Another sign of gentrification :-(

[+ WilliamM]

There was no supermarket close to my Philadelphia neighborhood for decades. All of sudden Trader Joe's and Whole Foods are very close by, within walking distance.

 

I like Trader Joe's better, but Whole Foods has a few items I can nit Buy at Trader Joe's

 

Just glad both stores exist so close to where I live.

[Mikegaite]

Unabashed Whole Paycheck shopper here. It's the only store in my neighborhood. The 100 percent recycled toilet paper does wonders for my hiney.

[+ purplekow]

Never in my life shopped in either....Food Lion & Aldi's are just fine for me.....then again, I am not an effete condescending snob....lol

Wasn't red lion the supermarket chain which was exposed for selling rancid meat on a regular basis? I believe it was by Dateline or 60 Minutes.

[+ purplekow]

the above deed pretty much cancels every temporary red neck nuisances in my eyes. Hell, I'd be willing to put up with your flannel, jeans, and boots too.

The lure of fashionable clothes eludes me. Perhaps when I see a hot man, all I can envision is him naked and his clothes in a pile on the floor.

[stop]

Tj opened up in Evanston near me and parkingis one huge cluster fuck. I made ine trip and that was enough to make me stay in the city and go to the locaion near Clybourn or however it's spelled.

 

Hugs,

Greg

 

ok but what grocery parking lot in Chicago isn't a total cluster? maybe the jewel in Andersonville but every other one has like 6 spots and forget about it if it has snowed

[seaboy4hire]

ok but what grocery parking lot in Chicago isn't a total cluster? maybe the jewel in Andersonville but every other one has like 6 spots and forget about it if it has snowed

 

WF in edgewater is a ghost town whenever I've stopped in.

 

Hugs,

Greg

[whipped guy]

The lure of fashionable clothes eludes me. Perhaps when I see a hot man, all I can envision is him naked and his clothes in a pile on the floor.

Years ago one body builder escort said that his main objective for working out was to look good in clothes!!!

 

Say what???!!!??!! You don't hire a guy and much less a body builder for him to keep his clothes on!

 

Heck! When I see a hot guy wearing clothes I immediately peel off anything that he is wearing with my mind's eye!

 

However, seeing a fully clothed guy in an Armani suit and then peeling it off slowly does have a certain allure to it. Still, give me a thong and a tank top. Either way the clothing will end up in a pile on the floor, and with casual clothing one does not have to worry about making it a neat pile!

[LADoug1]

What is it with Trader Joe's and parking lots. Don't people know how to design parking lots these days!

 

Interestingly, my very first escort was a Landscape Architect. One reason why he left the profession (or at least had to take a hiatus from it) was because he was sick and tired of having to design parking lots. Thank the gods that he did take that respit from his profession as the world of BDSM was made all the richer for it! I've never since encountered a BDSM expert with so much knowledge, equipment, and overall hotness!!!

TJs doesn't care about parking at least in SoCal. Stores are great. Parking is usually a pain.

[+ purplekow]

Speaking to TJ parking, I know their parking is just crazy, and frustrating sometimes, but TJ is well aware of the problem and actively tries to address those issues. My business partner did several commercial real estate deals with TJ finding them suitable locations. Charlie is right, TJ only moves into neighborhoods that have demographics that fit their business model. In California, that means areas with a higher than average household incomes. Finding a suitable location with enough land to build a sizable parking lot is not always possible, and the cost is often prohibitive, so it is location first, then they just try to make everything else work. Studio City. Sherman Oaks and West Hollywood stores are prime examples. Great location, no room to park cars, but TJ banks on the loyalty of their customers to deal with the frustrating parking situation. In FTL, there is more room to build in prime areas, and land value doesn't compare to CA, so the parking here is better.

 

It's amazing how many times I would drive past Ralphs and Pavilions and go another couple of miles further, just to wait in line in the parking lot at Trader Joe's.

Have you considered parking at Ralphs and then taking an Uber to TJ?

[jawjateck]

Whole Foods......barf....waste of money. Glad I took profits in that stock 2 years ago.

TJ.....has a few products I like.

Aldi......I like their business model. Some of their stuff (fruit, veggies, meats) doesn't interest me, but I like a few items which are significantly cheaper than other stores. Also, they have some interesting German snack/food items on the shelf.

