The Market Basket

Let me begin with some posts found online about the main grocery store, The Market Basket, in Somerville:

"A couple things to know before you go:

-Shop in tandem. If you have a partner they can run the aisles while you wait or negotiate the traffic.
-Watch where you're going. if not, be prepared to be run over by a cart full of food and children.
- There are 16 people before me in line for the deli.. some folks said they took a number, shopped the whole store, and are still waiting! If this place has an occupancy limit, I'm sure its exceeded!
-be prepared to deal with screaming children, grocery carts blocking lanes, and family reunions in the center of the produce department.

Do not go to Market Basket if:
- You are claustrophobic
- You need to be by your cart at all times, or you get severe cart-rage when people park their carts horizontally in the vertical aisles (and people will do this nonchalantly)
- You are in a hurry
- You are shopping on a Sunday morning or late weekday afternoon

This is a tough one. I definitely have mixed feelings about this store. They do carry decent items at prices that I feel comfortable with. But man, is this place crowded. Moving around in there with a shopping cart can be a nightmare sometimes. The same story with their parking situation. It's like playing musical chairs. The only difference is that this is not a game and people yell at you for beating them to an open spot."

Yes, this is ALL true. But, it's down the street, and I would venture to say that some of the prices are cheaper than good old Walmart-- particularly cereal. Anyhow, one of my colleauges said, "I won't judge you if you go somewhere else, but MB is the place to go." So it is, and that's where we shop :) As anyone in the Boston area will tell you, it really is an experience. You've not been grocery shopping until you've been to the Market Basket. Enjoy :)