quite horrendous for both the heatlh of people, and the state of our agriculutal well being, and environmental sustainablity. It has become such a way of life that people think they should be able to eat so cheaply – but you must stop to consider the truly detrimental impact this has to feed this sort of frenzy.

  51. I don't consider food that is past its recommended sell by date to be high end. For me, I enjoy buying a fresh veggie. I don't know why people feel they have the right to eat so cheaply. We are living in a fantasy land of chemically produced products to keep the cost down. its crazy

  52. sezdogballard — congratulations, you missed the point. There was never an argument being made that attracting poor people to your store is a bad thing. The argument is that this store does not fit with the general feel of this city, and is a burden on property value. Trader Joes has great and reasonably priced foods, cheaper than most grocery stores. My argument is you should not just put any store in your neighborhood, you should carefully choose to try to always improve the area, which I believe the grocery outlet does not do.

  53. Agreed. Tho' I don't feel the need to keep Ballard in the 'Salty' (as you call it) state it was in. Generally, it seems that the improvements were for the betterment of the community. I guess every once in a while, someone in charge of business planning makes a mistep. Of course, with the Crown Hill business association, that seems to be the norm.

  54. In just a few hours, I have collected over 40 email addresses of people interested in joining our cause – each person is contacting their neighbors to find more so I imagine this will be viral by the end of the weekend.

    We are mobilizing here people. Our lawyers are gearing up to act and act quickly. You are either with us, or against us. We are going at Grocery Outlet with shock and awe. There will be a press conference held after we have finalized our demands.

  55. I don't understand the anti-VV and anti-GO hysterics. Times are tough and lots of us are out of work (yes, even Sunset Hill yuppies, which I guess I am one of, or at least was until I lost my job last year).

    GO wouldn't put a store there if they didn't think there was a market for their products. And GO wouldn't be in business if all they sold was garbage, so it can't be all bad.

    And, yes, I do shop at Value Village. Mostly when I need some summer clothes in the off-season, or a cheap and nice pair of jeans. What's the problem, really? The store is neat, clean, organized and with a good selection of stuff. Maybe a bit too brightly lighted for my tastes, but hey, at those prices, who cares?

    Sometimes I think that all the anti-homeless and now anti-poor-family rantings are based in FEAR. Yes, FEAR that the writer is just a paycheck or two away from homelessness him/herself. Hmmm….

  56. OK, I finally figured out that stopgo is PULLING OUR LEG! This has got to be a joke. Pretty funny, I must say. You almost had me going there.

  57. Again, nothing against less fortunate shoppers, its just not fit for the area. Well, actually you are right, the market will dictate whether or not it survives…which I suspect it will for a while at least based upon current economic conditions. Both stores are just slightly out of line with where I think Seattle is heading.

  58. Ytoo, if you are referring to me, you are wrong in your statement. My mortgage was never more than 25% of my income. Thrift store shopping was my choice.

  60. I beg your pardon? I'm saying that people should make a left turn from 85th, onto 15th, in order to go southbound.

    The initial turn I was speaking of was trying to make a left from the VV parking lot to southbound 15th, across heavy northbound traffic.

  62. What do you think happens to the 50 extra cases of organic apples that Charlies Produce can't sell to restaurants and other grocery stores? GROCERY OUTLET!!!! Get your head on straight…whats wrong with a box of Annies Cheddar Bunnies (for $1.50)that are 1 week from their expiration date? My kids will eat that box in 3 days.
    How are is it to pick up a box and evaluate an expiration date? I'm sure you spend WAY more time looking at the ingredient lists for high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated fats, etc.
    Don't buy an item at G.O. if you don't think you can use it before its expiration date.
    I've purchased plenty of items from Safeway., QFC, Whole foods, etc. that are close to the expiration date…its called a SALE.
    Do us ALL a favor and go to the G.O. Buy a few things(you will find something you need)…at the register when you pay the checker will circle the amount that you saved by shopping there. AFTERWARDS if you still want to climb up onto your soapbox and whine like a little kid I will leave you alone…

  65. I'm planning a trip tomorrow to the Shoreline Grocery Outlet. I will bring a camera to document (and share) the evidence I have collected.

