Home > Relish Austin > Archives > 2009 > September > 04 > Entry
First impressions of Sprouts, the new kid on the grocery store block
Early this morning, grocery store geeks lined up for grand opening celebrations at the first two Sprouts Farmers Market grocery stores in Austin. I wasn’t there early enough for a breakfast buffet or bag filled with goodies, but I did stop by the Sunset Valley store around 9 a.m. to shoot a video and stock up on food for the Labor Day weekend.
The Arizona-based grocery chain is expanding rapidly, with at least two more stores planned for Austin. The blog post I wrote last week about the openings sparked quite a few comments about the location of the stores and the state of Austin’s grocery store scene.
So how does Sprouts size up to the half dozen other “natural grocers” in town? Sprouts offer organic, natural and mainstream products, but don’t expect to find a box of Cocoa Puffs or bag of Lays potato chips. And on the other hand, you won’t find a chocolate fountain, obscure sea creatures or cheese section the size of your living room.
The store, located at 5601 Brodie Lane in an old Linen ‘N’ Things, seems slightly larger than the Newflower Farmers’ Market at Manchaca Road and William Cannon Boulevard just a few miles away, and it has a bakery and butchery, which leads me to my favorite find: freshly made sausage. Few stores make their own sausage, but Sprouts is preparing more than a dozen kinds of MSG- and nitrate-free sausages, all priced at about $4 a pound. (I bought about three pounds of bratwurst and sausage on sale for $2.99/pound.)
Organic produce, like most grocery stores, takes up only part of the sizable produce section, and they had plenty of decently priced conventionally grown produce. Don’t forget wine (they’ve got 3 bottles for $10 on certain wines right now), beer and a good number of bulk items, including nuts, granola, flour, sugar, etc.
Joe Dobrow, vice president and chief marketer, was there for the opening, and he says the Rollingwood store (2805 Bee Cave Road) will open on Oct. 16. The Great Hills location (10225 Research Blvd.) is scheduled to open the first part of January, and Dobrow says they are looking for other locations in Central Texas.
Did anyone go to the Round Rock store at 110 N. Interstate 35 this morning? If you went to one of the openings, I’m interested to hear you first impressions.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment Categories: Grocery goods
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By Texican
September 4, 2009 2:54 PM | Link to this
I’d echo the two posters in your last column who decried the lack of anything like WF/CM/Wheatsville east of 35 and south of Manor (that 12th and 35 spot is a great idea). I really don’t think it would be that much of a social experiment. Have y’all been to the Eastside lately? Joggers, strollers, hipsters are much in evidence. I’m sure we could keep a store going. Businesspeople wouldn’t have to constantly remind each other to “think outside the box” if it was something that came easily to them; I suspect that has a lot to do with why these stores are all so close to each other.
By john doe
September 4, 2009 4:14 PM | Link to this
I just returned from the Round Rock location this afternoon and I have to say I’m extremely disappointed based on the expectations I had. I was hoping for an alternative to Whole Foods but it’s nowhere close to that. Most of the items I saw there you can get at most Randalls or HEB stores. Their organic fruits and vegetables selection is a joke and not any more extensive than at a Randalls/HEB store. So I guess I don’t get how these stores will survive in the Austin market since they don’t seem special to me. Freshly made sausage won’t get me to go out of my way to go back to this store.
By Suz
September 4, 2009 10:15 PM | Link to this
I just wanna know if Austin will EVER get a Trader Joe’s!!! Why are they everywhere practically but Texas? It’s not about WF. I used to live in the Bay area and we had WF right next door to TJ’s. People shopped at both. Any ideas why we’re left out?
By EliteAviator
September 5, 2009 7:07 AM | Link to this
The Round Rock store itself and its selections are wonderful. However, I was disappointed that the prices were higher than the Sprouts in the Dallas area. For instance, this week at Sprouts in Dallas a 1-lb container of strawberries is $1.25. But at the Round Rock store they are $2.00. Six-ounce packages of blackberries are $1.50 in Dallas; but $2.00 in Round Rock. Zuchinni squash and green beans are $0.88/lb in Dallas; but $0.99/lb in Dallas.
By EarthBound
September 8, 2009 12:24 PM | Link to this
I think this store is wonderful. You cant beat the prices on the produce and I also think that the people who serve us there are friendly and family oriented more so than WF or HEB. I cant afford to buy at WF, especially when this economy is poor. I can afford more stuff here than any other place. The bulk foods. is what I go for anyway. Thanks for coming here Sprouts, youre a breath of fresh air!
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May 9, 2011 6:47 PM | Link to this
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