If ‘you are what you eat’, does where you purchase your eats from also define you?
In this month’s column, I’m taking a look at our local grocery stores from Market Basket to Shaw’s to the prospect of a Trader Joe’s/Whole Foods to all points in between.
My first foray into a Wegmans (most prevalent in NY and PA) was the only time I, myself have ever been particularly wowed by a supermarket, one way or the other. The distinction between the very finest grocery store and the absolute worst (several NYC “delis” come to mind) is nominal to me.
They all have the bottle of Heinz 57 and half gallon of milk that would constitute the entirety of my fridge (were I not married with children). What I mean to say is that it is easy for me to remain fairly objective on this one. There does seem to be, however, some unjust stereotypes and prejudices in Newburyport regarding our supermarkets. I’ve heard it said that Market Basket is the poor man’s Shaws.
It is no secret that Market Basket is the cheapest option around. It is also no secret that Market Basket has some of the best people-watching south of Walmart. There’s a comfy air of ‘sweatpants may be overdressing’ palpable even in the parking lot. Hopefully I won’t be accused of being too snarky, because on occasion I can admit to being one of said watched people (my patented mustard in the beard/shirt/pants Trifecta has been known to turn a few heads).
The bus stop outside provides the ideal opportunity to pick up a second hand smoking habit, along with further people-ogling. God bless the woman I saw last summer smoking two cigarettes at once. A call from America’s Got Talent can’t be far behind.
The biggest complaint I’ve heard regarding Market Basket has not been the people, but the amount of people in line at the register. But time flies in even the longest line when you can play “I Spy”. I spy a …. woman with pantyhose over her camo shorts or I spy a….. man with one sunglass lens missing !
If paying more for the same thing is more your speed, Shaws (also known as $haw$) is a cleaner, sleeker version with none of the aforementioned lines. Also none of the people-watching, which might be appeal to some of our more fair-weathered citizens.
What you may find is a noticeably larger dollar amount on your receipt upon exiting. That said, the consensus is they have much better, consistently fresher produce. And I’ll vouch for their tasty deli myself, though I must admit to being wooed by the deli lady and her seemingly limitless free samples of cold cuts. MMMmeat.
Shaws is also purported to have a larger quantity of organic and harder to find items from other countries. As a parent, I can add that they have the double-edged sword of the Cart With Attached Kiddy Car cart option ….(let’s go with the acronym C.W.A.K.C.).
No more hanging out of the “regular” shopping cart and grabbing items off the shelves when your child is safely seated inside the CWAKC, intently maneuvering its tiny steering wheel(s). The rub is that your child will of course demand to sequester this giant kiddy cart upon all subsequent visits. Perhaps I spoke too soon regarding the dearth of people-watching: You and your CWAKC full of kids will soon be front and center as you roar (makes more racket than a semi) down the aisles in this unturnable eight foot behemoth!
Next on our list is the Natural Grocer around the bend on Storey Avenue — A very cute location offering organic foods and unique baking ingredients, perfect for the discerning, more healthy-conscious Newburyporter. Armed only with the prevailing sentiment that it’s a very cluttered and pricy store, I sojourned in today for the first time, ready for anything. Though individual quantities seemed to be in short supply, there was certainly options aplenty on the shelves, which seemed orderly from where I stood.
As for prices, it did seem that $10- was a lot to pay for a small chicken wrap and a bag of chips. My bigger problem with the prices was the inconsistency of the labeling. Some products had price tags while others lacked them. This has long been a big pet peeve of mine. I’d rather discard a would-be purchase than search out an employee or scan the barcode myself. I’ve utilized this paltry ‘I’ll show them / stick it to the man’ tactic too many times to count at Kmart and the like, but decided to carry it over to ‘The Natch’.
Of course, all it really accomplishes is that I leave a given store without what I set out for. But my immediate and lasting impression of the place was orchestrated not by price tags or shelf organization. It was the smell: sweet, soapy aromas meet you at the door and an indescribable “What is that deliciousness?” wafting out of the back deli. I’ll be back, when I get over my price tag(less) ego.
No discussion of The Natch’ (yes, I’m sticking with this little moniker) is complete without mentioning the prospect of a Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods coming to Newburyport. Certainly, there’d be interest in such a store moving in, but what would it do to Market Basket, Shaws, and (what would almost certainly be its most direct and decidedly smaller competitor,) The Natural Grocer?
Many are of the mind to protect current businesses at almost all costs. Many prefer natural selection and to let the consumers’ decisions run their course. There’s long been a vacant moderately sized plot of land (ironically) between Wendy’s and McDonald’s where it’s probably only a matter of time before some chain business moves in. Will it be a Trader Joe’s? A Whole Foods? A fifth Dunkin Donuts?
Across the street and not too far down the way from The Natural Grocer, you’ll find the popular sandwich/market, Fowles, appropriately known for their delicious sausages and sizable selection of meats. Grilling season is upon us, Newburyport. Make it happen!
Downtown, when in a pinch, the friendly Black Duck (in The Tannery) meets the needs of its south end consumers. A sign outside Richdale on State Street invites you to “Come in. We have it all.” I believe them. Go in and you’ll find an old-timey candy stand, Newburyport T-Shirts, lotto tickets, a Slush Puppy machine, beer (take that, Puritan laws), and even the obligatory Dunkin Donuts inside!
What to do when want the best of the above, but still want to ‘buy local’? Tendercrop Farm on Route 1A in Newbury! Their wonderful selection of all-local meats, veggies, and fruits is complemented by their selection of flowers and gifts in the rustic upstairs barn space. And it’s a great spot for the kids to visit the petting zoo. Who needs the Shaws CWAKC when you’ve got Houdini the escapist cow? Not to mention Lucy the llama, chickens, goats, pigs, a duck, and on and on…
On the subject of farm goods, it is absolutely worth your while to visit the Newburyport Farmer’s Market http://www.thenewburyportfarmersmarket.org/ in the front parking lot at The Tannery, Sundays from 9 ‘til 1. Homemade this, farm-fresh that, often accompanied by live music!
Less farm market and more farm stand, we have the quaint seasonal Colby Farm on Scotland Road in Newbury. Nice people with an admittedly smaller selection of goods. Ask to visit the farm itself for an in-your-face look at pigs (especially if there are piglets!) wandering and wallowing through their muddy little pig village. And in late summer/early fall, this is the spot to come photograph their boundless field full of sunflowers. Tucked over by Maudslay Park is Arrowhead Farm with its own CSA. More info at: www.arrowheadfamilyfarm.com/csa.html
Whatever your grocery persuasion we’re blessed with a variety of excellent food shopping options here in Newburyport. Don’t let your notion of what you perceive a store to be like inform your shopping decisions before you’ve even given it a chance. Try something new! Why not splurge next time – go buy a $10 bag of organic gluten-free potato chips. Maybe you’ll learn something new… or try something outside your comfort zone and rub elbows with a swarthy woman smoking two cigarettes at once. Maybe she’ll share?
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