I walked into a Dierbergs, a locally-owned grocery store
here, for the first time in my life yesterday. I recently stopped buying Trader
Joe's meat as Chris and I are very particular about cuts of meat and I'm just
not happy with the selection TJ's offers. I hate having to go to a frillion
places to get one week's worth of groceries. The Schnucks (another
locally-owned market) off of Loughborough has a great butcher, but I don't want
to drive back and forth between two interstates. So I stopped into Dierbergs to
check out their meat.
Ohmygawd.
Their produce sparkled like diamonds. The kids and I were in
such awe that passerby must have thought that we were urchins who'd never set
foot inside a grocery store before. Their bell peppers? They were meticulously
arranged so that all their little butts were pointing outwards. I am freak
about my food and we are instant BFFs if you order your kitchen items with a
dash of OCD. There wasn't a withered piece of produce in the bunch; there's always a suspicious bag of grapes or a
browned apple in the mix but not at this store. I like to touch, smell, and
feel up my produce, not unlike foreplay, before I place it in my cart. It
seemed pointless to do it here. They had everything categorized. There was a giant
ORGANIC sign marking all the naturally grown products. I wish Schnucks
organized their organics as thoughtfully. As I only popped in for meat - and
OMG those cuts were SMOKIN' - I didn't go through the whole store but I'm sure
that the aisles were paved with tiles made from crushed unicorn horns and that
there was a pot of gold in the last aisle. We briefly considered erecting a
tent in the cereal aisle and just like, live there for ever.
When we approached the register there was - GET THIS - a
bagger waiting at the end of the conveyor
belt. In some other stores, even when business is slow, I have to
practically shake down a cashier to get a bagger. And when one isn't available
there's this awkward moment, you know, when you attempt to bag your groceries
and you try to hide how you bag them so the cashier doesn't glance over and
roll their eyes. You stand there like an unwelcome houseguest as your groceries
accumulate at the end of the conveyor belt, like should ... should I start bagging this? No? Is that a bagger over there?
Is he...he's coming over here - no, no he's going on a smoke break. Ok, so I bag?
When the cashier has to bag your groceries the people behind you in line
are all "Gawd, we HAD to get behind a FAMILY purchase," because all they have
is a box of wine, toilet paper, and beef jerky (party!) and boooo on you for
buying family-size quantities of food. Ok, maybe it's just me.
But anyway, there was a bagger there and he just stood there
and then when my groceries came down the belt his arms went blurry and he
bagged the hell out of my groceries like I have never seen them bagged before. When
he was done his hands were actually smoking and he blew on him like a
gunslinger blows on a gun after winning a draw. Slightly exaggerated, but
still. Then the checker gave the boys stickers and because they are bought and
sold with anything miniscule so long as it's free, they were all "WE LOVE IT
HERE."
(I was seriously not paid, contacted by, or cajoled by Dierbergs to write this. I just get really excited over little things.)
I think most Dierbergs are like that, aren't they? Personally I love Whole Foods, but alas, my paycheck does not. Trader Joes just doesn't have a lot of stuff I need on a regular basis. And honestly, Schnucks is never as clean as I'd like. And I did a short stint in a grocery store so I get how hard that is. Dierbergs also has the friendliest people. I once was looking for something and the manager was there talking with some friends and he saw me looking perplexed and walked me over to what I needed. Wow, did I feel high-maintenance or what!
You're one of us now. Keep your money in the city. Dierberg's does not have any city stores. As for meat, Vincent's on 12th has a decent butcher. G+W on Parker and Kingshighway has the best butcher and sausage maker in the entire metro area.
