I am very fortunate in that I am able to choose from a number of grocery stores to shop from. High end stores, organic stores, and stores whose key clientele are the regular folks working hard trying to save a dollar. It’s this store that I’ve noticed changing over time.
How Does A Grocery Store Gentrify?
I love this store because it has amazing sales and can be counted on in early Fall to offer unbelievable opportunities to stock up on staple items such as: toilet paper, cereal, peanut butter, and meats. In fact, it’s my guess that the founder’s tradition of philanthropy may be part of the reason why these deals are so good. *The founder of this business has passed away*
The thing is, Denver as a city has gentrified at a rapid rate over the past 20 years. There are now light rail communities that are located throughout the metro area. Unfortunately, the grocery store I’m talking about is located near one of these newly built high end communities. The makeup of the shoppers has changed over time and products such as: gluten free bread, PB2, and Soy Delicious now sit on shelves previously occupied by Wonder Bread, Jiffy, and Yoplait.
The shoppers who were typically a mix of middle class white*, black*, and latino* shoppers looking to save money on groceries has changed to young hipsters* who have long thick beards and yoga girls* in Lululemon yoga pants with artfully nonchalant ballet buns on the tops of their heads.
*Not going to be pc about this. Just saying*
Was I A Part Of This Wave of Gentrification?
The thing is, I may have been part of this wave of gentrification without realizing it. I have to admit that I welcomed these new products. I didn’t have to go to Whole Foods to get them, I could get all of my shopping done in one place. Except for one thing, these products were more expensive at this store then at my Whole Foods.
I live in the opposite of a food desert. I am able to walk or ride my bike to 5 excellent grocery stores in less than 15 minutes to any of those stores. What if I were living an an area where this was the only grocery store available to me?
How could I keep up with rising prices?
To be honest, I’ve never really really thought about gentrification beyond housing. The truth is when a neighborhood goes through the gentrification process it affects EVERYTHING from places to go out, grocery stores, property prices, and taxes.
The changes to this specific grocery store have happened so quickly it’s made my head spin. Ironically, I will avoid most of the higher end items and go to Whole Foods because they’re priced better and I will cross my fingers and hope that the affordable items at this store remain affordable. But I’m not holding my breath.
Have You Ever Experienced This?
*Google Picture*
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I’ve never experienced this because I’ve never lived in an urban area, but I gotta say that this would be extremely frustrating! I hope good prices hold out for you!
I hope the prices hold out too! As it it I do my bargain shopping there..and almost all meat purchases at Whole Foods. But, things like basic staples are great to get at this store. Am keeping my fingers crossed.
Welcome to my neighborhood. lol! I love this by the way: “artfully nonchalant ballet buns.” How do they get them so perfect without hardly trying? I’m kind of jealous! 🙂
Haha! I don’t even know how they get them so perfect, it’s so annoying! One girl basically sneered at me when I was making a big meat purchase (stocking up my pantry). I almost said “Look, I was a vegan for a month I have street cred.”
I was a vegetarian for over a decade and several periods of being vegan. I never felt balanced and I personally don’t think it is the most healthful diet for me. I know some people thrive on vegan diets, but they shouldn’t knock those who don’t thrive or have different ideas of what is healthy. Not even our doctors can agree on a perfect diet… why would some 20-something yoga guru know it all? 🙂
However, with that said, I am not a huge meat eater and I still do make the majority of meals from veggies with just a little meat on the side. I think everyone is different and it takes a little bit of research and experimentation to find what works best for each individual. I also think you can be perfectly ‘green’ with a little meat in your diet and I think it is more sustainable for the long term for the mass population. You might like this post…
http://greengirlsdontgetfat.com/2014/11/07/why-paleo-is-a-green-girls-best-friend/
I was really “hangry” when I hit the third week of my Vegan challenge. The first 2 weeks were amazing! I felt so clean inside. Wow. I actually just want to lose weight and feel healthier. I am fighting not to lose my taste for meat as I like to travel a lot. I’m also trying to save money 🙂 Eating less meat=great for my wallet. I did enjoy my vegetarian years but I’m not interested in limiting myself when it comes to food. I’ve tried paleo but I like to eat beans and I don’t understand why you can’t! Will check out your post though…I do like Paleo a hell of a lot more than veganism 🙂
I eat beans regularly on Paleo. Not every day, but definitely a couple of times per week. I just soak them before eating to reduce the anti-nutrients. I also eat quinoa and sweet potatoes for cheap starch.
I love quinoa and sweet potatoes!
Bahhhahahahhahahaaa! Love your not PC ways! 🙂
I have tell it like I see it!
I saw this firsthand when DH lived in Brooklyn. The same area that I had known when I first visited Brooklyn in my teens was predominantly black. Now, many middle to upper class whites have left Manhattan for Brooklyn to escape higher rents and gentrification is in full swing. I too noticed that the local grocery stores are stocking high end products to accommodate those who can afford it.
It’s really interesting because there are so many grocery stores in my area and this specific one has had a very working class clientele. It is a national chain but the chain is known for having very affordable deals, great stocking opportunities during September, and my specific store has wonderful management. It would be bad business for them not to make an adjustment based on who is shopping there, but it has happened so fast it’s a little shocking.
I also live in the opposite of a food desert. Within 15 minutes of my house, I have probably ten grocery stores! I don’t buy a lot of high end products and mostly just shop for regular stuff at Kroger. I’m more about saving on food at this point in my life.
I do eat high end foods because I’m a foodie but I work very hard to keep the cost down and work the sales.