I have a love/hate relationship with The Big Carrot.
Love:
1) I can buy small portions of meat that was raised well for a decent price (not like the $18 monster packages of chicken at the regular supermarket).
2) Sprouted tofu close to home
3) Juice bar next door for the days I'm too lazy to clean the juicer at home
4) Raw and paleo products for when I get in my fad-diet moods (those paleo wraps are delicious, but soooooo overpriced)
5) Pretty much the whole product line of Tofurky. My guilty pleasure secret love.
Hate:
1) Overpriced on almost everything. There is a competitor a couple blocks down that sells most of the same stuff but cheaper. I only come back here for the better selection.
2) Severe lack of grass-fed beef.
3) Most self-absorbed patrons in the city. I've never seen so many people just stop in the middle of the aisle blocking half with the cart, half with the body and refusing to move despite the line up of five people trying to get by in each direction.
4) Staff are entirely uninterested. The customer service desk is the only place you might see a glimmer of life. The people stocking shelves don't make eye contact. The cashiers don't bother with hello, goodbye, please, or thank you. Not really the friendly neighbourhood vibe I imagined the place would have.
I plan to keep shopping there but there's definitely room for improvement.