Comments on: Where Oh Where Have The Supermarkets Gone? http://uptownflavor.com/2008/05/05/where-oh-where-have-the-supermarkets-gone/ Harlem's Lifestyle Destination Since 2006 Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:08:45 +0200 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: dasit http://uptownflavor.com/2008/05/05/where-oh-where-have-the-supermarkets-gone/#comment-29149 dasit Wed, 07 May 2008 19:19:42 +0000 http://uptownflavor.com/?p=3715#comment-29149 The 125th/131st Fairway is my go-to spot when I need good, fresh produce. The last stop on the Bx15 bus that runs along 125th drops you at 12th Avenue, only a block away. To haul everything back, I get a car. It's only 6 bucks and they're always waiting. The Pathmark at 145th and ACP is basically processed food paradise. Now that I've accepted the fact that they exist to sell things in cans, bottles and bags, I'm not mad at 'em. The produce is garbage and the meat is hit and miss, but you can get everything else you need -- and then some -- from there. There are always $6 cars there too. All the other area stores are depressing and gross. That C-Town on Amsterdam b/t 145th and 146th? Who buys food from there?! Who eats it?! Nasty. The 125th/131st Fairway is my go-to spot when I need good, fresh produce. The last stop on the Bx15 bus that runs along 125th drops you at 12th Avenue, only a block away. To haul everything back, I get a car. It’s only 6 bucks and they’re always waiting.

The Pathmark at 145th and ACP is basically processed food paradise. Now that I’ve accepted the fact that they exist to sell things in cans, bottles and bags, I’m not mad at ‘em. The produce is garbage and the meat is hit and miss, but you can get everything else you need — and then some — from there. There are always $6 cars there too.

All the other area stores are depressing and gross. That C-Town on Amsterdam b/t 145th and 146th? Who buys food from there?! Who eats it?! Nasty.

]]> By: Anon http://uptownflavor.com/2008/05/05/where-oh-where-have-the-supermarkets-gone/#comment-29137 Anon Tue, 06 May 2008 23:12:57 +0000 http://uptownflavor.com/?p=3715#comment-29137 The Fine Fair on 117th is clean and well stocked on standard items. However, the Fairway three stops down has much better produce and meat, plus the prices are better. My girlfriend and I made up an index of about 15 'standard' items and compared prices at both places. Not only was Fairway the better deal overall, but the selection of variable goods like apples and chicken were of much better quality. We didn't do the same for the Fairway on 132nd, and I would be interested to hear if anyone has. The Fine Fair on 117th is clean and well stocked on standard items. However, the Fairway three stops down has much better produce and meat, plus the prices are better. My girlfriend and I made up an index of about 15 ‘standard’ items and compared prices at both places. Not only was Fairway the better deal overall, but the selection of variable goods like apples and chicken were of much better quality. We didn’t do the same for the Fairway on 132nd, and I would be interested to hear if anyone has.

]]> By: Justin http://uptownflavor.com/2008/05/05/where-oh-where-have-the-supermarkets-gone/#comment-29135 Justin Tue, 06 May 2008 21:28:42 +0000 http://uptownflavor.com/?p=3715#comment-29135 I'm a typical single young(ish) male that doens't have the best food habits, but have been frustrated by the grocery store situation in the south-central Harlem. Fairway is a hike - and I'm too cheap to take a car over... Citarella is too expensive and the Met on Amsterdam is too far. FreshDirect has not been all that great (and wasteful - lots of unwanted packaging and idling polluting trucks). CTown on 116 is the most practical choice, but that's still six blocks away and really not great in terms of stocking fresh items... or the variety you would find elsewhere. I admit that I end up shopping at the Rite Aid sometimes becasue it's only a coupel blocks away... and ending up with a basket of junk food. (And can they please do something about the blacked-out storefronts?, I feel like I'm going into an adult bookstore!) Hopefully some of these new developments can bring a grocery with them, but the magic 10,000 sf ++ number the larger grocers are looking for is difficult... Trader Joes would be great as it is affordable and decent quality. I'm not too interested in 'Whole Paycheck' making it's way up to Harlem... which is unlikely for a while since they will be opening a store at some point on 100th on the UWS. I’m a typical single young(ish) male that doens’t have the best food habits, but have been frustrated by the grocery store situation in the south-central Harlem. Fairway is a hike – and I’m too cheap to take a car over… Citarella is too expensive and the Met on Amsterdam is too far. FreshDirect has not been all that great (and wasteful – lots of unwanted packaging and idling polluting trucks).

CTown on 116 is the most practical choice, but that’s still six blocks away and really not great in terms of stocking fresh items… or the variety you would find elsewhere. I admit that I end up shopping at the Rite Aid sometimes becasue it’s only a coupel blocks away… and ending up with a basket of junk food. (And can they please do something about the blacked-out storefronts?, I feel like I’m going into an adult bookstore!)

Hopefully some of these new developments can bring a grocery with them, but the magic 10,000 sf ++ number the larger grocers are looking for is difficult… Trader Joes would be great as it is affordable and decent quality. I’m not too interested in ‘Whole Paycheck’ making it’s way up to Harlem… which is unlikely for a while since they will be opening a store at some point on 100th on the UWS.

]]> By: LGP http://uptownflavor.com/2008/05/05/where-oh-where-have-the-supermarkets-gone/#comment-29129 LGP Tue, 06 May 2008 15:32:58 +0000 http://uptownflavor.com/?p=3715#comment-29129 I hit Fairway once every other week - which is the greatest supermarket in the world. Great food, decent prices, although the delivery charge is way too high (7.95!). I then use Fine Fair on 117th and Lenox to supplement. I think it's a great store. Clean, well stocked, reasonable prices. I wish their produce was better, but if we had the cart men like in mid-town, I would be ok with it the way it. C-Town on 116th is only good in a pinch. Pretty clean, but way to cramped and I don't always feel confident with everything I buy their. Just something about it. I hit Fairway once every other week – which is the greatest supermarket in the world. Great food, decent prices, although the delivery charge is way too high (7.95!). I then use Fine Fair on 117th and Lenox to supplement. I think it’s a great store. Clean, well stocked, reasonable prices. I wish their produce was better, but if we had the cart men like in mid-town, I would be ok with it the way it. C-Town on 116th is only good in a pinch. Pretty clean, but way to cramped and I don’t always feel confident with everything I buy their. Just something about it.

]]> By: Anonymous http://uptownflavor.com/2008/05/05/where-oh-where-have-the-supermarkets-gone/#comment-29128 Anonymous Tue, 06 May 2008 15:04:10 +0000 http://uptownflavor.com/?p=3715#comment-29128 Coming from out of the country I have been quite impressed with the variety of vegetables that you can find in smaller grocery stores. Its also nice when the farmer market stands start to appear around Harlem Hospital (although they could expand their offerings) Overall I just find the prices a bit high sometimes. But by and large you can get what you want. Of course though it would be nice to have a more delux store in the area like a whole foods or trader joes. But taking the subway to get to one when necessary is not that bad either. Coming from out of the country I have been quite impressed with the variety of vegetables that you can find in smaller grocery stores. Its also nice when the farmer market stands start to appear around Harlem Hospital (although they could expand their offerings)

Overall I just find the prices a bit high sometimes. But by and large you can get what you want.

Of course though it would be nice to have a more delux store in the area like a whole foods or trader joes. But taking the subway to get to one when necessary is not that bad either.

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