Submitted by theovertalker t3_109itkk in providence
Shelves are pretty bare, veggies are old.
Comments
WafflesTheBadger t1_j4045fh wrote
Their quality & sourcing has been going downhill for a long while. Community-owned co-ops usually are to make it easier and/or more affordable to get local and/or organic food.
The local selection tends to be inconsistent and many times I'll see non-local products when I can buy from a local farm for the same price or less.
Prices aren't great. I can get Narragansett Creamery and Wright's Dairy Farm cheaper at numerous other places (and it's easy enough to get those products at Farm Fresh on Saturdays).
The long-time GM, John Santos, left and any semblance of quality went with him. I'm not sure who took his place.
Add in accusations of discrimination against LGBTQ+ employees.
Member-owners tend to just opt for the life-time option so it's not like they have a steady stream of membership dues. Sales are down overall because of the previous bullet points I mentioned so they can't really afford to restock, especially on fresh product.
Oh and there's nothing the community can really do because the bylaws really limit the powers that board members & member-owners have. Member-owners can vote in board member elections + volunteer for events. Board members can communicate concerns or requests to the GM but the GM has the ultimate authority when it comes to sourcing decisions and store promotions.
theovertalker OP t1_j41bce6 wrote
Great insights, thank you.
[deleted] t1_j43q0mp wrote
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listen_youse t1_j3ynpgn wrote
just guessing they lost someeast side customers wishing to avoid whole foods when trader joes opened.
also guessing some suppliers put them on cash-in-advance
Beatcanks t1_j481r3n wrote
This place is having the worst identity crisis ever. Do you want to be a community market catering to the low income residents in the neighborhood, or are you trying to be a gourmet market with 20 different kinds of oat milk? Which is it?
Double_Farmer_2662 t1_j48w1q3 wrote
Agree!! It’s so expensive to shop there, but so close to home. I usually do bigger grocery shopping elsewhere and then run there during the week for fresh items or things I forgot.
Good-Expression-4433 t1_j3yjkyb wrote
Bad press and have definitely been seeing less people when I've gone for quick runs. Might be struggling a bit.
LilOrganicCoconut t1_j3z10wi wrote
I also think rising food costs are hitting them heavy - they have a lot of bougie brands so it’s not like a Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods where I can still get affordable, generic pantry staples and stuff.
thehillshaveI t1_j3yvmgc wrote
i got chicken thighs there the other day with pieces on it i've never seen on a properly butchered chicken in my life. stuff has not been good
Lonnie_Shelton t1_j3zrmi3 wrote
I got some great veggies there last week and it was pretty busy.
lestermagnum t1_j3yiver wrote
They’ve been getting a bit of bad press recently
OutlandishnessNo7283 t1_j3zmsra wrote
What’s the gist? Article is paywalled:(.
MonicaPVD t1_j413icl wrote
General manager was an asshole. General manager was fired. Problem solved. Actually, that article is one of the most poorly written pieces of journalism I've read in a long time.
BabyTooph t1_j41w9vm wrote
Wait, was the transphobic, alcoholic manager who got fired the gm in referenced the top comment??? (The one who “any semblance of quality left with him”)
I’d imagine it’s more a storm of - pandemic induced issues, money is tight, trader joes is open, farm fresh’s new(ish) building cuts the middle man, and finally yes, bad press.
princess_carolynn t1_j40nfr1 wrote
>https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/local/2022/10/20/urban-greens-providence-ri-workers-complaint-discriminatory-environment/8175622001/
Someone in management was misgendering LGBTQ+ workers and there was an incident where a worker was stealing some food and the manager shoved them into the doors so they couldn't leave with 40 dollars worth of food. Also complaints of when HR complaints were made, they were completely ignored. General manager also reported by former employees as being drunk on the job more than once. non-binary worker also reported issues with management on whether they wore a dress or slacks to work.
lightningbolt1987 t1_j4fg7uv wrote
I wouldn’t expect a food coop to be cheaper. I would expect to pay Whole Foods prices for more local items and to support a community-owned (vs Amazon-owned) grocery store. I always assumed the customers were just west and south siders because it’s the only option in the neighborhood for those communities.
GoxBoxSocks t1_j3z1vyp wrote
I think the crowd that usually shopped there for convenience and to support local food sources no longer have the flexible income to do so with current market prices.
Just a guess. It's certainly why I'm at Aldi's and S&S more than Urban lately.