Yesterday after a lazy afternoon watching The Next Food Network Star marathon, I was inspired to cook and headed to Publix to pick up some ingredients for the chicken tabouleh salad I wanted to make. What a mood killer.
As usual on a Sunday, the store was packed but it has never been so unbearable. I felt like I was in Miami traffic — shoppers cutting in front of others with their carts, blocking intersections not letting others by … I’m not exaggerating. My Food Network inspiration was fading quickly as my frustration grew. The grape tomatoes I needed were 2 for $4, which would’ve been great if they weren’t all rotten. No mint. No parsley. That’s what I get for going to the store at 8 p.m. on Sunday. But I’ll take the scarcity of good produce any time over rude people.
I was happy to reach the express check-out; I was almost out of that madhouse. What I didn’t know was that the worst was yet to come. As a man in a blue shirt walked up to the checkout behind me, a French man (I could tell by his accent) angrily pushed his cart around him and yelled, “I’m not letting you do this to me!” The guy said he didn’t know what he was talking about. “Oh, right, you don’t know what I’m talking about … That’s not fair… bla, bla, bla.” The yelling continued.
I must’ve missed something but here’s what I think happened:
The express checkout was empty and the cashier called the people from the line at the next register. I imagine this happened as I was walking to the register, which is why soon after I walked up, five other people arrived behind me. The French man must have been next in the line he was originally standing in, but he didn’t arrive first, leading him to believe that everyone else who walked up before him was cutting in line.
As I placed my produce on the counter, I looked back trying to figure out what all the yelling was about when he tells me, “you too!” The whole time I thought he was talking to the other guy but evidently he was convinced I had cut in front of him too. I told him I didn’t know what he was talking about. He scoffed and kept babbling. I had already exercised so much patience that I told him to go right ahead, to which he said no. I told him that after yelling at me he better just go. So he did. After paying, he stormed out not even saying thank you. I left that store aggravated, missing several ingredients and with no energy left to channel my inner Food Network star. Chicken tabouleh salad was replaced by boring spaghetti with ground turkey and tomato sauce. And I learned my lesson: thou shall not shop at the Miami Beach Publix on a Sunday evening. Ever. Again.
tags: Publix, Miami Beach, Food Network Star
This is incredible…I never go food shopping on Sundays because I am afraid of that. But I do have a funny story. I like to go food shopping on Mondays. Just to start out the week with a fresh fridge…
Anyways, last Monday after the gym I went to my local Stop and Shop (New England’s version of Publix). I had a lot of food still, but the main thing I wanted to purchase was a gallon of Skim Milk. To my surprise, when I went to the milk section, there was no skim milk. They only had a quart of organic skim milk, which did me no good because I drink milk like a cow. I asked an employee and he gave me an empty look, and proceeded to say “I just got here, my shift just started…I do not know”. I asked another employee and said that probably the truck didn’t bring any, to which my response was “are you guys discriminating against skim milk drinkers???” Then I proceeded to tell a manager, and she apologized for my aggravation, but that was all…no free gift card or anything…I was so upset…that night I had nothing to drink
It’s funny how there are Publixes full of rude people and others not so much. There are two at roughly equal distance from my house, one I go all teh time, the other I avoid like the plague. It has to do with the time as well -yeah, Sunday at 8 pm not much on the shelves. Whenever I have to prepare a recipe calling for smething out of the ordinary, I resign myself t having to check two or three markets.
Totally agree with you Alex. I was ready to go to another Publix in search of my mint and parsley because I know that it’s a bad time to be grocery shopping but the whole experience left me too aggravated to set foot in another store. The smaller Publix on the beach, which is only a few blocks away, has nicer people, but it’s a little cramped and sometimes you find less variety. Lately, I don’t mind crossing over the causeway to the one on Biscayne. Sometimes it’s packed but it’s usually more relaxed.
ohhhhh… Miami flashback
We ended up forgoing Publix altogether in favor of Fresh Market–definitely overpriced but an infinitely more pleasurable shopping experience.
I remember bracing myself for those Publix days–the shopping cart wars alone enough to send me to me an early grave…
i went to the same publix sunday, too, but discovered the trick: go before noon. everyone was tiny and elderly and, am happy to report, reasonably well-mannered (if not a little slow piloting the cart around the store). the deli line is still endless, but variety and selection (we found, and bought, mint; need to borrow some?) are tip-top.
I cant stand Publix. I think their meats are disgusting and their store aisles are way too close together. Feels like shopping in a closet. Their produce isnt too hot either. I go to Milams in the Grove and if they dont have what I need, or if I want a better quality piece of fish, I head to Fresh Market.
Rudeness in Miami, unfortunately, is not only confined to supermarkets…
Rudeness in Miami, unfortunately, is not only confined to supermarkets…
No disagreement there, Blind Mind. I might try Fresh Market even if it’s a little far from me. I, after all, typically enjoy the grocery store so I’ll make a trip out of it.
And yes, the produce in Publix is pretty bad. My parents live in Houston and the one thing I love about the supermarkets there is all the good produce they have.
Publix is the worst, the cashiers don’t even look at you and not one word is spoken during the whole transaction, not even a “hello”. They ring up the items, accpept payment, hand you the receipt and neither smile or say a word. Terrible. And if you get a cashier that speaks English, you really have something there. Most don’t understand a word of English.
Boo publix. Where can a gal go to get big bunches of fresh mint, basil and gorgeous (yet affordable) tomatoes? I’ve been to Publix, Wild Oats, Epicure, and Apple-a-Day. Miami needs a spot that has all of these things in one place, with good service. My FoodNetwork Star spirit feels your pain.
Leslie,
Check out Fresh Market or Milam’s in the Grove. Both carry those items. Milam’s is more affordable though and their veggie quality is the same as FM.
Why the hatin’? I love my Publix! The staff is really helpful, and I’ve never encountered the kind of rudeness you talk about. I do get cruised a lot, though! They have decent meats (lamb chops at 3.89/lb.) and seafood (sockeye salmon at $10/lb), good free-range eggs, soy milk and other healthy products like rice crackers for the gluten-averse. The fruit and veg right now are pretty good, too, which is normally my big complaint. They hire the challenged, and everyone, including all the cashiers, speaks English and is friendly. It’s clean and well-lit. Even some of the prepared foods are good. I bought a big bunch of mint there on Saturday, and cilantro for 89 cents. Big bunch of broccoli rabe for $3! Come up to Biscayne and 91st!
If I have to go that far, I will! Honestly, I have no complaints about the Publix staff. They are always very, very helpful. My complaint was with the Publix shoppers at the Miami Beach Publix. Lately I go to the one on 32nd and Biscayne and I have a more pleasant shopping experience.
I seem to have the opposite chalenge in Columbia, SC. The Publix near my house is the greatest. Fresh Market, although having the best selection of anything, has the worst cashiers. After a glorious shopping experience at FM I get to the checkout and they blow 25% of the experience. Good job to Publix. They may not have everything all the time, but for Cola, SC, they do pretty good. Happy Eating!!!