Shopping at the UnSafeway
It takes commitment to support my local inner city grocery store. It is really important to support businesses in the city, especially grocery stores. It helps the poorer population by giving them places to buy good food which can help public health type things and provided decent jobs for people. It helps reinvigorate neighborhoods and raises property values. The city spends a lot of time trying to bring grocery stores to the city.
That being said, it can be really hard. I went shopping today and there are a number of things that are really different from a suburban grocery store or even a store in a more affluent part of the city. Things that I regulary experience at my (un)Safeway:
- people trying to sell me their food stamps (which seriously makes me want to cry)
- people asking for change (although this often happens in conjunction with them offering to help me with my groceries)
- less variety than other grocery stores
- a prominently located security guard at the door
- really long lines at the register because they can only staff a few cashiers at a time.
On the other hand, parking spaces are really easy to find.
That being said, it can be really hard. I went shopping today and there are a number of things that are really different from a suburban grocery store or even a store in a more affluent part of the city. Things that I regulary experience at my (un)Safeway:
- people trying to sell me their food stamps (which seriously makes me want to cry)
- people asking for change (although this often happens in conjunction with them offering to help me with my groceries)
- less variety than other grocery stores
- a prominently located security guard at the door
- really long lines at the register because they can only staff a few cashiers at a time.
On the other hand, parking spaces are really easy to find.