As a former Dierbergs employee from age 16 to 21, I can attest that when your hired you actually go to bagger training! Were you learn the proper way to bag groceries like not putting a bag of potatoes on top of bread! How to be courtesy to the customer, to ask people if they need help! They are a little more pricey then other stores, but their produce is always fresh, the store is clean, the have their own meat cutters so if you don't find what you want then just ask because they probably can get that cut for you. I loved working there! Even when I went away to Mizzou for college they said when and if I need employment on breaks or afterward just give them a call! Very much like a big family, and I still stop in when I'm in town to see former co-workers and I haven't worked there in 9 years! I have never found a grocery store that takes so much pride in their appearance or quality. I would give anything to have one out here in Reno!!!
I used to shop exclusively at Whole Foods, but like Amy, it got too expensive. They've really done a great job competing with the health/specialty food stores.
For 40 years of my life I have been VERY anti Deirberghs...I have boycotted the store because they will NOT open a store in the City of St Louis. And me..I live in the City of St Louis.
Then they had the meat special and EVERYONE at work was talking about it. And feeling like I had to be a follower I looked up Dierbergs on the internet and saw that the closest was the one on Watson. I talked Hubby...Chesterfield MO transplant and lifelong Deirbergh shopper..into going with me.
My mouth dropped open!! The premade salads and fruit cups..the deli! The meat, the seafood..and OMG the bakery.
When you check out they not only bag but TALK to you .. then offer to help load your car!!
We now travel to the county and go to Dierbergs..and belive me, I feel this pang of guilt everytime..I so wish they would add a city store. I vote for one at Hampton and Highway 44 where the MSD plant was.
I also LOVE Dierbergs and preach on the Dierbergy goodness whenever I get the chance. One of the baggers in the store by my house WON the national bagging contest!
They are by far the friendliest, too, despite commercials you may have heard about another store.
I buy my steaks at Kenrick's, though. They rock and are only minutes from your general area.
They also seem to have MANY long-term employees. That says a lot.
You just reminded me of something. That I've got a bunch of need-to-be-kept-frozen foods out on the counter that, (DUH) need to be put in the freezer. Had forgotten in the hectic choas of trying to get a shuffling boy to school!
As for Dierbergs, yes they've got some super awesome stores. Their deli is always good.
I LOVE Dierbergs and told my husband and wish I lived right next door so I could go there for fresh organic produce, and all their other service oriented departments. I LOVE their salads in the deli..the tomato and mozzarella one and the one that has the pasta, olives, blue cheese, tomatoes..yum!!! And their salad bar is so fresh..and I am uber picky about things being clean. Their bakery is wonderful and I wish I could afford to shop there all the time..I go there for special things and salad dressings and for their meat, deli, bakery, and produce. I go to the big W superstore for everything else. The floral department at Dierbergs is awesome too. My brother prefers them to Schnucks because Schnucks will not allow concealed weapons in their store. I still shop Schnucks if I have to, but prefer Dierbergs. And yes, it's really nice to have checkers and baggers all smiling and willing to help. I always feel like I'm a little bit of royalty there. :)
You know, I shop at the Dierbergs in my neighborhood, because my husband grew up on Dierbergs and so always wants to go there, and because the people there are marginally friendlier than the people at my local Schnucks, who are downright sullen.
BUT.
I've been to a lot of grocery stores around town-- Dierbergs, Schnucks, Straubs, Wild Oats, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's-- because I've lived in a lot of different areas around town, and because I'm a curious shopper.
And I have to say, the Dierbergs in my neighborhood is incredibly sub-par compared to the other Dierbergs stores I've shopped at. I've pretty much stopped buying produce at my Dierbergs altogether, because the selection is poor, there is little available that is locally grown or organic, and they quite literally stock MOLDY fruits and vegetables on the shelves. And I don't mean I've occasionally found moldy produce there-- I mean you can walk in there on any given day and find some.
I've also found I have to check the expiration date on anything I buy there outside the produce section, because they often just leave expired produce sitting on the shelves.
And the baggers? I think they slept through Dierbergs bagging school. I once had a guy there put a bag of peaches in with soup cans.
And when I've complained to managers there about all of this? No help at all.
