Eatzi's did a very honorable thing when they entered this market and staffed that Century Mall location with young employees from underprivileged neighborhoods. Unfortunately, they were never properly trained in what they were doing and the place always had this feel of the little gourmet market that wasn't..

The place had been in a constant state of flux for the past year now, and as LAZ accurately noted, they really failed to execute well on the basics of their business.

Maybe it was the poor location in the mall with few stores. Perhaps, the lack of training of employees. Perhaps the emergence of Whole Foods in the neighborhood which does take out substantially better everyday takeout than Eatzi's did on its best day. Maybe it was the prepared meal set up that some considered unfriendly while others considered it intimidating.

There were fewer people there every night. I practically live across the street and hadn't been there in 6+ months.

YourPalWill wrote:Eatzi's did a very honorable thing when they entered this market and staffed that Century Mall location with young employees from underprivileged neighborhoods. Unfortunately, they were never properly trained in what they were doing and the place always had this feel of the little gourmet market that wasn't..

I never knew Eatzi's had done this, and if I had, I would have liked them better (or forgiven them more). They probably should have publicized this example of good works. As it was, they only reaped the downside (employees not all of whom seemed in tune with Eatzi's gourmet ambitions) without reaping any of the upside (customer goodwill towards the store for doing the right thing).

Most of the staff was friendly, but I know what YourPalWill is talking about when he says "never properly trained." It wasn't a big deal--nothing egregious or anything--but you could detect it, and it may have affected the overall experience just enough to discourage enthusiastic re-visits. It's such an intangible thing. I don't ever recall a bad interaction at Eatzi's. In fact, I enjoyed many of my interactions there. But as a customer, you also enjoy a sense that the employees of a place are committed to the special mission of that place, not just working there. You want, ideally, a sense that the employees have been waiting all their lives for a place like that to open, just so they could be a part of it. Improbable as it seems for a relatively low-wage field, you get a little of that at Whole Foods. You get it at Pastoral. You didn't get it at Eatzi's.

It may be unfair to expect that level of self-commitment to the mission when employees are, in fact, "just working there" and not because they already had a passion for the field (or can do a credible job of faking it)--but nevertheless, when customers can choose between a place that doesn't deliver that sense and a place that does, they will choose the latter.

There's a fine line between a place getting the word out about the good it's doing for the community and blowing its own horn in a self-righteous or transparently self-serving way, but, as far as I ever knew, Eatzi's never tried to find the right side of that line, because I never knew about their policy at all. (Except insofar as I could infer it.) I don't know how they could have done it--that's a tough one--but others have figured it out, it seems to me.

I think another key failing was, as others have said, too many items looked better than they tasted. But it was a good place to have. Mrs. riddlemay liked it better than I did, and was sad when I told her the news, so for that reason also I wish it had made it.

I think folks might be over-intellectualizing their demise a bit........their food was bland and overpriced. Although they did a few things well, for the most part, their food just wasn't very good.

Sounds like Eatzi's is closing everywhere:

http://www.bloglanta.com/archives/268

http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stori ... ily38.html

riddlemay wrote:

YourPalWill wrote:Eatzi's did a very honorable thing when they entered this market and staffed that Century Mall location with young employees from underprivileged neighborhoods.

I never knew Eatzi's had done this, and if I had, I would have liked them better (or forgiven them more).

Me neither. I guess, in a sense, it would have been crass to go full frontal with a "people helping people" message, but that is an angle of this enterprise I had never considered and, had I known, would have liked.

David Hammond wrote:

riddlemay wrote:

YourPalWill wrote:Eatzi's did a very honorable thing when they entered this market and staffed that Century Mall location with young employees from underprivileged neighborhoods.

I never knew Eatzi's had done this, and if I had, I would have liked them better (or forgiven them more).

Me neither. I guess, in a sense, it would have been crass to go full frontal with a "people helping people" message, but that is an angle of this enterprise I had never considered and, had I known, would have liked.

This might be a good time to mention First Slice Pie Cafe, run by Mary Ellen Diaz, former chef at Printer's Row. I know it's been mentioned on LTH but it seems to get little mention. Anyway, First Slice has pretty decent salads, sandwiches, cookies, pie, etc. and it is a not-for-profit organization whose proceeds go toward feeding the hungry and homeless.

BR wrote:This might be a good time to mention First Slice Pie Cafe, run by Mary Ellen Diaz, former chef at Printer's Row. I know it's been mentioned on LTH but it seems to get little mention. Anyway, First Slice has pretty decent salads, sandwiches, cookies, pie, etc. and it is a not-for-profit organization whose proceeds go toward feeding the hungry and homeless.

I clicked on the link and see that their address is the same as that of the Lillstreet Art Center. Are they the folks who sell the pastries and such at the annual Holiday Exhibition and Sale there? (Going on this year from Nov.30-Jan.6.) I guess maybe they're always in that first-floor space serving food--but the only time we get over there is during the holidays for the Lillstreet event. Thanks for the reminder.

riddlemay wrote:

BR wrote:This might be a good time to mention First Slice Pie Cafe, run by Mary Ellen Diaz, former chef at Printer's Row. I know it's been mentioned on LTH but it seems to get little mention. Anyway, First Slice has pretty decent salads, sandwiches, cookies, pie, etc. and it is a not-for-profit organization whose proceeds go toward feeding the hungry and homeless.