[bigvalboy]

Have you considered parking at Ralphs and then taking an Uber to TJ?

 

LOL..They don't have Ralphs in FTL, and I own a couple of cars, so there's no need for Uber. But thanks for trying to help. My new local TJ has plenty of parking for all of us seniors, and does not disappoint with the eye candy. Where do they find these boys?

[marylander1940]

NOT a Whole Foods kinda guy. I think their prices are just ridiculous (each to his own). BUT they just opened a Trader Joe's about a mile away in FTL. I love that store. In SoCal they always had the best eye candy. (yes I'm that shallow) and I'm happy to report that the tradition continues.

 

we can always buy at Costco, many upper class folks discovered it when the great recession hit in 2008.

 

Why the sign in the OP's thread?

 

Is gentrification a bad thing? Turning poor inner city areas into more desirable, safe, and livable areas is bad?

 

Would yinz rather have a meth/crack house in the corner instead of a Starbucks? If that's the case we can always move to a trailer park in Appalachia and the South for cheap housing LOL. God knows those areas will never change but their inhabitants now blame Mexicans and Muslims for all their problems, they used to blame Italians, Irish and Polish.

 

DC has better itself because of gentrification, the poor citizens who lived here before and couldn't afford /thought off buying a house for 20k in the 80's or 50k in the 90's now they can't afford the rent and they live in the suburbs commuting to work using the safe/reliable metro system taxpayers fund.

[MikeyGMin]

Would yinz rather have a meth/crack house in the corner instead of a Starbucks?

 

That's on the extreme end, but there is a middle ground where it is a little sad. Many years ago in San Diego when the gays first started gentrifying Hillcrest, North Park (and nearby neighborhoods) there was a glorious period where it was still a little seedy and rundown, but it was vibrant and affordable. The gays worked their magic and now it's mostly homo's and trendy straight people with money who can afford to live there in any comfort.

[Kuriousity]

we can always buy at Costco, many upper class folks discovered it when the great recession hit in 2008.

 

Why the sign in the OP's thread?

 

Is gentrification a bad thing? Turning poor inner city areas into more desirable, safe, and livable areas is bad?

 

Would yinz rather have a meth/crack house in the corner instead of a Starbucks? If that's the case we can always move to a trailer park in Appalachia and the South for cheap housing LOL. God knows those areas will never change but their inhabitants now blame Mexicans and Muslims for all their problems, they used to blame Italians, Irish and Polish.

 

DC has better itself because of gentrification, the poor citizens who lived here before and couldn't afford /thought off buying a house for 20k in the 80's or 50k in the 90's now they can't afford the rent and they live in the suburbs commuting to work using the safe/reliable metro system taxpayers fund.

 

 

Let's refrain from taking cheap shots at Southerners....and for the record, part of my childhood was in a trailer park in Eureka Springs, North Carolina....

[marylander1940]

Let's refrain from taking cheap shots at Southerners....and for the record, part of my childhood was in a trailer park in Eureka Springs, North Carolina....

 

If you're in this forum I guess you got out and I'm glad you were able to do it.

 

I was just making a comparison, and I won't refrain from a cheap shot at people who abuse my tax money, blame other for all their problems, and yell "get the government of my back" constantly. One more thing those trailer park folks from the South and Appalachia got out to vote to ban gay marriage just to feel good about themselves.

 

Cultural wars, such a wonderful creation of Nixon and Reagan? Nothing beats making a poor person vote against his own interest and making him feel powerful about it because of denying someone the right to do XYZ.

 

That's on the extreme end, but there is a middle ground where it is a little sad. Many years ago in San Diego when the gays first started gentrifying Hillcrest, North Park (and nearby neighborhoods) there was a glorious period where it was still a little seedy and rundown, but it was vibrant and affordable. The gays worked their magic and now it's mostly homo's and trendy straight people with money who can afford to live there in any comfort.

 

The same happened in DC, but I'm so happy the city isn't a joke anymore, showing this city was embarrassing.

 

Would reserving some areas to affordable housing be a solution?

[+ Truereview]

That's on the extreme end, but there is a middle ground where it is a little sad. Many years ago in San Diego when the gays first started gentrifying Hillcrest, North Park (and nearby neighborhoods) there was a glorious period where it was still a little seedy and rundown, but it was vibrant and affordable. The gays worked their magic and now it's mostly homo's and trendy straight people with money who can afford to live there in any comfort.