Knowing what things are like at other Dierbergs stores, I have a sneaking suspicion that Dierbergs deliberately sends its worst produce, and its worst employees, to my neighborhood, because my neighborhood is not fashionable, and is mostly working class. And that makes me angry. But my neighborhood Schnucks is no better. So we buy our dairy at the Oberwiess store now, and buy our produce at a local farm. And we buy most of our dry goods at Target, which is cheaper and cleaner (!) than my local Dierbergs.
Dierbergs is losing about half my monthly grocery budget by refusing to stock clean, fresh, good food in North County.
Dierbergs is only reason I miss not working in St. Louis county. I used to love going to the one in Creve Coeur on my lunch hour! The biggest grocery chain we have in Alton is Schnuck's and it does not compete. When I found out Edwardsville had put a Dierbergs in, I was so jealous. Then again, we don't get shit in Alton and Bon Air just doesn't cut it.
I don't shop at Dierbergs either--I don't like their attitude towards the City, and I don't like to drive far enough or fight traffic to go to their stores.
In addition to those noted about ... Local Harvest on Morganford sells regionally produced meats. We buy most of our meat at Straub's, and have most of it cut to order at that. Yes, it costs a little more but the service and the product is great.
The first time you've ever been to Dierbergs? Are you serious?
Jaelithe - I've had a similar experience at the Schnucks on Gravois which sucks, because they carry a lot of items that I can't get at other supermarkets.
63104mom, MP, Lisa - I know, it's for this reason that I probably won't be driving out to Brentwood regularly to shop there. It's aggravating. Why are they so against opening a store in the city?
Schnucks at Gravois/Grand is pretty bad. I'm not crazy about Loughborough either. Have you tried the Schnucks on Arsenal? It's my favorite Schnucks ever. Very good customer service and selection. And, I am sure it's the only Schnucks with crucifixes over the dairy, produce, customer service and main entrance areas.
Jaelithe-I'm assuming you are talking about the store on Lindbergh since I think Clocktower was closed and it's not necessarily they send the bad employees or produce there on purpose but in my experience they have always had a problem getting good management in that location. And without good management then the rest just goes down hill from there.
Dana- I really think there afraid that they are going to loose money on an city store. Since they do tend to be pricey they feel that there target market just doesn't exist there. Just an opinion and I think they are totally missing a niche of the city that is crying for store of substance!
Have either of you or anyone else contacted Dierbergs Corp. about this? The only way they can improve and grow is knowing what consumers wanted, need, hate and love. I know I am sounding like the Dierbergs cheerleader but when I worked with Greg Dierberg (he was required to work in every store and every department for a few months at a time before assuming any responsiblity for the company) he genuinely seemed to care about what customers wanted and their opinion. It is his families name and legacy. Again just my two cents!
*sniff* I miss Dierbergs. We live too far south, now.
Mmmmmm...I heart Dierbergs. I am a West County girl so Dierbergs and I go a long way back. For awhile, I tried be all responsible with our money and shop and Shop and Save, but I just couldn't get into it. Mostly because I LOATHE bagging my own groceries and after doing so, telling my kids 8,000 times that we would not be riding on the mechanical pony, getting out to my car, getting home and getting groceries put away I usually needed a Xanax and a stiff drink. For my sanity, I decided to go back to my first love and forget saving the ten bucks a month!
"Knowing what things are like at other Dierbergs stores, I have a sneaking suspicion that Dierbergs deliberately sends its worst produce, and its worst employees, to my neighborhood, because my neighborhood is not fashionable, and is mostly working class":
Jaelithe, I hate to say it. . . but I think you're spot on with this one. They've closed their other store up there and are seemingly starting to treat North County as part of St. Louis City, an area in which they refuse to venture.
And that makes me angrier than any pretty produce (and yes, they do have pretty produce at their 'regular' -- read: affluent-- stores) can make up for.
Dierbergs is my 'big' grocery store for things our little local store doesn't stock - like dried pineapple (my youngest's newest love) that hasn't been processed with peanuts.
