Balducci’s: Where the Products Speak to Me, the Customers Don’t
I don't shop at Balducci's often. It's too expensive for my pocketbook. But when a special occasion arises and I'm in need of quail eggs or Iranian Sevruga caviar or a 12-year-old aged balsamic vinegar, I'm happy to direct my attention--and my vehicle--toward the Bethesda location. The staff is always knowledgeable, even down to what kind of wine pairs well with truffled deviled quail eggs topped with caviar.
But last weekend, when another special occasion arose (see Thursday's Young & Hungry for the occasion), I was reminded why I don't always like shopping there: I hate rich people. Now, I hate to generalize. I know some rich people; not all of them want to build walls around themselves to keep out the swarthy immigrants (except of course for the swarthy immigrants who care for their kids). And yet many of the people who shop here act as if I've scaled their walls, swam across their moats, sedated their guard dogs, and have started to raid their personal pantries.
How do I know they're rich? As my wife, Carrie, notices: "People go to Balducci's dressed like I would to go to the Kennedy Center." And that's just the middle-aged ones; the younger shoppers look like they're modeling for a fashion shoot right in the store. But whatever their age, they're often rude. One blond woman, slinked out in some revealing silky top, buzzed by me with her cart, rammed my shoulder, and couldn't muster enough kindness to face me and utter an apology. Another woman, this one in a cream-colored suit with gold jewelry, pushed our cart out of the way to slip past and then, as Carrie noted, "sort of glared icily" at her.
So am I a classist? Or maybe you've had rude experiences at the Bethesda Balducci's, too?
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8:02 pm
Tim
I am so glad to know I am not alone in my "balducci blues." I had banned the store a while back, as a grad student at AU. At first, my morning coffees and occassional salads seemed like a good alternative to campus grub.
However, after noticing my frequent indigestion, I realized I was just plain angry at this "snooty" entitlement thing that is characteristic of the "regulars" of balduccis. The carraige mishaps just got too much, I mean how many times can someone run into without saying excuse me? How manygreedy, miserable old ladies can oneencounter? And worst of all, how many times does one have to witness a disgrunteld guest scream at a employee because they are out of their favorite imported cheese?
Gosh, I think the employeses there, (whom by the way commute from northeast southesast and other far places to make a decent wage), deserve a medal. I give major props to the woman who works at the coffee counter in the monring, LINDA, she seesm to not allow any of this crap to get to her, and thus she makes my day wheenver i viist for coffee.
Ironically, it was just last week, and noticing my absence, the coffee person asked me, "how come you dont come around here anymore?" I replied, "The customers annoy me too much."
Not too mention, the retro--slavery era- vibe that is enough to make anyone sick.
Thanks for writing.
Sarah
10:00 am
Sarah, you're right, the yelling/snapping at the employees is enraging. It bothers me in ANY retail place, but it's worse at Balducci's. Nothing sets my teeth on edge like watching some perfectly coiffed, Botoxed, so-tan-they're-orange baby boomer letting loose on someone making $7/hour. I've seen it in the flower section ("These roses are a disgrace") and the cheese section, and in the design-your-own-sandwich line, where customers hover at the counter watching the employee assemble the sandwich, correcting every addition ("I said a FEW onions!"), as though one extra red onion is going to be the straw that broke the camel's face-lift. It makes me want to yell, "Do you understand that being able to buy roses and a sandwich made to order means you're part of the luckiest 5 percent of people on earth?!?" (I won't even get into the women who shop in their mink coats.) There's nowhere else I can think of that provides such sensual pleasure -- Ritter bars, ripe pears, black and white truffle butter for godsake! -- that leaves me in such a pissy mood after I go there.
11:47 am
half the stuff i want at balducci's I can't afford anyway so the whole trip is an exercise in annoyance. not just the customers but prices are ridiculous. i only stop there when desparate or in a hurry.
there are some nice rich people but they must shop somewhere else. maybe hammaker shlemmer has a groceyr outlet.
3:09 pm
Carman,
It's a long drive for Marylanders, but you gotta hit the Alexandria Balducci's. It used to be filled with disgustingly snobby people, too, but the place became a ghost town when the Alexandria Whole Foods, which is about a minute away from Balducci's, opened.
It's always empty--even on a Sat. morning these days. Same great staff, great stuff, but no pesky customers.
The only time I see a rich type is when they're going into Farrah Olivia, which is in the same building.
Where I once had to steel myself for a trip there, I can now just pop in anytime I want and buy a little cheese or oil and, on special occassions, a $10 pint of Capogiro gelato, which sounds like an a**hole thing to buy, but damn taht stuff is good.
3:58 pm
Godfrey,
An excellent tip--and yet more evidence that rich people are both rude and stupid. I mean, why would anyone choose WF over Balducci's?
9:05 pm
I hate poor people. Now, I hate to generalize. I know a couple of poor people...
10:00 am
I daresay, props to you, Rich Person. This bias against those who have excelled and profited from their hard work and talent is simply despicable. Not all of us are Rockefellers. Well, *I* am, but heavens, some of my best friends are poor people. My driver, my doorman, all excellent people. The only reason I don't invite them up to the penthouse is who would run the elevator then? Who would be there to drive my truffles to the party or scream at the clerks who try to give me substandard Grey Poupon?