what's the latest word with that joint? i have not patronized it since a couple weeks after it opened. although i still see it's not drawing a lot O shoppers. i'd guess 50% of the cars parked in the lot are employee cars most of the time. rare that i see it with a full lot. giant lot is 75% full and the old FM is limping along at maybe 15%. even talked with norm a couple weeks ago asking if he's seen any increased biz since it opened up....a big negative.

i still think the FM will be riding off into the sunset by years end.

what say you all?

I live in Vienna, and am yet to set foot in the place...I guess that shows my level of curiosity and enthusiasm...

The place sucks. I live in Vienna and the beer selection at FM is the same as Giant, only more expensive. No one goes to FM as the price and selection are terrible.

curiosity, and desperation, got the better of me yesterday. i actually went into the FM after 6 months of abstinence last evening around 5:30.

i was looking for some form of roasted garlic, either fresh or pre-packaged, since i'm a lazy no pre-planning donkey and didnt roast my own here. lo and behold, the FM came through! too bad it was the same group that makes the other jarred garlic that the giant sells, on the big G didnt carry the roasted iteration.

maybe 15 shoppers in the store, in total. when i hit the checkout lane, with jar of roasted garlic in hand, i was one of two in line. like it was the first, and only prior time being there, the person in front of me had some issue that required the checker to call for back up.

thankfully, there was another employee who was nice and prompt enough to move me to one of the other 4 open lanes and send me on my merry way.

I do feel bad for the folks that work there, as they're not long for employment, and they all do have a very helpful attitude. so my perverted pleasure in seeing that outfit go out is tempered a little.

i probably would feel different, and shop there more, had they not come in trying to run norm out of town.

norm = long standing neighborhood awesomeness

FM = johnny come lately cash grabber

no secret in which direction my pendulum swings.

well.... Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> curiosity, and desperation, got the better of me
> yesterday. i actually went into the FM after 6
> months of abstinence last evening around 5:30.
>
> i was looking for some form of roasted garlic,
> either fresh or pre-packaged, since i'm a lazy no
> pre-planning donkey and didnt roast my own here.
> lo and behold, the FM came through! too bad it
> was the same group that makes the other jarred
> garlic that the giant sells, on the big G didnt
> carry the roasted iteration.
>
> maybe 15 shoppers in the store, in total. when i
> hit the checkout lane, with jar of roasted garlic
> in hand, i was one of two in line. like it was
> the first, and only prior time being there, the
> person in front of me had some issue that required
> the checker to call for back up.
>
> thankfully, there was another employee who was
> nice and prompt enough to move me to one of the
> other 4 open lanes and send me on my merry way.
>
> I do feel bad for the folks that work there, as
> they're not long for employment, and they all do
> have a very helpful attitude. so my perverted
> pleasure in seeing that outfit go out is tempered
> a little.
>
> i probably would feel different, and shop there
> more, had they not come in trying to run norm out
> of town.
>
> norm = long standing neighborhood awesomeness
>
> FM = johnny come lately cash grabber
>
> no secret in which direction my pendulum swings.


Norm's is locally owned and not a chain. Going to miss them...

Does Fresh Market have sales flyers? I live in Vienna but I've never seen anything from them, and honestly, half the time, I forget they're even there on Branch Road...

I guess a lot of other people have forgotten they're there, too

I do not see that place making it either.

Perhaps since they have done all the work, they have laid the groundwork for a mega Trade Joes!

you might be on to something there....the one over in The Gulch isnt too far away, but depending on rt7/tysons traffic could be a complete debacle. only other TJs i'm aware of, close by, is the one at pickett, and that shopping center is debacle no matter what time of day or night.

a TJs in that location would probably do great business. it seems a little bigger than most of the TJs i recall being in, and they would need to increase the amount of freezer cases 10 fold, LOL, but it could work.

that would for sure be an alternative to snobby fresh fields, ho-hum giant, and third world magruders.

speaking of whole foods, i sometimes wish i drive a POS car that could then T-bone all the ignorant, lazy, self absorbed soccer moms who disregard the "no left turn" sign at the exit on to 123. especially when they do it at rush hour, and block the entire two lanes of 123.

The Fresh Market is a plus if you dont want to fight for a parking space. Ive seen organic produce prices better than whole foods and they run specials. They need to advertise and would be helpful if all tbeir pkgd items were sealed; e.g. nuts or grains in small plastic tubs. Also like convenience that you can practically park at front door.