It helps that it's in the same shopping plaza as my Target.
3 reasons not to open a store in the City:
1. perception that there's not enough "rich" people to support it.
2. earnings tax. corporate earnings at that store would be taxes at 1%, plus 1/2% of payroll.
3. perception that shrinkage/theft will be more of a problem than in more "affluent" areas.
Whether any of these reasons have validity, besides #2, I couldn't say. #1 in particular I find questionable: almost everyone I know drives out to Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, etc. And we all shop at the Schnucks on Arsenal. Were you there today, 63104mom? I was ...
I LOVE Dierbergs. Try ANY of their homemade chicken salads from the deli, I promise you that you'll love it! Ooooooh, and I have a little Dierberg's insider secret (my friend's grandma has worked there forever); the Dierbergs brand frozen pizzas are made by.....IMO's! The pepperoni, sausage, mushroom pizza is a staple in our freezer. Even better, every few weeks they go on sale for....3 for $11! For Imo's. At home. No tip. OMG, I am drooling on my keyboard like Homer freakin' Simpson.
Well...I don't want to make anyone jealous...but we have this crazy-good local store with a fantastic butcher, impeccable produce, a 1:1 bagger to cashier ratio, AND...(are you sitting down?)...THEY CARRY-OUT!!!! FOR FREE!!!! They won't even take a tip. I've tried. They are not allowed!! I lie not!! Sometimes, if I'm by myself, I tell them I can handle it. But if my children are in tow, they insist!
The only caveat is that I can't afford to buy pre-packaged stuff there. Which just means I HAVE to go to Target.
My dearest friend, who shared my passion for Harter House, moved to Southern California last summer. It took a full six months for me to be able to shop without tearing up!
Who knew one could have such an emotional bond with one's grocery store?
my daughter was a bagger at dierbergs. it's hard work. esp. the cart pulling from the parking lots.
dierbergs is an expensive store though. compared to schnucks. you should see the remodeled schnucks in town and country off 141. nice.
considering those two are the major chains in the area, may not be a bad idea to give schnucks some coverage too...i is just saying that's all considering so many people read your blog.
HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY BY THE WAY!
I shop at Deirbergs for everything BUT meat, You want the best cuts of meat try Freddies market off of big bend ( 44 to big bend right and about 4 miles down ) the rest of this mom and pop store supllies dont impress me but there butcher section is AWSOME, what size would you like that T- bone 1" or 2". The pork steaks are great and well they are why I have a freezer now , 3 trips a year for the best meat in town, no I dont know any one that works there , but I love to grill and cook for my wife and kids.
Schmee
dierberg's is actually a good company. one of my friends worked in the produce department and she WAXED FRUIT!
I don't know how far south Staci lives, but Dierbergs is opening its first Jefferson County store, in Arnold, on Tuesday. It's in the new Arnold Commons shopping center off Highway 141 at I-55.
The first time I shopped at Dierbergs with my husband we were blown away by the shopping cart. I know that sounds stupid but we are used to shopping at Super Wal Mart and always seem to get a cart there that won't roll right and makes a ton of noise. The cart we got at Dierbergs rolled like someone GREASED THE WHEELS!! I am not kidding it was the best rolling, straight, and quiet shopping cart I have ever used.
Perhaps when they close their failing Wentzville store, they'll reconsider the city. They made a huge mistake there because there isn't the income to support it at this time! Dierbergs is expensive! I love the deli at Dierbergs and Straubs, but Scnucks deli quality definitely depends on the location. Shop n' Save's deli is yuckilicious, but the location near me has a great organics section.
Yes, Dana, there are many fabulous places to buy meat near you! I miss Kenrick's and many others. There is also a food co-op near you where you can get tons of organic & fresh stuff really cheap--you just work there like 2 hours a month or something. When you could fit that in, I don't know...
I do, however, understand the convenience of one trip when the childrens are about!
