Earth Fare Coming to The Summit

This place is expensive! Add .25 - +$1.00 on any regular item at Whole Foods. I had a coupon for a free chicken and got a free grocery tote, so I can't say I got totally robbed, but honestly, they are really high. I overheard some of the employees talking about how they had been inundated with Oldham Co people...it'd be worth the extra couple miles in gas to make it to Whole Foods or Trader Joes. Nice store, laid out a little oddly, but I think I won't be shopping there except for a drive by when I can't get to Shelbyville Rd. Carts are outside the store, none inside, so grab one before you walk in. I was surprised it wasn't more crowded on day 2 of opening. A lot of people wandering and not buying. I breezed through the checkout without a pause...very unlike the opening day of Trader Joes...

Mary Anne,
Good input, thanks. I don't know they are marketing it much yet- I live almost literally across the street , and I only knew about the opening because I read it here.

Interesting...the one in Johnson City, TN is way cheaper than Whole Foods in Louisville. Other grocery stores compare about the same between here and there, so it isn't a regional issue.

For what we buy, prices are not overly high ... Roughly between Kroger and Whole Foods. Plus, according to what I found on line, they have a committment to organic, natural, hormone free, and all that good stuff.

They mark local items (anything within 100 miles, I believe). Small store. Easy to run in and pick up something. We didn't buy anything the first day just walked through. Yesterday bought Ben & Jerrys (never do) 2/$5; loaf of fresh bread, got it sliced; a couple of different small salads from the deli as we approach the return to school. All good. Big BBC display. Saw NABC and Altech. A few samples had been available. Sampled a nice macaroon cookie in the deli. Oh, the pizza. Slices the size of Pappalinos are $2.99, 1/4 pizza. Haven't tried yet. I think the whole pizzas were $9.99. It's an option.
Friday night has become our food/drink shopping/window shopping night. Starting in OC we head west to Costco, now we'll add Earth Fare, maybe Liquor Barn, Whole Foods, Trader Joe, Apocaplyse. After that is a wild card or home:-)
We shop at Paul's throughout the week so we don't stop there on Friday night.
Enjoying the Friday night $5 beer/food sampling at Whole Foods. 5 stations with beer and food pairings.
The current freebie at Earth Fare, on line, after you sign up, is free 1/2 gallon milk with $5 purchase.
Ellen

Went by today just to check it out .Since I travel so far to get to even Trader Joes, the Summitt isn't much further. We got our free tote bags and as we walked in got a coupon for a free chicken with 10 dollar purchase. I turned one of the tote bags into a makeshift cooler with a bag of ice to protect the chicken and some cheese from the cheese counter. I was pretty happy with what I saw As a plus for me the staff were very nice and helpful but not in a overboard way. I will definitely be back when I make my way out that way.

I went today...didn't see anything out of line price-wise with their other store I've been in. Still cheaper than WF on what I buy. Their sales are nice too. I had an e-mail coupon to get 5 organic foods for $5...they give you a basic list but then you get to choose the specific kind...I got 1 pack of cookies, 1 box of crackers, 1 jar of peanut butter, 1 pack of applesauce cups, and 1 package of pasta...your choice as long as it's Earth Fare brand. That was a great deal -- I saved $10.95 on those items alone.

The employees were great and one went well out of her way to try to help me find Field Roast, to no avail...turns out since the store is smaller, their "grab & go" case was too small for the Field Roast. Bummer. Maybe if enough people ask for it.

I also finally found the Amy's Vegan Margherita Pizza, which I haven't found anywhere around here at any store.

We went yesterday to browse- and came away very impressed. Very helpful and enthusiastic employees, very good looking meats and seafoods, beautiful prepared foods/salads; prices overall appeared lower than Whole Foods. We were thrilled to find a number of great gourmet products that we used to carry that we haven't found elsewhere- and their prices on those items were right in-line if not lower. ( one pasta was $1.00 less than when I bought in San Fran. )Great selection of salts; they had high-end Nuovo and Rustichella pastas. Their breads are made from scratch on-premise- the huge sourdough boule we bought was only $2.99 and excellent ( while not super-sour). Really like the labeling for Local 100 mile and Family Farm products.

We are in serious trouble with this place- I could literally walk there.
Deb

....Very helpful and enthusiastic employees, very good looking meats and seafoods, beautiful prepared foods/salads; prices overall appeared lower than Whole Foods....

That's about what we found too! I think I fell in love with the blue cheese potato salad! We didn't spend a whole lot of time but like you it looks like it could be a place to get in trouble in a hurry!