The Cozy Corner

[Dayhoosier]

It’s pretty good… I don’t quite get what all the hype is about. It’s just really a slightly fancier grocery store. It has lots of prepared food, but that’s really the only difference as far as I can see. And it’s a little more expensive than the place close by.

All in all not worth the 40-minute round trip. Aren’t you glad you asked?

Yes I feel like every region has like a version of it .... Some sort of higher end grocery store with prepared stuff

 

[AngelicaS1780]

Ok, based on your description we have something like that. But it is Marianos and / or Whole Foods

Marianos definitely wanted to be Wegmans. They were doing alright until they were sold to Kroger. I haven't been in one in years. Whole Foods is a more expensive version of Wegmans, without the good sushi.

 

[AngelicaS1780]

About grocery stores not having alcohol? I don’t think it’s uncommon, actually.

We have alcohol *everywhere* in Chicago. Blew me away a bit when I first moved here. Wine, beer, and hard alcohol in the grocery store and convenience stores.

 

[Catepillar_glacier]

This is pretty regional, is a Woodman’s like a Wegmans?

 

[ScarletDaisy]

Just for someone who loves cooking, it looks fantastic

I love Wegmans. Their cheese section... The fruit and veg... I get a lot more choices at that grocery store than I do at other local chains. And they have great sales, too

 

[AngelicaS1780]

This is pretty regional, is a Woodman’s like a Wegmans?

I'd never heard of Woodman's, so I googled. This is what AI came up with...

Woodman’s and Wegmans are both massive employee-owned supermarket chains beloved by regional shoppers, but they cater to very different priorities. Woodman’s operates as a no-frills, bulk-buying warehouse-style grocer focused on rock-bottom prices. Wegmans is an upscale, experiential grocer focused on high-quality prepared foods, specialty items, and premium customer service.

 

[Catepillar_glacier]

I'd never heard of Woodman's, so I googled. This is what AI came up with...

Woodman’s and Wegmans are both massive employee-owned supermarket chains beloved by regional shoppers, but they cater to very different priorities. Woodman’s operates as a no-frills, bulk-buying warehouse-style grocer focused on rock-bottom prices. Wegmans is an upscale, experiential grocer focused on high-quality prepared foods, specialty items, and premium customer service.

Ah, very different! I’ve never been inside a woodmans, except for their alcohol section which is massive, it’s like a Binny’s inside a grocery store. They’re mostly in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, I think.

 

[Dayhoosier]

https://ibb.co/p6M72x9f
Buffalo trace at dinner...do I need a little more? Yes!!

 

[AngelicaS1780]

Ah, very different! I’ve never been inside a woodmans, except for their alcohol section which is massive, it’s like a Bonny’s inside a grocery store. They’re mostly in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, I think.

Looks like there are several west, northwest, and north of Chicago. If I'm out in the burbs, I might check one out.

 

[Deadbed1968]

It’s pretty good… I don’t quite get what all the hype is about. It’s just really a slightly fancier grocery store. It has lots of prepared food, but that’s really the only difference as far as I can see. And it’s a little more expensive than the place close by.

All in all not worth the 40-minute round trip. Aren’t you glad you asked?

You live a lot closer than I do Cheeky!

 

[cheekygirl75]

Yeah. Most have beer and wine, but hard liquor has to be bought at a liquor store. New Hampshire is even more restrictive. You have to go to the State Liquor Store to buy the hard stuff there.

Most around this part of MA don’t have any alcohol, not even beer and wine. But some that have alcohol do have hard liquor along with beer & wine. I think it partly depends on the town.

I'd never heard of Woodman's, so I googled. This is what AI came up with...

Woodman’s and Wegmans are both massive employee-owned supermarket chains beloved by regional shoppers, but they cater to very different priorities. Woodman’s operates as a no-frills, bulk-buying warehouse-style grocer focused on rock-bottom prices. Wegmans is an upscale, experiential grocer focused on high-quality prepared foods, specialty items, and premium customer service.

Oh, employee owned? That’s cool!

https://ibb.co/p6M72x9f
Buffalo trace at dinner...do I need a little more? Yes!!

Of course!

 

[Deadbed1968]

I'd never heard of Woodman's, so I googled. This is what AI came up with...

Woodman’s and Wegmans are both massive employee-owned supermarket chains beloved by regional shoppers, but they cater to very different priorities. Woodman’s operates as a no-frills, bulk-buying warehouse-style grocer focused on rock-bottom prices. Wegmans is an upscale, experiential grocer focused on high-quality prepared foods, specialty items, and premium customer service.

