Your local ethnic shops...

Gooshin · 03-09-2010, 12:26 PM

This is a question for those of you that go to "ethnic" grocery/specialty stores of your nationality/background.

There is a time where i have to drop by a Russian store to pick up some food items not normally found in a typical mega-mart type food store.

However my experience has always been a negative one. The shops are always cluttered and poorly maintained, i feel dirty while inside. The staff are the worst example of what a Russian is, they look horrible and their dialect clearly indicates either a lack of formal education or that they are from the boonies of the ex-soviet land.

Makes me shudder every time i interact with them. Even back home, i would only bump into these these types in some land-fill type of open market outside the city limits..

but that is my experience..

Those of you who are Italian, Chinese, Arabic.. do you have similar experiences when you go to your "home" stores?

curious...

graphicgr8s · 03-09-2010, 12:49 PM

Originally posted by Gooshin

This is a question for those of you that go to "ethnic" grocery/specialty stores of your nationality/background.

There is a time where i have to drop by a Russian store to pick up some food items not normally found in a typical mega-mart type food store.

However my experience has always been a negative one. The shops are always cluttered and poorly maintained, i feel dirty while inside. The staff are the worst example of what a Russian is, they look horrible and their dialect clearly indicates either a lack of formal education or that they are from the boonies of the ex-soviet land.

Makes me shudder every time i interact with them. Even back home, i would only bump into these these types in some land-fill type of open market outside the city limits..

but that is my experience..

Those of you who are Italian, Chinese, Arabic.. do you have similar experiences when you go to your "home" stores?

curious...

Well there aren't too many Russian stores by me that I know of but in general the Italian store I go to is pleasant enough. Even the Italian stores I go to when I am back up in NY in Little Italy are pretty good. And seems like a few of the people I saw as a kid are still there. Older but still there.

Nesster · 03-09-2010, 12:56 PM

You're probably not talking about a place like this one:
Russ and Daughters

Blaze · 03-09-2010, 04:40 PM

Originally posted by Gooshin

There is a time where i have to drop by a Russian store to pick up some food items not normally found in a typical mega-mart type food store.

However my experience has always been a negative one. The shops are always cluttered and poorly maintained, i feel dirty while inside.

I buy white (like in non-kosher

) meat in a Russian supermarket. The staff's efficiency is below zero, most of their shopping carts are from other chains, there's always some alcoholic trying to squeeze himself in front of you. Makes me feel home

The butcher is really cool though

Ira · 03-09-2010, 05:30 PM

Could cultural differences have anything to do with this at all? And why are you surprised by this?

Would you like every store to be like 7-11, God forbid?

---------- Post added 03-09-2010 at 05:35 PM ----------

Originally posted by Nesster

You're probably not talking about a place like this one:
Russ and Daughters

The Food, Travel, or one of the other generic channels did a segment on this place, but it's been run by first generation Americans (sons, duaghters, cousins, etc.) since Grandpa first stepped off the boat and opened it, so not a great example.

If the United States had more of these kinds of shops dedicated to quality and service, it would be a much better place. Problem is, too much work, and after the first generation or two, they sell it to the highest bidder.

03-09-2010, 12:26 PM	#1
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	Your local ethnic shops... This is a question for those of you that go to "ethnic" grocery/specialty stores of your nationality/background. There is a time where i have to drop by a Russian store to pick up some food items not normally found in a typical mega-mart type food store. However my experience has always been a negative one. The shops are always cluttered and poorly maintained, i feel dirty while inside. The staff are the worst example of what a Russian is, they look horrible and their dialect clearly indicates either a lack of formal education or that they are from the boonies of the ex-soviet land. Makes me shudder every time i interact with them. Even back home, i would only bump into these these types in some land-fill type of open market outside the city limits.. but that is my experience.. Those of you who are Italian, Chinese, Arabic.. do you have similar experiences when you go to your "home" stores? curious...

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03-09-2010, 12:49 PM	#2
graphicgr8s Guest	Originally posted by Gooshin This is a question for those of you that go to "ethnic" grocery/specialty stores of your nationality/background. There is a time where i have to drop by a Russian store to pick up some food items not normally found in a typical mega-mart type food store. However my experience has always been a negative one. The shops are always cluttered and poorly maintained, i feel dirty while inside. The staff are the worst example of what a Russian is, they look horrible and their dialect clearly indicates either a lack of formal education or that they are from the boonies of the ex-soviet land. Makes me shudder every time i interact with them. Even back home, i would only bump into these these types in some land-fill type of open market outside the city limits.. but that is my experience.. Those of you who are Italian, Chinese, Arabic.. do you have similar experiences when you go to your "home" stores? curious... Well there aren't too many Russian stores by me that I know of but in general the Italian store I go to is pleasant enough. Even the Italian stores I go to when I am back up in NY in Little Italy are pretty good. And seems like a few of the people I saw as a kid are still there. Older but still there.

03-09-2010, 12:56 PM	#3
Nesster Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 13,072	You're probably not talking about a place like this one: Russ and Daughters

03-09-2010, 04:40 PM	#4
Blaze Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Israel Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 124	Originally posted by Gooshin There is a time where i have to drop by a Russian store to pick up some food items not normally found in a typical mega-mart type food store. However my experience has always been a negative one. The shops are always cluttered and poorly maintained, i feel dirty while inside. I buy white (like in non-kosher ) meat in a Russian supermarket. The staff's efficiency is below zero, most of their shopping carts are from other chains, there's always some alcoholic trying to squeeze himself in front of you. Makes me feel home The butcher is really cool though

03-09-2010, 05:30 PM	#5
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	Could cultural differences have anything to do with this at all? And why are you surprised by this? Would you like every store to be like 7-11, God forbid? ---------- Post added 03-09-2010 at 05:35 PM ---------- Originally posted by Nesster You're probably not talking about a place like this one: Russ and Daughters The Food, Travel, or one of the other generic channels did a segment on this place, but it's been run by first generation Americans (sons, duaghters, cousins, etc.) since Grandpa first stepped off the boat and opened it, so not a great example. If the United States had more of these kinds of shops dedicated to quality and service, it would be a much better place. Problem is, too much work, and after the first generation or two, they sell it to the highest bidder.