Today was the "GRAND OPENING at 9 AM!"of a Whole Foods Market just up the street from us (10 min bike ride). It's the social event of the month for midtown Tucson, so OF COURSE Cindy and I went to check it out. We arrived at 9:20 and the parking lot was packed; everyone plus their grandmothers were there. Actually, since this is Tucson in January, it's more like "grandmothers plus everyone else" were there. There were photographers from the paper scribbling notes about customers views on the chicken; video crewmen doing interviews in the cafe; progressive upper middle class Tucsonians scouting for prime fatless, carb-less, entrees; middle-to-lower class Tucsonians gathering every coupon and free give-away, and people like me who aren't there to buy anything but who enjoy being part of the event (read: in everyone else's way). The only people missing were students. They had school. Suckers. "Busy day today," I said to a cashier. "Yeah!" he responded, "It's like the Superbowl of Whole Foods!"
I've never been to an opening of a grocery store, but this place sparkled. The salad bar was perfect - all the tongs were placed at strategic 45 degree angles in each tray, full of chopped, colorful vegetables. Not a stray pepper or olive slice could be found. Every sandwich and dessert looked like a model, as if they had been painstakingly prepared for hours and set out only moments after the cooks applied the finishing touches. The soup bar had SEVEN different kinds of soups (I opened and smelled every one) and led to a mountain of cornbread at the end. All the cuts of meat (fish, chicken, pork, beef) were perfectly aligned down the display cases and garneshed with greens. The Michael Buble remix-sounding tracks made me think I was in some kind of foodie Wonderland. I half-expected the chickens to start dancing.
Speaking of Whole Foods employees, they were incredibly energetic. In the deli and bakery departments, they yelled, "CAN I GET ANYONE A FREE SAMPLE OF ANYTHING??" On the floor, crew members dashed about to and fro for canned fish, macaroni, or portabella mushrooms. The "higher ups" walked around with headsets ("How's the gruyere cheese display looking in aisle nine?") or coached their subordinates in WF posse circles ("If a customer asks for something that they have in the other stores, say blah-blah-blah"). Regardless of status or position, though, they were all thrilled to give you anything you asked for: "I'm not sure that I like this carb-free, Chinese cabbage pork wrap...can I taste-test the rest of your sandwiches?" ("Of course!") "Can I get the tofu lasagne bake that's second from the top and third from my left in the display?" ("My pleasure!") "I'm hoping you carry this obscure product that no one has ever heard of and none of the other stores have, but since you're so enthusiastic about helping -"("I thought you'd never ask!")
I made it through the checkout line with a free bottle of chemical-free dish soap and some frozen vegetables, and then went to relax. But where? I had my choice of the smoothie bar, wine bar, or the cafe dining area decorated with desert flowers and cacti. I chose the cafe and joined my fellow Whole Fooders in browsing the literature of coupons. Cindy and I eventually found each other minutes later - thank goodness for cell phones - and we headed out. All in all, it was a successful trip - we made it out alive with free stuff! I'm looking forward to having this new store around, even if I only shop there sparingly. Now if only a new Target would open in the same vicinity...THAT would be epic...
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