I have been a Whole Foods shopper for years, however the Madison Whole Foods is making search for new options. :(
First - it is much too small. Why hasn't WF corporate gotten their act together and bought/built a bigger store in the Madison area?? Madison is full of people who want to eat well - and this tiny store, which has been here forever, is just not cutting it. Trying to maneuver around the produce section is kind of like playing Pac-Man - you have to keep changing directions until you finally find a way out, because there isn't room for more than a single cart in any of the sections. Trying to get around with a couple of kids + your cart?? Insanity.
Second - because it is tiny, they just don't have any many great options that other Whole Food locations have. I was spoiled by living in IL within a 20 minute drive of 3 different WF stores, all of which were bigger with better selections of both packaged and fresh products. I know I have high standards, but I think the people of Madison deserve a little more!!
Finally, the last time I went, I was sorely disappointed in the number of organic produce options, in fact, I think I found a bag of organic apples. That was IT. No organic strawberries, blueberries, or bananas, which should really be a given. While I appreciate the high standards the Whole Foods uses to select its produce providers, I would still rather go to Metcalf's or the Co-op and get the organic variety.
The saving grace of this Whole Foods is its super friendly and helpful employees. Because I am new to the area, I still inevitably get stuck finding at least one thing every time I go. Each time a personable employee has helped me locate exactly what I was looking for. The check out people and baggers are always incredibly friendly. I even had the nicest woman EVER help me get my bags into my car one of those crazy -20 days in the middle of winter, in spite of me assuring her I was okay. The service there is truly wonderful.
Sadly, however, I think my time as an exclusive WF shopper are over unless the powers that be decide to find a bigger, better location for the Madison area.