Whole Foods Market Memphis vs Chicago

What is most interesting about this escalator is it's location. It is inside a Whole Foods Market in Chicago. A rather brilliant adaption to an old building in a highly populated area where little parking is available.

The ride up the escalator leads to the parking areas on the second and third floor. That's right a three story Whole Foods Market! Further ingenuity is the little escalator to the left for your shopping cart.

The ground floor is immense. For Memphians think Krogers on Mendenhall and then think a bit larger than that. The store has everything grocery and in large quantity. A small bar that serves beer and food is called the Red Star bar. A large beer and wine section is included.

The prepared food departments make available several circular bistro counters with ethnic themes for in store dining. Foods types include a deli, Asian, burgers, pizza, BBQ , sushi, salad bar, olive bar and wine bar. The upper floors are mostly for parking but the second floor has some dining areas. At my visit I noticed a large number of customers about equally made up of diners and shoppers.

I discovered this market while visiting another Whole Foods Market near my hotel which was in the Chicago suburbs. It also was huge. I commented to the cashier that I was from Memphis and this was considerably larger than our one Whole Foods Market. To which she replied that this was the second largest Whole Foods Market in the Midwest. The largest being the one described above which is in the Lincoln Park section of Chicago close to their downtown.

After my feeling of awe on my visit to the Lincoln Park Whole Foods came a feeling of being rather unloved by Whole Food Memphis. Granted our market cannot support the number and size of the Whole Foods in Chicago. Yet even with the enlargement in process of our one Whole Foods we will still fall short of the mark of even one of the Chicago stores.

And would not a smaller version of the Lincoln Park Whole Foods work marvelously in downtown Memphis! In which exists the need for a sizable grocery. What about midtowners? They must drive to East Memphis to shop at a Whole Foods. So what would be the answer to the question of Memphis supporting three Whole Food Markets of the smaller kind?

Whole Foods Market stock shows a steady, healthy organic  growth over the past year. A September 23rd MarketWatch article picks Whole Foods as one of 10 of "America's fasted-growing retailers".     In their analysis they say of Whole Foods

                     "For years, the company’s growth has been due in part

                      to its promotion of organic products, which have increased

                      in popularity. Now, the company hopes to grow further

                      offering lower cost items to consumers who are more

                      price-sensitive. To prevent this plan from cutting into its
                              profit margins, the company is also expanding more into
                              areas where it can buy or lease smaller spaces at a lower cost."

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/americas-fastest-growing-retailers-2013-09-23

Ok yes because that says Memphis all over it!

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/lincolnpark

There is a lesson in here somewhere

While wandering through the Yukon I observed more than once pictures like this one. Therefore this is not a singular occurrence. To quote Cool Hand Luke "what we have here is a failure to communicate". Two bull moose get in a territorial dispute and start butting heads.

Sometimes they lock and the unfortunate moose can not unlock them. The result is a death by starvation or being eaten by lesser predators taking advantage of the situation.

Note in the background of this picture the photograph of the full skeleton's of the moose. Some conflicts are futile and some noble. However before entering one it is best to think it through to keep from locking your horns up and not being able to undo that action.

"The Testicular Imperative"

The following words of wisdom are taken from an interview of Colin Fletcher by Mark Jenkins in Backpacker Magazine, July 1988,page 32.

Colin Fletcher was a legendary backpacker and prolific writer. His book "The Man Who Walked Through Time" chronicled his hike from rim to rim of the Grand Canyon. He authored numerous other books including "The Complete Walker" which in my opinion still is the greatest source of practical advice on backpacking and equipment.

Now back to the interview. Fletcher says ....

"Listen it's really quite simple. Walking gives me perspective. To me the idea that a beautiful grove of trees is like a cathedral is a lot of crap. The cathedral is like a grove of trees. Tisn't so much walking. It's what walking puts you in touch with.

Comes down to this: Either you got the world by them, or it's got you by them. You go out for a walk, a long walk, or just up the hill, and it loosens its grasp. You've wrenched them free. It's the testicular imperative."

Bowling Green Kentucky

If you have some extra time while passing through Bowling Green Kentucky then stop at the National Corvette Museum. It has an impressive selection of Corvettes representing the history of the car. There is also a gift shop which when I was there allowed entrance without paying the fee for the museum. The museum is located at 350 Corvette Drive, Bowling Green Kentucky 42101 which is off exit 28 on I 65. 1-800-53-VETTE.

DC Dining

One of my favorite cities is DC. I have had quite a few business trips there but always make time to check out the many sites of this city. Despite numerous trips I still have a lot to see. I always try to make it to DuPont Circle for a dinner. Georgetown is usually total bumper to bumper, people to people traffic. I was recently in DC and tried for the first time "The Front Page" located near DuPont Circle. The food was very good and not terribly expensive. Another great restaurant is located inside the bookstore Kramer Books. This is very popular place and usually full but worth the wait. At least you can browse the bookstore while waiting for a table.

Detroit Airport

Recently I had a couple of hours layover at the Detroit Airport. I decided to head over to Concourse A from B/C to get something to eat. It was there I encountered the "light tunnel". This was a real perk me up for a weary traveler. It's a long tunnel with moving sidewalks except the colors change while listening to ambient "space music". Then add the effects of the depth of field of a long tunnel and the echo quality for the music. Nice!

Freeport Maine

If you headed north after arriving in Portland Maine's airport here is your first stop. The little town of Freeport Maine that takes a couple of days to visit. Home of the 24/7 LL Bean Flagship Store plus numerous factory outlet stores.

Here is a short article I wrote about Freeport



www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/jan/20/reader-travelogue-ll-bean-fans-shouldnt-miss/