whole foods
There's a Whole Foods in the Garden District. I don't go in there to shop very often (maybe once or twice a year) because it's clear across town and i have a decent grocery within walking distance of where i live, but i do have to go in there every now and again because it's the only place that sells the hair texturizer i use which i'm fairly picky about.
i went there yesterday to pick up said texturizer and a few other random supplies, and as i walked around and took in the environment - the kinds of products, the way the store was organized, the look and feel of the people that were shopping there - i couldn't shake this smug air about the whole place. A kind of high-class "the world would be a much better place if everyone shopped or worked at Whole Foods like I do" sort of vibe. I felt very much like a foreigner and outsider to the atmosphere, and afterwards i kind of felt the urge to take a mental shower.
I don't think that this is reflective entirely of Whole Foods as a grocery and brand more than a product of this particular Whole Foods being in the rich neighborhood of new orleans. i don't *think* i've gotten that vibe (or at least to that degree) from other Whole Foods i've visited, but the experience i had at this one makes me want to visit other ones for the express purpose of seeing how uncomfortable it makes me.
in any case, i'm probably going to start buying that hair texturizer online.