Well, the bloom is off the rose.
When Publix first opened, it was fabulous, Specifically, the fresh bread, deli sandwiches made to order, unusual gourmet brands, and produce.
Now, they've cut back on the deli sandwiches, and not only do they take forever to make, they're not as good as they used to be.The premade pizza dough used to be great, now it's hard and old. The produce used to be fantastic, now it's simply overpriced. Can't get a decent tomato there to save your life...the grape tomatoes inside those little sealed containers are always soft and gross. And a bag of granny smith apples last week cost $5.99 at Publix and $3.99 at Food Lion, and I think those were the regular prices.
Honestly, Food Lion has seemed to up their game to compete. They've got a lot of new specialty items in the deli. The quality of their produce, which used to be a very low grade, seems to have improved, and the prices are much, much lower than Publix.
I was never in the habit of going to Harris Teeter, but I think I will. Publix is so ridiculously overpriced, and it just can't be justified anymore. I don't care how nice their employees are; there are nice employees at FL and HT too.