A long time ago we had a “Woodmans” type supermarket in Massachusetts called Heartland. Very low prices with absolutely no frills. You would have to bring your own bags and bag your own groceries. Items were sold in bulk, and most were store brand or generic products.

 

[cheekygirl75]

A long time ago we had a “Woodmans” type supermarket in Massachusetts called Heartland. Very low prices with absolutely no frills. You would have to bring your own bags and bag your own groceries. Items were sold in bulk, and most were store brand or generic products.

I don’t think that made it to the north shore! I don’t remember ever seeing them.

But now we’ve got Aldi which is kind of like that!

 

[rick_j21]

I don’t think that made it to the north shore! I don’t remember ever seeing them.

But now we’ve got Aldi which is kind of like that!

We don’t have Aldi here in my area. I have been to one. Walmart Neighborhood Market stores feel similar to me.

 

[Deadbed1968]

Most around this part of MA don’t have any alcohol, not even beer and wine. But some that have alcohol do have hard liquor along with beer & wine. I think it partly depends on the town

Most of the supermarkets up my way do have beer and wine sections. It may be due to us being fairly close to New Hampshire. Shaws, Stop & Shop, Market Basket, and Crosby’s around me all have it. I’ll have to take a look when I’m down on the South Shore

 

[Deadbed1968]

I don’t think that made it to the north shore! I don’t remember ever seeing them.

But now we’ve got Aldi which is kind of like that!

The Heartland supermarket I remember was in West Roxbury. I grew up on the South Shore, but moved to the North Shore when I got married.

Heartland was part of Purity Supreme when that was still a thing.

 

[cheekygirl75]

The Heartland supermarket I remember was in West Roxbury. I grew up on the South Shore, but moved to the North Shore when I got married.

Heartland was part of Purity Supreme when that was still a thing.

You’re on the north shore, too? Why did I think you were in western MA?

 

[Deadbed1968]

You’re on the north shore, too? Why did I think you were in western MA?

Don’t know. I live in Essex County and work in Boston.

 

[Nylonian]

She wasn’t in Vegas quite yet! I think they’re on their way now.

Ah okay. Good thing you're on the schedule.

 

[Nylonian]

Oh my. That's not good

Mmmhmm, fortunately it only happened once.

 

[cheekygirl75]

Ah okay. Good thing you're on the schedule.

How’s your Saturday going?

 

[Nylonian]

How’s your Saturday going?

Good. Just finished 5 miles with friends and we're having brunch now.

 

[MissSNG]

Good. Just finished 5 miles with friends and we're having brunch now.

Ooh I wanna know your brunch order! Do you go breakfast or lunch or do you do the weird combo like chicken and waffles?

 

[Shymidwestgirl]

I was a Wegmans devotee from 1998-2013. I tell you that to say that it's been over a decade since I shopped at Wegmans. Wegmans is headquartered in Rochester, NY. I lived in Rochester and Buffalo for the first eight of those years. During much of that time, I shopped at their flagship store in Rochester, known colloquially as "Disney Wegmans". So that may have colored my experience.

Almost all of the prepared foods were made in house from scratch. The pizza, sushi, and bakery were all top notch. Great Asian bar. High quality house brands. They brought in produce from local farms. They would often have small cooking demos... simple things like pan frying tilapia. For someone who didn't grow up eating fish, aside from canned tuna and fish sticks, it showed me new options. In my opinion, at that time, it was the absolute best grocery store.

I went to one while traveling with parents. I traveled with them as an adult until my Dad passed. Now with my mom. But anyway the point: we road tripped to Niagara Falls (Canadian side) and then into NY and we stopped at a Wegman’s. I still talk about that grocery store and that was at least 15 years ago. I thought it was the fanciest grocery store. I enjoy going into local grocery stores and seeing what different stuff they have while traveling.

 

[Shymidwestgirl]

I'd never heard of Woodman's, so I googled. This is what AI came up with...

Woodman’s and Wegmans are both massive employee-owned supermarket chains beloved by regional shoppers, but they cater to very different priorities. Woodman’s operates as a no-frills, bulk-buying warehouse-style grocer focused on rock-bottom prices. Wegmans is an upscale, experiential grocer focused on high-quality prepared foods, specialty items, and premium customer service.

My bestie and road tripped to Woodman’s (her and husband love that grocery store). It was ok. Definitely no thrills autocorrect from frills but it works too. I wasn’t super impressed. But it was fun to check it out.