I clicked on the link and see that their address is the same as that of the Lillstreet Art Center. Are they the folks who sell the pastries and such at the annual Holiday Exhibition and Sale there? (Going on this year from Nov.30-Jan.6.) I guess maybe they're always in that first-floor space serving food--but the only time we get over there is during the holidays for the Lillstreet event. Thanks for the reminder.

They are on the first floor and it's a permanent location with a handful of tables. It would seem to make sense that they are the ones selling food at the Holiday sale, but I don't know for sure.

Just a note: Eazti's will be open until Wednesday. But, the stock is getting low. There are still some good deals on everyday wines there. For those of you interested in food service sized cans, they have everything from food service sized cans of sweetened condensed milk, to pumpkin to Frank's Wing Sauce still available.

Otherwise, the shelves are pretty bare.

I went to Eatzi's yesterday. The shelves were emptying, but I still managed to spend about $40 after discount. That included:

1/2 pound of prosciutto (good, but they didn't trim off the tough exterior, so each piece has to be hand-trimmed)

1.5 pounds of olives

a 1/2 bottle of wine

A few sets of paper cocktail napkins

Some bay leaves

Some of that expensive sorbet (made in Dallas, normally $4 for 6 ounces)

Unless you're interested in stocking up on Vitamin Water, or want some wine (but most mainstream bottles), or you need some discount spices, I'd suggest skipping it.

Oh, and validated parking (which used to be free for the first 90 minutes or so) now costs $2. (Pay $2 for the priviledge of shopping at an expensive grocery store? In a neighborhood with traffic headaches? Where the service at the deli counter and hot food areas is insufferably slow? Yeah. No thanks.)

I always love the breads at Eatzi's, so I must admit that I somewhat regularly went there and spent real money. At least once I signed up to be on their mailing list. I living in Lakeview (60657), which is their home zip code, so I thought I was in their target demographic. A friend who lives in 60613 would get a $20 coupon from them at least once a month, and he never signed up to be on their mailing list. That coupon was for $20 off any purchase of $20 or more. He's nice, so often he'd "treat" us to lunch or dinner before we went to the movies at Century. I get so irritated with companies that bend over backward to acquire new customers, but treat their existing customers like second-class citizens. (Dentists and hair salons that offer big discounts to new customers, but nothing to their loyal clientele are prime offenders.) I got fed up by the fact that Eatzi's didn't really care that I was actually spending money there, as opposed to my friend who was just buying for free, so I stopped going there in the last 6 months or so.

chgoeditor wrote:I went to Eatzi's yesterday. The shelves were emptying, but I still managed to spend about $40 after discount. That included:

1/2 pound of prosciutto (good, but they didn't trim off the tough exterior, so each piece has to be hand-trimmed)

1.5 pounds of olives

a 1/2 bottle of wine

A few sets of paper cocktail napkins

Some bay leaves

Some of that expensive sorbet (made in Dallas, normally $4 for 6 ounces)

At those prices, I guess it's no wonder they're closing.

Eatzi's has temporarily re-opened for liquidation purposes. I noticed as I left the gym in the same mall tonight.

It appears that they have consolidated lots of wine and cheese from various stores, which they are selling at a 45% markdown from original prices. I could also see quite a bit of one brand of beer though I couldn't make out what it was.

Again, there appear to be no incredible wines there. But, a nice selection of everyday chardonnays, pinots, ect for $5-15 a bottle.

They're open different hours depending upon the day. 12-8 on weekends either until they sell out or until January 2 when they close permanently.

If you're in the neighborhood, it's worth a visit. I wouldn't go out of my way to get there though.

Hi,

Did they have more than one location in the Chicago area?

I had a friend who managed a retail dress store. When they had a moving sale, then they bought extra stock for the bargain hunters they knew would appear. I'm wondering if Eatzi's may be buying end-runs of stuff to sell off during this closing phase.

Regards,

They had just one here, Cathy. But, it appears that they have closed a number, if not all of their stores, around the country. It may be that this one still had a lease running while another didn't, so inventory was moved. Inventory does appear to be more significant than what was on hand when they originally closed.

It appears from the EatZi's web site that they are only open at one location in Dallas. The site doesn't mention anything about closing or consolidating other locations, it simply lists one sole location in Dallas.

YourPalWill wrote:They had just one here, Cathy. But, it appears that they have closed a number, if not all of their stores, around the country. It may be that this one still had a lease running while another didn't, so inventory was moved. Inventory does appear to be more significant than what was on hand when they originally closed.

It costs a lot of money to pack up and move stuff here. I think my hunch they acquired inventory for this close-out sale period is pretty solid.

Regards,

LTH,

Walked by Eatzi's today, sign on the door says they are open until the 1st and have 45% off wine and cheese. The hours were odd, something like 4pm to 9pm, call first.

Enjoy,
Gary