  67. The Grocery Outlet, or Gross Out as we fondly call it, is awesome. I currently live near the Madrona one, and am amazed by the deals on organic frozen, boxed, and canned goods they have. You never really know what they'll have, but they often get new natural/organic products (samples?) that I've never seen in other stores.
    Sure, the produce isn't so great, and I don't buy much of my greens and veggies here, but the same can be said about many chain grocery stores. They have great deals on cheese and beer and wine too. I lived about 8 years in North Ballard /Crown Hill and would have saved tons o' money having a grocery outlet nearby.

  68. Huh???

    QFC had a liquor license to sell wine/beer just a few blocks from that location. What is different? I don't get it. Why do you think that GO is different from QFC? You just aren't making any sense here.

  71. So again, why? What's the point? To prevent people from having a choice in price-points?

    I didn't see you hassling QFC over a liquor license. What's the difference between QFC and GO, really. Both are grocery stores. Maybe GO prices are better. What's wrong with that?

  72. I shop regularly at two places: the Grocery Outlet in Kenmore and the Ballard Farmer's Market. Both of these places give me great deals on organic goods and I am grateful that both of them exist. As a person raising a family in Crown Hill I am ECSTATIC that there will be a Grocery Outlet opening in my neighborhood! I have been to a few different Grocery Outlets and have found that they each have their own personality… the one on Aurora is not a place I would go voluntarily, but the Kenmore GO is very nice. I think it has more to do with the people who own and frequent the store than the store itself.

  73. http://www.groceryoutlet.com/Aurora-WA/

    I believe this is Shoreline?
    Location:
    13201 AURORA AVE. NO.
    SEATTLE, WA 98133

    Problem is with these places like the area around 132nd, is that they put such unremarkable stores like stupid prices, Grocery Outlet, etc…that nobody really know WHAT neighborhood it is. It all just sort of looks like sprawl.

  74. Basically, the difference is that a nice new QFC is a benefit to the neighborhood (in my opinion) and makes people more likely to be attracted to the neighborhood. The Grocery Outlet is the dollar store of Grocery stores. People are more likely to say, I like Crown Hill (well less likely these days) but what is with all the crappy stores? not that I am super in QFC either. I was glad to see the old QFC go, that place was ridiculous and dumpy

  75. Well, I'm SIKED to have a chain moving to the neighborhood that takes such a lazy and hands off approach to maintaining standards and quality in their chain name. Sounds like a real win for the area (maybe)

  76. time out for the rest of the night. Fletch Lives is on, and I need to focus on that. Tomorrow I will share my horror stories from my trip the Shoreline Grocery Outlet.

  80. I don't want to give away all the plans of the No, Crown Hill will not become Lynnwood group, but I can say that a website is in the works that will document on a daily basis all the food that is past the exipiration date for any item sold in the new Grocery Outlet store. They should be help to industry standard, just like any other grocery store, and the intent of our website is to highlight rich media photography, the blatent disregard for industry standards that Grocery Outlet sticks to. In other words, we'll be on top of their every move, and spreading the word to the community that the store is not committed industry standards.

    If I had to wager, I imagine the website will be a huge success. We are already looking to start inspecting and reporting on the chains around the greater seattle area within the next week. We're bringing the fight to these lousy stores, and to the web for all to see. People can make their own judgement calls once they see what sort of 'deals' are being offered. More to follow. Our numbers have pass the hundred mark and are growing steady.

  81. Thanks for pointing out that you basically don't pay attention to what is going on, and are not qualified to comment on the issue.

  82. Labor ready sucks! I am sorry Cheeto that the crown hill business association has not done more to protect your interests. shoot me an email at the email address above, and I would be obliged and happy to frequent your busines. we need to unite my man.

