Comments on: Grocery stores as social spaces http://peoplesgrocery.org/brahm/peoples-grocery/grocery-stores-as-social-spaces Brahm Ahmadi's Personal Blog Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:21:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.1 by: Brahm http://peoplesgrocery.org/brahm/peoples-grocery/grocery-stores-as-social-spaces#comment-3012 Mon, 05 Nov 2007 19:18:48 +0000 http://peoplesgrocery.org/brahm/peoples-grocery/grocery-stores-as-social-spaces#comment-3012 Ken, your experience at the smaller, locally-owned stores in Japan is exactly the kind of business model that we're promoting as the best for supporting an active and connected community experience. It's become a rare opportunity to actually know the owner of a business first hand and even more rare to have a real relationship with them. The big box stores that dominant the retail landscape are relatively anonymous and void of much real personal connection. As consumers we've traded in the relationships, the social experiences and integrity of small businesses in order to have access to lots of cheap and convenient products. I think many people are know beginning to question this and are desiring a more meaningful experience that offers a sense of community and caring. We want to bring these qualities back through the People's Grocery Market. Ken, your experience at the smaller, locally-owned stores in Japan is exactly the kind of business model that we’re promoting as the best for supporting an active and connected community experience. It’s become a rare opportunity to actually know the owner of a business first hand and even more rare to have a real relationship with them. The big box stores that dominant the retail landscape are relatively anonymous and void of much real personal connection. As consumers we’ve traded in the relationships, the social experiences and integrity of small businesses in order to have access to lots of cheap and convenient products. I think many people are know beginning to question this and are desiring a more meaningful experience that offers a sense of community and caring. We want to bring these qualities back through the People’s Grocery Market.

]]> by: The Ethicurean: Chew the right thing. » Blog Archive » Digest - Blogs: The war on raw milk, providing a social oasis in a food desert http://peoplesgrocery.org/brahm/peoples-grocery/grocery-stores-as-social-spaces#comment-3008 Sun, 04 Nov 2007 23:49:20 +0000 http://peoplesgrocery.org/brahm/peoples-grocery/grocery-stores-as-social-spaces#comment-3008 [...] The corner grocery: The driving force behind People’s Grocery says the food-justice group (which we heart bigtime) plans to make its new West Oakland food market more like the local liquor stores than a suburban supermarket. (Brahm’s Blog) [...] […] The corner grocery: The driving force behind People’s Grocery says the food-justice group (which we heart bigtime) plans to make its new West Oakland food market more like the local liquor stores than a suburban supermarket. (Brahm’s Blog) […]

]]> by: Ken http://peoplesgrocery.org/brahm/peoples-grocery/grocery-stores-as-social-spaces#comment-3007 Sun, 04 Nov 2007 19:02:18 +0000 http://peoplesgrocery.org/brahm/peoples-grocery/grocery-stores-as-social-spaces#comment-3007 Agree with this. I was in a chinese restaurant in south bay yesterday and it was jam packed, not one table left. There were also 5 versions of menu posted on the wall, including photos, which was pretty confusing. But if the place were one table bigger, or had a simple menu, it wouldn't be Chinese! When I lived in Japan, there were big supermarkets with not much interaction, smaller groceries, and then small shops where I knew the owner and she'd hook me up with deals on fruit, or whatever. I went more often in Japan, having a smaller fridge, and it was convenient b/c all the stores were on one main street leading out from a train station, so I could bike and hit them all up at once. Good luck with your WO store! I bet after you put it in, property values will go up and outsiders will start wanting to move in more. Not necessarily bad. Now, to get rid of the smelly cancerous auto-sewers! ("free"ways) Agree with this. I was in a chinese restaurant in south bay yesterday and it was jam packed, not one table left. There were also 5 versions of menu posted on the wall, including photos, which was pretty confusing. But if the place were one table bigger, or had a simple menu, it wouldn’t be Chinese!

When I lived in Japan, there were big supermarkets with not much interaction, smaller groceries, and then small shops where I knew the owner and she’d hook me up with deals on fruit, or whatever. I went more often in Japan, having a smaller fridge, and it was convenient b/c all the stores were on one main street leading out from a train station, so I could bike and hit them all up at once.

Good luck with your WO store! I bet after you put it in, property values will go up and outsiders will start wanting to move in more. Not necessarily bad. Now, to get rid of the smelly cancerous auto-sewers! (”free”ways)

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