Secrets of the City

Sad news. Any MNspeakers SD customers? Former customers?

Former customer. It seemed like a good idea. And I didn’t mind paying for delivery. But the selection wasn’t as good as most grocery stores. It was hard to compare items and few things were sale priced. In the end, it didn’t seem like much of a time-saver.

Former customer. I agree with miller – selection was a big problem. And when you are a few miles from 6 different grocery stores it ended up not being a big time savor. When Lunds got into delivery it was only a matter of time.

Former customer as well. Started to have frequent order mistakes so I switched to Lunds/Byerlys when they began their service.

I tried it once and found it was good for buying bulk packages of toliet paper and multiple bottles of laundry detergent. Saved me having to lug those things up two flights of stairs from my car. Looking at pictures on the internet pales in comparision of actually being in the store and holding the things you’re going to buy.

While we’re on the subject of grocery stores, there is no decent grocery store within 20 miles of my apartment. Kowalsky’s on Hennepin is a tiny store with only two of everything, Cub on Lake Street is complete and utter chaos, Lund’s in Uptown is too crowded and don’t even get me started on the uptown Rainbow. Meh!

You have Whole Foods in that area. I drive cross town for that.

Got Simon Delivers a few times. Like to pick out the produce myself.

Lunds and Byerleys delivers.

I have neighbors who use Simon Delivers and love it so they’ll be looking for options. Both sets of parents work outside of the home and see the service as a way to save time on something. (I would agree with the time factor. I was part of a large family and if our mother could avoid taking the kid herd to the store, she left us home.)
A friend uses Simon Delivers as part of his deliberate car-free lifestyle so he’ll either be calling cabs or Lunds/Byerlys. Hauling groceries on the bus is tough.

While we’re on the subject of grocery stores…Meh!

Seriously? None of the options in this area fit your needs? Lunds is too crowded? Are you just generally hard to please?

I recommend the Wedge. It’s cheaper than Kowalskis, and they have waves of tasty produce and a fun bulk section.

Chrisin, there’s a SuperTarget in Richfield and th eLake St. Cub isn’t chaotic if you go early on Sunday or Saturday morning.

What does “Meh” mean?

Meh = not impressed.

jmc: I grew up in a large family as well, but my mom wasn’t as smart as yours because we were dragged everywhere. Probably why I hate grocery shopping.

Although, Linden Hills co-op is my new bff.

In the computer world, we have a saying: “Cheap, fast, and good: pick two.” The Uptown Rainbow is fine with me, but of course there are a few things that are just maddening about the place, but at Trader Joe’s, shoppers call some of them “quirks.”

weak shit

We actually did venture into one Belmond, Iowa store on occasion that was owned by my grandmother’s cousin. She’d give us cookies and quarters. The third generation is running that store.
And I’m actually old enough to have shopped at a genuine general store in Alexander, Iowa. You could buy your food, your washing machine, your garden implements. During holiday time, the owner would serve booze in the basement.
There are many good stories about Sawtelle’s Superette, the grocery store in my Iowa hometown of Klemme. When you were a high school senior, they’d post your graduation picture by the cash register.
let’s see home delivery do all THAT.

There’s still Gopher Grocery. I don’t think they serve as large an area though.

I am well aware of the qualities of the Wedge. You don’t have to tell me, I have lived within 1/2 mile of that store for seven years. But sometimes, I don’t want organic pine nuts. Sometimes, I just want some pudding snacks and Ritz crackers with cheeze whiz on top and some cool whip and godd old fashioned doughnuts. And I don’t want to fight the dredges of the population of Minnepaolis to get it or drive 20 miles to the Knollwood Cub.

I have been to known to drive to Cub in Roseville. It’s almost Hy-Vee quality. Almost.

Where is the Super Target in Richfield and how to do I get there?

Cristine, I think there’s a Super Target in Edina, too, by the mall.

I really don’t understand why people drag their kids to the grocery store. We have two little kids and both of us work outside the home. I just go shopping after the kids are in bed. Which is also when I used to place my Simon Delivers order. Which is why it wasn’t much of a time saver for me.

Where is the Super Target in Richfield and how to do I get there?

