Reply #11: When I was down in Tennessee [View All]

[eilen]

I went to a Super Walmart a few times. My sister lives in a neighboring county and Walmart is one of the few shopping options available. I purchased gas there a few times as they were the last gas station on the way to the highway which is a good 15 miles away and then a ways from another gas station.

I found the grocery options in Ashland City to be Food Lion and there was one other one up around behind the Library and I had been to both of them. To me the prices seem high everywhere in the Nashville area, particularly the fresh produce which I was expecting to be lower given the extended season. Walmart as a grocery store had only convenience to recommend it (less driving to other shops--clothing, hardware etc.). The aisles were uncomfortably narrow-- you could not fit two carts down the same aisle. You also have no option to use cloth or paper bags. The cashiers use these spinning plastic bag things that preclude any choice. After visiting this Walmart twice, I stopped. Instead I went to a Kroger then found a Publix. My brother lives near a Kroger--which is located on Charlotte Pike (I went there a couple times but dumped that place for a different Kroger a little farther away--not far from St. Thomas Hospital) and his girlfriend was mugged in the parking lot.

I liked Publix the best even though it took a little longer to get to (it was in Bellevue). It most reminded me of Wegmans which is a regional favorite in upstate NY. I found out that they bulk buy together as a consortium in order to compete with Walmart. You cannot beat the customer service in Wegmans and Publix (at least the one I went to). Wegmans is frequently in the Top Places to Work list.