re: Alexander's Market Opening Today in Baton Rouge

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And from what I saw today its mediocre.

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It's far from mediocre in this market. You seem to have a vendetta against them because you lost out on the construction contract.

Went tonight and left pleased. I found a good handful of items that I haven't seen elsewhere. The beer selection seemed pretty good considering the space dedicated to it. I don't think they will have any trouble thriving in that location.

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That's the best thing they've got going for them.

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That is a pretty killer location. Close to lots of money and a relatively affluent Ascension population who commutes into BR M-F and can easily have that store on their route. I walked the whole store tonight and I think they did a really good job with selection.

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Calvin's and Maxwells

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Will be just fine.

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to say this is going to close down others is stupid

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yep

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And what would you know about me losing anything? You have no idea what you are talking about.

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Didn't you once post something along the lines of you had the blue prints because bid on the GC contract, Two Guys in shorts won it, etc.?

eta: found it, maybe not the GC contract but you bid on something on the project

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I have a set in my office. Apparently I wasn't low bidder.Which at the rate it's getting built is a very good thing.

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LINK

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Competition is good and I hope all close take notice

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Absolutely. Alexander's is nice, but would be nothing more than any other neighborhood market inside the Houston loop. Alexander's plus the arrival of Rouses and eventually Trader Joe's will cause everyone to raise their game.

Basically agree with urinetrouble's..

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Just checked it out. Very nice place. It's basically a nice AG store on the aisles, but a lot of specialty items along the periphery. The produce looked good. Didn't spend much time scrutinizing everything they offer, but looks like a place where you could do regular shopping and find those specialty items you can't get at basic grocery stores. The coffee shop is a nice addition, along with outdoor seating similar to Whole Foods. The beer selection is pretty decent. It's no Calandro's, but it's definitely way better than Albertson's or Winn-Dixie. Wine selection appeared to be better.

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Disagree with RJP.'s..

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Don't know a whole lot about the grocery business, but I was extremely impressed.

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It is nothing more than a Associated Grocer in Pig Lipstick, the beautiful building, facade, walls, down the aisles, a cleaner and less dated Hi-Nabor, yet lacking say even the slightly more nuanced individual AG store deli offerings of Dale and Ernie Matherne's locations. Light years behind Calandro's meat dept run by Mr Carlino, and/or their liqour sections. It is basically a convenience store versioned AG store for Santa Maria, CCLA, etc..

Local deep pockets will pay for the proxy and speed, but they have a ways to go in matching say Calvin's sophistication and plethora of offerings to the Bocage, Goodwood, Tara, and Jefferson crowd.

Sanderson Farm meats for your grand opening meat sales? $4.29 a bottle Santa Cruz lemonades? Same old Kraft dressings and sauces sale prices found at any AG store,etc..

Carries some frozen gumbo, shrimp and corn, and meatball and sauce, yet doesn't appear to the eye on par with Maxwell's sophistication in prepared offerings( I will try Alexander's offerings soon).

Future competition from Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, etc..as they locate second locations out to Highland, Prairieville, in Long Farm TND, etc..

Let alone locals that appear stronger in say Calandro's, Calvin's,etc..are on another level as of now.

I left without a purchase, and went to Fresh Market.

Just bought some kale at Colandro's

Went last night, bought some sushi and some commemorative fat tire bottles. The guy working by the butcher (not the butcher) told me he goes to LCI and was very knowledgeable about food in general. Another guy approached us and said that if you purchase meat from there they will cook it for you for free. I like to cook my own meat, but asked if they would smoke something for 10 hours for me and he said that would be no problem. Their local beer selection looked pretty good too. I'll definitely go back.

The customer service is what impressed me the most. I hope they can keep that up.

Heard they were giving away free bread today if that sing customer service I don't know what is.

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It's far from mediocre in this market. You seem to have a vendetta against them because you lost out on the construction contract.

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I have unrealistic expectations after going to a Wegman's outside Philly. Every time a new store opens, I hope it's like a Wegman's and, so far, nothing down here comes close.

Wegman's is like a Whole Foods, but its shelves are stocked with regular stuff too, so you can do all your shopping. Plus, on top of all the other food counters (bakery, deli, sushi, pizza, etc.) it has a bar and grill. Yes a bar. You can sit and drink a beer while your wife picks up tampons and corn flakes.

Anyway, the closest I've seen to a Wegman's are the HEB Central Markets in Texas, but they aren't quite as nice. Whole Foods is similar, but what's cool about Wegman's and, for that matter, Central Market is you can get all the specialty items you want and you don't have to stop at Winn Dixie on the way home to pick up your "normal" groceries that are either not available at Whole Foods, are way more expensive or come in some Whole Foods house version.

Alexander's isn't quite there, but it's pretty close. It's not Whole Foods, but I like it more than Calandro's and Calvin's.