G-O-O-G-L-E

Cub on Lake Street is complete and utter chaos…

Whoa, you say that like it’s a bad thing. I love shopping there. I feel like I’ve earned my food by the end.

My google chip is broken. Do it for me.

I just want some pudding snacks and Ritz crackers with cheeze whiz on top and some cool whip and godd old fashioned doughnuts.

If that’s all that’s on my shopping list, I don’t care how chaotic a store is. I’d be in and out in a flash. Plus, many Cubs have self-serve checkouts now that aren’t difficult to use unless you have a cart-full of groceries.

Grocery shopping for me isn’t meant to be some kind of “experience,” so I pay less attention to ambiance than I do prices. I also know what time of day (or night) is better crowd-wise at whichever store I shop at and plan my shopping trips accordingly.

As a single shopper, though, I could never justify using a delivery service. I don’t even call out for pizza anymore, preferring instead to grab a couple of Papa Murphy’s ‘zas and store them in the freezer for future eats. That’s cheaper, too, by the way.

Andy- my husband used to shop there when he lived in Longfellow. We gave it a whirl a few times when we were first dating and I have to agree that you definitely earn your groceries there. I’ve never been hit by so many carts in my life.

One time I nannied for a family that used Simon Delivers. But their internet was down the whole time. And I was so entrenched in their delivery lifestyle (they even had a milkman!) that I was all how are we going to get food?! Then I remembered, oh right, drive to Byerly’s.

Hy-Vee, now you’re talking.

There’s a Super Target in Edina – 70th & York just south of the Galleria/Southdale. Prolly closer than the Richfield location.

Also, there’s a larger Kowalski’s on Lyndale & 54th(?). Will fulfill all of your pudding snack-cool-whip-cheez-whiz-donut cravings.

We were dragged shopping because not taking us meant my mom coming home to a new 9-hole chipping and putting course my bros had decided we needed in our yard. The greens were actually decent. A little fast, but not bad.

Grocery shopping for me isn’t meant to be some kind of “experience, attention to ambiance than I do prices. ”

We stopped going to a couple discount stores because “some kind of experience” for us mostly meant “clean.”

Here is a little grocery insider information for you. The slowest day for grocery stores is Tuesday. Thus, if you hate crowds and hassle that they entail, try going on a Tuesday…

I love Hy-Vee. Isn’t the store slogan Where there’s a helpless smirk on every clerk?

Cub Foods: We Make Your Earn Your Food.

Which is why I do my big shopping trips at 2 a.m. usually. I mean, I live ten blocks from Cub, it’d be stupid not to shop there. At 2 a.m., no one’s there except stoned kids, cops and completely exhausted neighborhood residents. It’s like the Interzone, and it’s awesome. That’s “atmosphere,” right?

This market so desparetely needs a Hy-Vee. I was at one in Iowa over the Fourth. It was great. They serve an awesome, cheap breakfast. And tey have a real meat counter.

I’m mixed about the closing. My mother-in-law doesn’t drive and uses Simon Delivers and likes it. I knew my neighborhood (Lowertown) had gentrified when the new condo buildings suddenly had Simon Delivers trucks parked out front. No one used to deliver to downtown St. Paul. But the trucks follow the money.

Personally, I enjoy grocery shopping and frequent half-a-dozen different shops. But that’s me.
Mississippi Market for produce etc.
East Side Rainbow for bulk
Kowalski’s when it’s late and I want to waste money
Kim’s on Snelling for dumplings and kim chee
Southeast Asian for Indian (and the deli!)
El Burrito Mercado for Mexican and produce
Dragon Star for seafood and produce
United Noodle for all things asian
King Dong or whatever it’s called for these cool Korean snacks and fish cake

There are several others as well. We have a lot of really good grocery stores in town especially for “ethnic” food.

There’s a Hy-Vee in Marshall, MN. I was tempted to stop in and see what all the fuss is about, but ate at the nearby “Hitching Post” instead.

My bad!

I shop at the midtown global market for most items. But when I need the processed schlock and paper goods, I can deal with the East Lake Rainbow. It has really improved over the years. Cub on the other hand, has really declined.