  83. tho' I do feel like we need these institutions to support our homeless populations. They just need to be more active in 'fitting in' with the community….which means stricter screening, cleaning of the area, etc./

  88. In looking at all of your links above I find that the two non-video links are about bad work environments created by individual owners of individual stores. As each store is owned and operated by these individual owners it means that these particular stores have bad managerial practices, but the links don't actually support your assertions. I am confused as well by your inclusion of the youtube link, which appears to be a woman simply dancing in the aisle of what could be any supermarket, the video appears to be one that is made by individuals, not the supermarket itself.
    I agree that selling food past its expiration date is not good practices, but your links do not bolster your assertions that these stores do so. I look forward to your visit to GO and your report back.

  89. If you would stop bouncing and just hold still for a moment, and read what you, yourself, just wrote, you'll see that you typed “Seattle” and not Shoreline!

    The Shoreline city begins north of 145th. 130th is quite comfortably inside of Seattle.

  90. Stopgo – are you for real? The Grocery Outlets are owned by independent owners. So you can't judge all by one. I bet you have never even been in one – otherwise you would know. Hiring a lawyer, press conference! You are such a joke.
    Funny that no one complained years ago when there was a “discount food” store in almost the exact same location. People loved to shop there and get the tremendous discounts. And NO ONE COMPLAINED. The only complaining was when it was closed, torn down for the QFC. So how about directing your energy to something really important – like the environment, starving people here in the U.S. and in the world, the unfortunates in Haiti, volunteering at the food bank, donating to the food bank. Helping/visiting our senior citizens in homes who have no families coming to see them, the Animal Shelter – I could go on and on.
    And under no circumstance do you put me as a supporter of your 'petition' – I am totally AGAINST it.

  92. Lady you better believe I am for real. It is not just on man on a quest anymore though. Our number are strong and growing by the hour. We are a force that will not be stopped

  93. Ditto for me ballardbeavrs2. Having gone a few rounds with stopgo on the forums (different name, same song and dance), one thing I know for sure. SG is the walking definition of “fixed idea.” There's no logic in trying to change his mind. It can't happen. Despite the wonderful cogent arguements that have been written here.

    However, that being said, he also DOES NOT speak for all of Crown Hill. He does not speak for me or my neighbors. He does not speak for the people on the street behind me or 3 miles away.

    I own a home in Crown Hill and welcome the advent of Grocery Outlet and the continuing presence of Value Village. Not because I “need” to shop there for economic reasons, but because I choose to shop there. I CHOOSE to spend my money in other ways than overly priced consumables or clothing. And I for one know my neighborhood well enough to realize many families are struggling and need any little edge to get by.

    Stopgo has a choice to not support those businesses he finds “undesirable”. The fact that he wants to sell his overly priced poor constructed townhome behind VV some day soon is certainly a driver in this effort. None of that means we have to listen one more second to the drivel he's espousing.

    I certainly wont be.

  95. stopgo: “I believe this is Shoreline?
    Location:
    13201 AURORA AVE. NO.
    SEATTLE, WA 98133″

    Nematode: “…130th is quite comfortably inside of Seattle.”

    stopgo: “Like I was saying, it all feels like Shoreline…”

    Careful, stopgo – you can get whiplash backpedaling like that!

  97. SG – Why do you assume I'm a “lady”? You are just another Doug(and very possibly is the one and only Doug under another name) from the forums – lots of air. I truly believe you are gut reacting on assumptions. You don't even know where Grocery Outlet is – Shoreline? Seattle? So never been there, have you. How about spouting off on something else because your silly little “petition” will be like trying to hold back the incoming tide with your thumb.

  99. I have read and read again and still I cannot see why you have this supposed vendetta against Grocery Outlet. You use the “we” – “we” are going to do this and “we” are going to do that. I truly believe in this vendetta there is no “we” but just a sad “I” who has nothing better to do.
    Hope you get a life some day because the one you are projecting now is kinda sad and feel sorry for you. It's sad to think this is the big thing in your life. Hope better for you.

