Whole Foods Market

Reviews 4

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T Ko

I like Whole Foods, I really do. Sure, some of the stuff is overpriced but for the variety all contained in one store, I feel its unmatched. The combination of grocery store and prepared foods is pretty great. I am always amazed by some product or offering I see here. When you first walk in you walk past beautiful floral arrangements and some plants (depending) like orchids. I have purchased flowers here on several occasions and find them to be fresh. In addition, the purchase of some particular arrangements. Need its the communities which they come from. They also utilize sustainable practices for the flowers. The store has a nice assortment of prepared foods, both buffet style and in the refrigerated cases. There is something for every taste or dietary restriction. I am frequently impressed by the ethnic food they carry, as well as homestyle meal or meal components. There are always several types of hot soups available, a few of which are vegetarian or vegan. Take away rotisserie chickens are available as gourmet sandwiches, empanadas (sourced from Florida company), pizzas (can be made vegan), sushi, and other Asian accompaniments (calamari salad, dumplings, etc.). The refrigerated section adjacent from the food section also stocks some locally made prepared foods such as middle eastern foods in addition to their house made salads, side dishes, and refrigerated soups. The pastry section is worth checking out and you can find something pretty awesome so satisfy your craving in the grab and go section. My favorite is the vegan chocolate chip oatmeal cookie. I cant resist one nearly every time I visit. There are many types of pastries to choose from in the help yourself area and also a free standing cabinet of cookies and goodies to mix and match. This store also has a bar which serves beer and wine and you can sit and eat gelato at it as well. The cheese selection is impressive and you can find accoutrements for your cheese right there in the section. If youre lucky, there will be a cheese sample. If you check the schedule, you can hit a cheese tasting there where the head cheese discusses about specific cheese selections. There are some really nice looking desserts to take home in the case as well as fresh bread made in store. There is an olive and small appetizer bar area where you can scoop your selections into clear containers and are sold by weight. There is a craft beer section with a variety of offerings. The wine nook has great selections as well. I have discovered some interesting and good labels there. The seafood section is pretty awesome and the meat counter has a wide variety of cuts and kinds. There is also frozen seafood and meat available. Seafood can be prepared for you while you wait! There are bulk food bins which makes shopping for little or mass quantities of something easy (nuts, quinoa, flours, etc). There is also a natural wholistic part of the store which some neat and helpful items are stocked. I have utilized this section for different topical methods of healing and also for skin care and have not been disappointed. The staff there is knowledgeable and very helpful. I have never had a bad or improper shopping experience here. The customer service team really shines and wants to accommodate the customer. At this store, "the customer is always right". On one recent occasion when my spouse was at the register the advertised price didnt ring up and he ended up getting the item for free! Check the store sales online before you go and pick up a coupon book near the entrance to be aware of the sales and promotions.

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A Private User

This is a Whole Foods Market because its called that way, not because it has any resemblance with a real Whole Foods Market. We have been in various Whole Foods Markets around the country and they dont look anything like this one. In California, New York, New Jersey, Texas, or even other locations in Florida, it is a pleasure to shop to Whole Foods and the stores are so nice and beautifully designed and decorated. This store is a bad replica of an original. If you feel like being treated rude while spending a lot of money, than this is the place for you to come! Even ordering a sandwich can be a nightmare, when a person that is extremely busy in the back of the store comes to greet you and looks almost disgusted and uninterested to prepare you a sandwich. The employees that work at this location are unique to the chain; we have never been in another Whole Foods and being treated like this. The corporate office should come and visit this location and see how a customer is treated from the time he enters the store until he leaves the store. This Whole Foods in Tampa does not live up to the expectations of other Whole Foods that we have been in. Yes, you do find organic products, yes, you do find similar products that they carry at other locations in the country, but you are not treated with respect and the employees seem to have one goal and one goal only: to fulfill their duties and not keep in mind that the customer is the number 1 priority. This Whole Foods location in Tampa needs a fresh start, a complete makeover; it would benefit the business and it would help people like us to enjoy their time while shopping here.

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A Private User

Seriously, I think Rick Anna and Mike work for Publix, Rollin Oats, Fresh Market or some other competitor. The service here is great. If anything its the other shoppers who are rude. My one complaint is not about the store itself, but the plaza its in. The parking stinks, and getting in and out of there (the plaza) is time consuming, stressful and sometimes dangerous. I have never had to bag my own groceries, or even put them in my cart for that matter. The employees are always respectful, and the store is kept clean and organized. I never have a problem getting what I need as they always have plenty of stock. You are going to spend a lot of money here, but thats because the food you are buying is different. Im a huge food snob, especially when it comes to quality, and Whole Foods is one of the only places I will shop. Grass fed beef is expensive anywhere. I expect that and Im willing to pay for it. Their organic produce is fairly priced and there is a good variety. Love the allegro brand of coffee. Their seafood counter isnt bad, but you can do better elsewhere. To sum it all up, I actually look forward to shopping here on a weekly basis. My kids would agree. Cant wait for them to put the new one in up here in North Tampa next year so I dont have to deal with that plaza anymore.

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MI

Michael Jerryson

I have been a weekly customer to this Whole Foods store for the last three years. They have wonderful samples out of cheeses, fruit, vegetables and snacks (particularly on Saturdays and Sundays), which makes it easy for me to come with my two young children. The deli has fantastic pizza (a slice of cheese pizza is only $1.99 and a personal pizza with your choice of toppings is $5.99). The butcher area has fantastic meat from local/regional locations. They can tell you where all their meat came from, the quality of the animals life, and guarantee organic (or in the case of beef, grass fed) standards. Like most Whole Foods, this is not a place to buy regular or mainstream processed foods, as they are more expensive than other places. However, their 365 brand is very reasonable priced, in-season fruits and vegetables are great, and their sales make it well-worth while. Its like Food Inc. said, we vote when we buy. Just this Fall, a new Whole Foods was opened about 20 minutes away from this one and some really great employees left to staff the new location. In some ways, this Whole Foods is still back to its former glory in this regard. However, their customer service is still top rate.

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