We used to use Simon for dry goods only after some sketchy produce and meat experiences. In those days we’d go to the store for 10 minute trips to get produce, meat, dairy, and out.
About a year ago we switched to Lunds/Byerly’s and began using the “pick-up” option. Now we go into the store and get our quick items, get in the car and hit the drive-up lane to pick up our online order. We chose a store that’s on the way home from work and overall it works great. Trips to the store are short, but we still have the opportunity to get anything we missed on our online order.

Sure, the store is mostly empty at 2AM, the problem I run into then is that the shelves are too.

Did I read somewhere that several stores have dropped the 24 hour model?

Kevin: I really think you need to open an Hy-Vee.

I’m going to miss SimonDelivers. I work for a small company so we would use them to stock drinks for the fridge and other products. Saved us a trip to the store. We still have about six bins at the office. I wonder if they will stop by and pick them up.

I’ve found that some places (SuperTarget, I’m looking at you) that close at 10 have very empty shelves late in the evening.

My office gets SD. They bring our refreshing drinks and delicious snacks. I have no idea where we’re going to get our treats from now. I’ll have to ask someone.

Did I read somewhere that several stores have dropped the 24 hour model?

Lunds/Byerly’s now close at midnight.

Midway Rainbow has closed at midnight for some time.
And if someone opens a Hy-Vee, please stock Anderson-Erickson Cottage Cheese.

Rainbow in the Quarry is good. But since the bridge fell down, my attempts to get there have been unsuccessful.

I’m going there as soon as the bridge is finished. College chicks!

Byerly’s and Lund’s deliver. Or at least Byerly’s does. I noticed that when I stopped by one to grab dinner on the way home.

I wish Cubs delivered.

I love Hy-Vee…Cub prices all while having some young punk pack your groceries and drive up. It’s a mash up of Cub and Byerly’s. Le Sigh.

Rainbow in the Quarry is good. But since the bridge fell down, my attempts to get there have been unsuccessful.

I like it’s meat and deli counters, but whenever I shop there, the check out lines are all stacked 5 or 6 deep (even the self scan), and they’re all overflowing shopping carts.

Anyone been to Aldi? I was going to stop by one in Vermont but I never did.

There’s an Aldi on Franklin. If you dare!

There’s an Aldi in Champlin (or is in MG?) that’s pretty nice. There’s also one in Minnetonka, but I haven’t been there yet. Bring your own plastic or paper bags.

Does anyone remember the name of that store that only sold private label stuff? They were in Robbinsdale, where the CVS is off 42nd.

Does Aldi sell brand name foods? I know that they charge for bags and carts but I don’t know much beyond that.

Champlin…so…far…away.

Aldi is all private label (and I think some brand name products).

So, does SD closing open up an expansion opportunity for Peace Coffee?

Saloth: Those are fun places and I don’t look at them as “grocery shopping”.

I miss Midtown Global – no longer convenient.

I’ve been to Aldi, but there wasn’t anything there that kept me going back.

There’s a new Aldi at Lake/Hiawatha. I want to be the packaging designer for Aldi’s products. Easiest job ever. Go there and you’ll see why.

I have been to Aldi. Didn’t really like at all. You have to pay for your cart, for starters….

ALDI is kind of the luck of the draw. . . some private labels, some overstocks. We use them for party snacks and massive kid-feeding projects. The produce isn’t great but if you need snacks for your all-school reunion it’s a fabulous choice.
If you read the labels and know enough about the food industry, it’s interesting to figure out who’s making which ALDI products. . . or any private labels for that matter.
But I’ll still state my preference:
Hy-Vee! Hy-Vee! Hy-Vee!

Actually, with small, non-fancy food stuff, I like going to Everett’s at 38th and Cedar. All the workers are polite older men that wear white aprons and little white hats. It’s just like being back in the bad old days!

They also have a really good meat counter with really excellent kielbasas.

we did simon delivers for a while when our 2nd child was born for the convenience factor because our schedules were in complete chaos. once we found our new equilibrium, the expense became unneccessary.

now:
canned & boxed staple items…Cub
meat…hacknemuller’s
produce…my CSA in summer and fall, byerly’s in spring & winter
fish…bylerly’s or coastal

Bummer about SD, but I never had a need for it.