With three boys and a husband, we do all of our chicken breast, chicken leg, pork loin, pork chop, and ground hamburger shopping in bulk at Costco. Mmmmm, Costco. I love that I can buy peanut butter and gobs and gobs of cereal in bulk.
We buy our steak at Paul's Market here in Ferguson, "the best little steak shop in St. Louis!" They have absolutely GORGEOUS and HUGE gourmet porterhouse steaks with excellent filets. They also have $5 bacon-wrapped filet mignon, pre-made/marinated kabobs, and all sorts of other meat. My husband is like a big kid when we walk in--he picked up a few extra porterhouses for a cook/friend at work and then asked if he could go to Chris' (the friend) house to play. And by play I mean barbeque or do strange things with powertools.
I did actually use the contact info on the Dierbergs website to complain via email about my local store a while back. No response. I've also talked with the store manager at my local store, who basically just shrugs off my concerns.
It's a real shame because I DO think Dierbergs is a better place to shop than Schnucks. They treat their employees better than Schnucks (I know this, because I've known people who worked at both stores.) Their stores in WEST county are clean, well-organized, and well-stocked. And for everyone who asserts they are more expensive-- well, they ARE, but they also have better sales than Schnucks, so if you're a sale-hunting coupon queen like me, the price differences actually balance out. I read the circulars from both stores every week, so I have an awareness of when things tend to go on sale at their lowest price, and I try to stock up then.
But I'm angry that it seems like they're discriminating against my neighborhood. My neighborhood is not shady. It is not falling apart. It is filled with hardworking people, who maintain their homes and watch out for their neighbors. And a lot of the people here DO care enough about the quality of their food to pay more for good things when they can afford them.
Dierbergs might not be making much money here, but it's not because there's no money to be made. Working-class people like to buy fresh produce, too. But when they can't find it at a grocer within a 20 minute radius, they don't buy it.
Dierbergs is the best grocery store in the world. I like to call it DBs. There are three DBs I go to, Big Dierbergs, Little Dierbergs and My Dierbergs, the one at Lafayette Center. They have four aisles devoted to organic items..love it. I spend time in St. Louis and Burbank, CA, and the grocery stores in CA…well, I’ll just say I expect to see Carol Brady coming down the aisle.
isn't it super expensive??
Hey Dana, I am being a tad lazy by not checking the comments to see if someone else said this....but, if you stop at the florist dept. while you are shopping, they'll give you a FREE helium balloon for your munchkins...WOOT! I love and adore DB's and miss it with all my heart as we are now living in Washington State. Glad you were turned on to a St. Louis ROCKSTAR grocery store.
My brother was a bagger for Dierbergs and you're right - they went through MAD training and had it down to a science. Sucked that those poor kids had to pay union dues on their meager wages - but, it was his first, real job. We have a brand new Schnucks and a brand new Shop N Save, both across the street from one another. So, at least our "two stops" are close to each other as we do prefer some things at one store vs. the other. Oh, and we're getting a Whole Foods out here!! WOOHOO!
Dana,
I have never heard of any of these stores mentioned in your post, being that I live in South Carolina. We have Piggly Wiggly, which my kids call "Piggy Wiggy". However, I loved your post, and it reminded me why I love to read Mamalogues. I have never laughed so hard reading about something so mundane as a grocery store. You rock, and I hope you had a wonderful Mothers Day!
We have been buying out meat from Kenrick's for some time now. The bulk packages are wonderful and we stock up about twice a year, fill our deep freeze and it make a huge difference in our budget and time spent shopping.
I live just down the street from the Loughborough Schnucks and while their produce selction is OK, the organics are haphazzardly strewn about making it tough to do a quick run through of the store. I will say that the cashiers are friendly and on more than one occasion I have had an employee go the extra step to help. I once has a manager unload my buggy onto the belt since my toddler was being particularly unruly.
