Fresh Market - Geneva

The first outlet outside of the Southeast US opened today in Geneva Commons off Randall Road in Geneva, Il. I shop at Whole Foods every few months and had high hopes for this store but was disappointed in the size and selection. According to managers statement in our local paper, this is not meant to be a "fill all your needs" store but one that you will come to every few days and buy things 'Fresh" in European fashion. All the different departments of the store were small, nothing is prepackaged, you make your selection and then it is wraped. I guess, when you think about it, Fresh Market is trying to be what the small mom and pop groceries used to be, just more expensive.

ugh. i used to slave at this place back in North Carolina. While I was a "baker" all I did was pop frozen breads into the oven and thaw italian cream cakes from the deep freeze before i put them into the display case. There are a couple of items that were, in fact, "fresh" (and of course, these policies may have changed since 2000, when I was last privvy to store policy), but mostly the goods are packaged and presented well. True, you can buy grains, spices, candy, coffee, and such in bulk, but I wouldn't always consider this a testament to freshness.

on the plus side, the deli serves pimiento cheese. many southerners consume this by the pound, and if you haven't had a chance to try it, you should give it a go. certainly, you can make it (mayo [or in my case, trashy as it is, Miracle Whip], grated cheese, pimientos, cayenne for heat), but the Fresh Market's pimiento cheese caused somewhat of a push for adults to start eating it again, as it's often relegated to lunch time sandwiches for the little ones.

A Little Quip, and a shout-out to Fresh Market's Pimiento Cheese
http://augustachronicle.com/stories/012903/fea_karin.shtml

Having spent a large portion of my youth in the Carolinas, I have to agree with the criticsm of Fresh Market. IMO, they sell average products marketed to appear high end. You'll find no prime beef or hormone free chickens there. The produce is above average, but nothing that cannot be found in a higher end supermarket for less.

The "best" beef I ever found there was Choice Black Angus (and it was pricey as heck).

However, it's all presented nicely in a way that makes some folks want to shop there with regularity.

I have gone back to Fresh Market a few times only because I needed something in a store nearby. I am still unimpressed with this store and have only bought a few items (apples) once and other times have just walked through and left. Interesting in that each time I have been there I have yet to see anyone come out with more than one small bag, most people just walk through and look. This store is no comparison to a Whole Foods and as far as meats and deli goes, the locally owned, independant Blue Goose in downtown St. Charles is far superior.