Agree, gentrifcation can be taken to the extreme - disneyfication. I miss my old Manhattan & Brooklyn. I don't necessarily miss rundown property, but I do miss living amidst the edge and pulse of a fragile ecosystem holding all elements of diversity, including marked socioeconomic differences. The city just doesn't feel the same IMO.

 

PS - once Disneyfication happens, you can lose your touch with reality.

[MikeyGMin]

Would reserving some areas to affordable housing be a solution?

 

I left San Diego five years ago, but not sure they tried anything until the horse was out of the barn. Here is Austin they are really, really trying to manage growth in Central Austin, but man is it a tough sell. They are trying to mix in the affordable housing with "regular" housing so they don't create sub-par neighborhoods, but you know how people and developers are...no one wants the "subsidized" housing in their building or neighborhood.

[body2body]

I have lived in WeHo for a long time, over 35 years, and we are having a huge building boom. The city seems to permit every development that comes up for review. The planning commission says that every new development must be built to 90% of zoned capacity ( and the zoning was all revised in a new master plan in 2011 that hat much more input from the developers than the residents). They pay lip service to economic diversity by putting 3 low income units in a new 40 unit complex, and allowing the developers to put in a "poor door" so the market rate residents won't have to come in contact with the low income residents. I have lived in a nice diverse area that is increasingly populated by the wealthy. As much as this all disturbs me I see more and more that we are headed towards the model of cities like Paris where the central urban areas are for the affluent, and the less affluent move to the suburbs to find affordable housing and commute in to do work to service the affluent.

[marylander1940]

I left San Diego five years ago, but not sure they tried anything until the horse was out of the barn. Here is Austin they are really, really trying to manage growth in Central Austin, but man is it a tough sell. They are trying to mix in the affordable housing with "regular" housing so they don't create sub-par neighborhoods, but you know how people and developers are...no one wants the "subsidized" housing in their building or neighborhood.

 

http://babalublog.com/wpr/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/nodogs.jpg

 

http://rjensen.people.uic.edu/nina.jpg

 

 

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http://www.quickmeme.com/img/eb/eb08549575680eaa0bab54c2b52bf87364b5ab7d303f7098858d0abe886ca0fd.jpg

 

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[mattr]

Not a fan of Whole Paycheck, but love TJ's! Cheaper than the supermarkets near me, unique items, better quality. I love TJ's mac & cheese, and the frozen grilled asparagus is delicious. Their frozen meals and deserts tend to be of better quality too. One of my treat meals: I take a package of their Kung Pao chicken and add pound of frozen Broccoli. I microwave 2 packages of rice meddely and mix it all together... I have about 4 meals from it.

[whipped guy]

Well, I almost forgot about this, but this past Thanksgiving due to some extenuating circumstances the family uncharacteristically ended up ordering our turkey dinner, and my cousin being a gentrified Ivy Leaguer did so from from Whole Foods.

 

Here's my review. The stuffing was average and nothing special. The mashed potatoes even less special. The roasted veggies were a unique combination that included parsnips and Brussels sprouts along with more traditional vegetables. Not exactly what one would expect, but different in a refreshing sort of way. Included were two boneless turkey breasts and I must say that they were quite juicy and even though they were served long after they were roasted at the store. What I did think was remarkable was that even for leftovers the next day they retained their juicy quality and flavor. In fact so much so that the run of the mill gravy that was included was not really necessary even when initially served. A nice apple pie was included. I have no idea regarding the pricing.

 

5 stars for the turkey

1 star for the mashed potatoes

2 stars for the stuffing

3 stars for the veggies

4 stars for the apple pie

 

Overall score 3 Stars

 

I would consider ordering just the turkey in the future or even better roasting it myself if that's an option as it more than likely would be even juicer and tastier.

[LADoug1]

I absolutely despise TJ. Have no opinion on Whole Foods. TJ is nothing but alcohol and snacks. Why won't people just admit that? It's not groceries. Ralphs is Groceries, Balduccis was groceries, TJ is booze and snacks.

TJ's is generally okay for me (except for the parking fiasco) with the exception of the poor/substandard selection of fresh produce.