The Lemay Dierbergs isn't as impressive to me as some others, but they did have the organic sweet potatoes I was looking for and the store is very nice. Plus I like that thier 'race car' shopping carts have the kids right up with you and not 10 feet in front where you can't reach/restrain them.
On 05/13/2008 the new Dierbergs in Arnold opens. Schnucks on Vogel Rd. is quaking in their boots. DIERBERS is much better at customer service and asthetics, you pay for it, but it has to be cheaper than Trader Joes or Whole Foods. Can't wait!
Where I grew up, large grocery stores sat practically next door to each other, and constantly battling for the best prices and service. At the one my mom usually shopped at when I was growing up, the baggers always carried the groceries out to your car, on their own special carts. Always. These days, not only is there wonderful service, but the area has become the 'supercenter' mecca. She has like 10 full-service grocery stores or supercenters within a 10 minute drive. Shopping in St. Louis is so depressing after that.
Personally, I'd love to shop at Dierbergs, but the closest is like 3 times as far as my two closest stores (both Schnucks). I can find Shop N Save and an Aldi closer before I find a Dierbergs, and those places are just not the same. Whole Foods? Forget about it. I'm not fighting 170 traffic or driving to Chesterfield.
I love Dierbergs. But I don't love their prices. I love even the lighting in the store. The one in Shiloh has what looks like recessed lighting, much softer light than harsh flourescents, but still bright enough that my eyes don't hurt after reading a thousand labels.
But I can get four bags of groceries at Shop N Save for the price of one, maaaaaybe two bags at Dierbergs. Love the store. But in this case, you definitely get what you pay for.
"not unlike foreplay?" Wow. And nobody bothered commenting on this? It was the highlight of your blog! It brings up visual images best left ... yeah, best left. T-T-T-hat's all folks!
By the way. I use to be simply "Ron." I changed my name legally to "Rotola" when I found out I couldn't be logged in as "Ron" anymore. Screwed again. (No relation to previous paragraph intended.)
I LOVE local farmers markets. We just got word that our town is going to have one coming here this summer. Nothing beats fresh produce from nearby, with black soil still clinging on the roots. Want to taste real tomatoes again without breaking the bank? Try locally produced food stuffs.
My husband shops and he's a big sales / coupon person, so for me the specialty stores are, sadly, out!
PS. I'm not that selfish, really, I just believe I need to be a happy woman so I don't become a bitchy mom!
This is completely off-topic to the Dierberg's discussion, but in case you have a trebuchet-flinging post in the near future and haven't seen this video, I thought I'd pass it along:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wVADKznOhY
I most enjoyed the parts when the reporter pronounces trebuchet like it's an expensive French hors d'oeuvre and when the guy gets indignant about the lack of giant trebuchets ("No one else was trying it!")
dierbergs meat is bette than TJ for sure, try whole foods if you can afford the cost of naturaal and organic from a big box retailer (yes, they are walmart mentality now) that sells COLEMAN NATURAL MEATS www.colemannaturalproducts.com i think
why do i know so much about this? the life sherpa hit the nail on the head for me today http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/lifestyle/columnists.nsf/joeholleman/story/D8F7A4C77E11CF4B86257447004EF923?OpenDocument
Chely-
thanks for the tip on the Dierbergs frozen pizzas!
My sister and I moved to Indianapolis from St. Louis, and we miss Imo's like CRAZY.
we can stock up now, thanks to your tip :)
great entry Dana. we miss Dierbergs too!
I'm a Dierbergs snob! I've tried other store but none compare. The produce, meat, seafood, deli! The best part is they take your groceries to your car and aren't allowed to accept tips.
I love Dierbergs as well. A few years ago before my parents passed away, they would go there 2 or 3 times a week fow whatever they needed. But I think it was a social thing for them as much as picking up food. The employees really treated them well and went the extra mile. One of the managers even sent them flowers on their wedding anniversary!! I think that says a lot about going above and beyond customer expectations.