Grocery Store Talk
I know it's been going on for some time, but the talk about the lack of really good grocery stores has increased quite a bit lately on the OKC blogs. Steve Lackmeyer, who writes for the Oklahoman and has an excellent blog I highly recommend, wrote recently about possible reasons why Oklahoma City has been skipped by big grocery names such as Whole Foods. The article received quite a bit of feedback from residents.
Then, just last week, News 9 reported Whole Foods has plans to open an OKC store soon, but OKC Biz quickly refuted the story with a quote from a Whole Foods spokesperson. "We do not have any plans at the moment for a store in Oklahoma City," Laura Zappi said. "I will … update in case we have any new information in the future."
It was a quick tease for many. Of course, the oft-cited reason for OKC not being high up on major grocery store's lists is that selling wine in grocery stores is illegal in the state of Oklahoma. The Lost Ogle notes that adding, "...because selling wine at a store where you can also buy oranges, cheese and salmon is immoral and wrong." I just wonder whether the current talk about grocery stores may end up being the impetus for getting that law changed.
Austin, TX Whole Foods Photo © That Other Paper
Comments
Its a silly law…. in normal states where they have not built their laws around some twisted religious rationale, you can buy your pop tarts and vodka in the same place….
It is a stupid law. Does it stop me from buying wine when I go to the grocery store …? NO it does not. The liquor store is right next door. So I have to walk in a seperate door and check out one additional time. I still make one trip out and come home with the wine and the groceries. I thought we had the goal of improving our city with new business growth. Change the law, invite bigger better stores. You will create jobs, tax revenue and competitive prices. In the mean time, check out the BUY FOR LESS on nw expressway and portland. Wow the changes they have made. Very sophisticated shopping and great prices. Love the new deli cafe. I work at baptist hospital and it has become my new favorite place to find something quick and good to eat. Lots of yummy stuff packaged for folks on the go. Also just great prices for shopping for a family of six. I saved so much over what i was spending at walmart. Who by the way has really started limiting the selections. They have more generic than they have name brand. I would love to see us with a Whole Foods or a REAL farmers market . The kind with gourmet cheeses and hard to find veggies . I want to find the ingredients to cook the foods I see on the food network without going on a mad search store to store.
I’m sorry — I could care less about Whole Foods. I’ve lived plenty of places with a Whole Foods and, other than a really good cheese selection, I’ve found them to be way overpriced.
Now, if we could get a Trader Joe’s, well, my life would be near complete!
I could care less about having wine sold in the grocery store one way or the other. I can get it at the Liquor store. I am really concerned however with the small variety of grocery stores here in Oklahoma and the lack there of of competative prices due to such. I Live in the Mustang Area and am Begging for a Crest out in that area… At least they have great produce and meat and they are lots cheaper than the other choices availible….WALMART and the Homeland are sky high and have no selection!!!!
That’s exactly why OK will never have those high end grocery stores. Because we can’t sell liquor in them. It’s a stupid, outdated law, and Oklahomans hang onto it like its the friggin’ holy grail. It’s BEEN long overdue for Oklahoma to catch up to the times, but I have no doubt we will still be having this stupid debate about liquor in grocery stores 100 years from now. Oklahomans revel in their “outdatedness”.
There is a Whole Foods in Tulsa (used to be Wild Oats until Whole Foods bought them). I would love for the liquor laws in Oklahoma to change, but the fact that they were able to work around it in Tulsa shows that it isn’t required. Back in July someone posted to the Whole Foods forum saying a Whole Foods representative in Tulsa told them the plans were already in place for an OKC Whole Foods. They didn’t mention a time frame, but this rumor’s been going around for a while.
Again, Oklahoma is behind the times and on the side of ignorance. Oklahoma sells beer (be it 3%!) in grocery stores … Wine goes with food. One should NOT have to go into a liquor store to buy wine. Trader Joes would not open a store here either … and they are pretty darn good! Aldi’s, in other states carries wine in their stores. Of course, we plan to move back to civilization pretty soon … Choice is important … However, in OK the powers that are elected do not believe that!
They have a Whole Food Market in Tulsa that dosn’t sell wine, so why would that be a reason for not having one in OKC???