  100. Field trip is over. It was quite an adventure, let me tell you. First my general observations….the shoreline Gross out is about five mins drive from the proposed location in Crown Hill. Is it really necessary to have these stores so close together?

    the store is actually worse than I thought it would be, and am more afraid now about it coming to ballard. The shoppers seems fine. Definitely people looking for a major deal, and as expected not really well off. that was fine. I did notice that there were three fights going on in the store between separate couples. So you are generally lucky to be entertained in every aisle you walk down by a maelstrom of profanities ands hollering. that was probably the highlight of the trip.

    Finally, the products. Most of the stuff was products I've never even heard of. I did document as promised what I saw. I actually bought a cart load of groceries from the store, which I am sad to say all the products are already expired and will have to be thrown out. PICS BELOW, we're gonna start doing this every week!
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/47065980@N03/sets/…

  101. And with my last comment, and this, it will be the last. I do have better things to do and much, much more important things to think about.
    Wishing you well.

  102. StopGo was minutely more likeable when he focused on bicycles. But this thread may feed his ego more, since a lot more people care about a beloved grocery store than they do about him going head-to-head with a train.

    Everyone has to eat, far fewer adults can ride (or even WANT to ride) a bicycle. It's a shame when a troll acts like a caffeinated 5y/o, while the rest of us normal people don't have an IGNORE feature that would save us some irritation.

  103. 'So you are generally lucky to be entertained in every aisle you walk down by a maelstrom of profanities ands hollering. that was probably the highlight of the trip.'

    that's the meth wearing off.

  104. Yes – everything that you posted a pic of was expired.
    BUT – Everything that you posted a pic of could be eaten two years from now and be fine. 10 years ago – most of those items wouldn't even have an expiration date or one about 5 years out. Producers added those or made them shorter to make people throw them out so they can buy new stuff. Much like the freshness date on a 6-pack of canned beer. Totally B.S. – just advertising and training people too stupid to know better. Kind of like training stupid consumers that leasing a car is a deal.

  105. I live 3 blocks from the Grocery Outlet at MLK & Union. Grocery Outlet is part of the community. They have a program that allows people to nominate families in need to receive grocery donations. Every Friday afternoon from May to October the G.O. hosts the Madrona Farmer's Market in their parking lot. The staff is very friendly and helpful.
    If I'm having a party I swing by to pick up soon-to-be-consumed snacks and ice. They carry brands I recognize at a fraction of retail – Amy's, Kashi, Haagen-Dazs, Ben & Jerry's, Annies, Yogi Tea, Seeds of Change. It's a great place to stock up on organic canned staples like beans and tomatoes.
    Every trip is an adventure because of their rapidly rotating stock. I'm a label reader so scanning the expiration is no big deal to me.
    I shop at Madison Market, TJs and the PCC – why wouldn't I shop here, too?
    Set your preconceptions aside and actually step inside.

  107. stopgo – Please elaborate on what makes MLK and Union a good spot for the Grocery Outlet and how it differs from the former Value Village site in Crown Hill.
    Also, my post was not directed at you; it was a general call for skeptics to stop by and experience a Grocery Outlet.

  110. Obviously stopgo is Doug11. Even if it isn't exactly the same person he/she has the same tactics and should be treated as such. IGNORE.

  112. Those opposed to an affordable grocery outlet sound like bigots to me. I hope you never suffer any hardship or illness, and you're forever surrounded by neatly dressed affluent and attractive people.

  113. Whole Paycheck?!?! No way. I hope they stay far away from Ballard/Greenwood/Fremont.

    I haven't given one dime to Whole Farce since their CEO said he opposes health care for all citizens and also agrees with Rush Limbaugh on climate change.

    I don't give my hard-earned money to right-wing businesses. And Whole Foods is now in that category. Stay out of my neighborhood, A-Hole Foods.

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