I go to several stores, depending on what I need. I do not go to Cub or Rainbow, ever. Dusty + weird lighting = no thanks.

Does anyone know where I can buy turnip or taro cakes? Like they sell at the Rainbow Chinese restaurant? I’m addicted and want to try to make the dish at home, but only if I can buy the cakes premade/frozen.

Jane, try United Noodles. They have everything.

Yeah, if anyone has it, they will.

United Noodles is awesome.

Just looking at the prices on Gopher Grocery, they’re out of this world. They had canned pineapple for $1.29 and I paid $.89 for the same can last night at Super Target.

The Super Target in Richfield is on 77, next to Home Depot.

Sweet lord! Why don’t I just go to Super Target in Alaska.

Because “Currently, there are no Target stores in Alaska, Hawaii or Vermont.” (From the Target Web site.)

A tale of two Minnesota-based food home delivery systems. One, citing high fuel and food costs, goes out of business. The other, stung by the oil crisis of the 1970s, changes the way it fuels its vehicles and survives tough times.

Corky, you should see the markup at Hark’s Market on 24th and Nicollet. When I lived near there in 2001, a box of cereal was over $5 a box.

Because “Currently, there are no Target stores in Alaska, Hawaii or Vermont.” (From the Target Web site.)

Target is opening two expanded food selection regular Target stores in Alaska in October of 2008 and 2 stores in Hawaii in March 2009. Vermont has a big box ordinance and there aren’t any Walmarts there either.

So. So far from this thread I have gleaned there are Super Targets in first ring suburbs, you have to shop at Cub on Lake street at 2 o’clock in the morning and access to the Quarry Rainbow only after the bridge reopens, and it’s pay for your cart Aldi.

Meh!

I also learned that Gopher Market is expensive (which was good to know).

My views on 2 a.m. Lake Street grocery shopping in no way reflect the views of MNSpeak or the Twin Cities community in general.

What evs. I just look forward to the day when the Mnspeak headline reads: Hy-Vee opens in yuptown Rainbow location!

Oh, a roadtrip to Super Target in Alaska. Could be fun. I love road trips.

Hy-Vee has the best craptastic deli food. I have yet to find fruit dip that rivals Hy-Vee’s.

The Super Target in Richfield is on 77, next to Home Depot.

Not from the south suburbs, are you? LOL We still call that stretch of road Cedar Ave. even if it has become a freeway.

The other, stung by the oil crisis of the 1970s, changes the way it fuels its vehicles and survives tough times.

Japanese taxis have been running on LPG since the early ’70s, even pre-dating the first “oil shock.” Buses made the changeover from diesel to LPG sometime in the ’80s. When I was back in Japan last year, I rode a public bus that was powered by CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) which is supposed to be even more environmentally-friendly.

The only problem with running a taxi on LPG was that there was very little trunk space for luggage (if you were, say, trying to get to or from Haneda airport). The fuel tank took up most of the room back there.

Really, all those ambassadors and crowns are propane powered? Wow.

there are Super Targets in first ring suburbs

There is an urban Super Target … on the Midway in St. Paul on University Ave.

I am a mother of 6 small children and have been a Simon Delivers customer for about 7 years. When I received this email I went through the roof! Now, a task that took me about 5 minutes will take me over 2 hours and that is if I dont take the kids – and I had gotten my grocery shopping bill down to a reasonable level by using SD – no impulse shopping – just what we needed. It is sad that over 300 people will lose their jobs – only making the economic problems that we face worse for them. And that the best online grocery delivery company in the country is now out of business – it is a crying shame!

Aldis purchases in bulk from companies put their own labels on products and then sells it to the consumer.

Since someone else has resurrected this post:

Here is a great blog post from Splatgirl about her stocking up on bacon because SD is that only place she knows where to get it.

There is a picture of 20 pounds of hardwood smoked bacon if you want to click on through.

I loved SD. We had very few problems with them, our grocery bill was entirely reasonable (like someone else said, no impulse buys), and I never had to go to the grocery store. The closing really bummed me out.

And I’m wondering if we now own a pile of green tote boxes.