Whole Foods on Halsted

I've been to the newest Whole Foods on Halsted a few times now, and for the most part, I'm very impressed. I realize that they probably roll out the red carpet for the first couple weeks, but I saw a number of things I liked (and a few things I'd like to see more of)...

1. The bakery section seems larger than other stores, and has an impressive array of items.

2. The cheese counter looks good, but I wish it was larger. I haven't spent a lot of time in it, but it seems bigger than North & Clybourne, and smaller than Huron and Ashland. Maybe it's the same size as Peterson.

3. The cashiers are uber-eager to keep you from waiting in line. If you even approach the check out lines, someone will ask if you're ready to pay, then guide you to an open line.

4. In keeping with this store's emphasis on more specialty and prepared foods, I'm impressed by the number of items on the salad/hot food bar. It isn't something I buy from frequently, but there's some good looking things on there. The antipasto bar also has some good-looking options.

5. They have a self-dispensing wine bar that included Opus One (at $8 for a 1 ounce taste). I might have to partake, since Opus One isn't in my typical wine rotation.

6. I realize this is probably because it's a new store, but I've never, in the US, seen produce stacked as neatly as at this store! (Particularly on the day it opened, I felt guilty at actually helping myself items because I was disturbing the beauty of it all. *g*)

Some less than great things I noticed...
1. No bulk food! This is disappointing, because the bulk section often has some of the best prices in the store. I'm hoping that six months from now they will have carved out part of an aisle to install a bulk section.

2. The express checkout lines are awkwardly designed. There's a small counter to place your basket, a small raised ledge to lean on when signing your credit card and a BIG LCD SCREEN that obstructs your view of the cashier. It's very cramped. And call me strange, but I like to be able to see someone as I'm conducting business with them.

3. The eagerness of employees to be fun, happy and helpful actually seems to backfire. There were easily 5 employees at the fish counter as 2-3 helped one customer determine which salmon was wild caught, one pretended he was a fish jumping out of water behind the counter to the amusement of the other who was watching him and a few customers who were entertained, yet no one was offering to get fish for me! I stood at the bakery counter (which is easily 5' tall) waiting for someone to help me as a couple employees put together sample trays (while ignoring the customers).

And then one weird observation about the samples. Whole Foods is generous with their samples, and maybe more so at this location probably because it's a) new and b) trying to push its prepared foods. I've been known to do my shopping at WF at lunchtime so I could make a meal of samples while filling up my cart with tasty things I'm going to buy. And I definitely buy things that I've originally sampled, which means the sampling is accomplishing its goal. But how to say this diplomatically? I've been to the Halsted WFs three times, and each time I've seen something that I've never previously seen at WFs (or any other place that offers samples, for that matter)....people with literally handfuls of samples, and more. Napkins filled with 8 or 10 pieces of fruit/cheese/etc. Taking multiple sample cups, etc. It's a little odd, and I hope it doesn't cause WF to cut back it's generous sampling policy.

Edited to add: Chicagoist has a posting here http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/Chicagoi ... ole_fo.php about the new location, and points out some other nice characteristics of the store.

I've seen the same thing with the samples at the Peterson location. Multitudes of people eating the samples one after another with their mouths poised above the sample plate. It's disgusting. I haven't taken a sample of anything from that store since.

I am interested in checking out the Halsted location. I haven't been happy with the service at the Peterson location the last few times I've been there.

chgoeditor wrote:5. They have a self-dispensing wine bar that included Opus One (at $8 for a 1 ounce taste). I might have to partake, since Opus One isn't in my typical wine rotation.

Don't bother - it's not worth it ;P