I call the Bronx my second home because I grew up here. My late grandmother used to be a house mother in a group home for boys when I was a little girl. I loved going to that house, I remember the address too, it was 665 Boston Road.
We would ride the Bx15 to get there, and after the route changed to the Bx21.
The Bronx has the life that Manhattan (New York City) will never have in my personal opinion.
I always thought the residents were happier here compared to the other three boroughs.
I see and feel the sense of community that the residents have and the love they have for their part of the neighborhood.
I cannot say that I have been through the entire borough of the Bronx, but I would like to change that sooner than later.
Highbridge, however, is the part of the borough which concerns me the most. There are a lot of closed stores around due to the pandemic. The food variety is not well established either, it is sadly a food desert and today I went inside of one of the most hated supermarkets in the area.
Fine Fare
1136 Odgen Avenue (West 166th Street and Odgen Avenue)
I am the first person not to judge a supermarket based on its location; however, I have heard and read many reports about specific neighborhoods within the outer boroughs not having enough supermarkets readily available. I have heard complaints from my dear friend and my best friend's brother and sister-in-law about the practicality of this supermarket.
I kept an open mind about the location, but on this Halloween, I decided to enter to see what the hubbub is all about.
I walked into the store to see a large sign in English about turning over all bags a patron brings with them into the store. I turned over my Foodtown bag and not the bag with my laptop and tablet.
I quickly made my way to the end of the store where the frozen foods were. This store setup quickly reminded me of all of the Key Food locations in Manhattan. I kept that in mind as I scanned the store for something quick to eat, and I picked up a box of Hot Pockets.
I went into the soda aisle and was devastated by the selection available. There was nothing new or exciting sans one item and I immediately picked it up. I opted not to go into any of the other aisles as I did not need anything from them.
I walked along the meat section to a gentleman restocking the pork section. I moved out of the way and went to the beef section and noticed a few of the pieces turning a pale green. This turned my stomach and I walked to the outer section where the vegetables, deli section, and alcoholic beverages were.
I was dismayed by the amount of alcohol on the shelves and by one I saw many times during my childhood.
I knew it was time to leave here and my opinion of the store was made up.
I did not request any customer service as I did not need it. I do not judge customer service accessibility unless I have to ask or need assistance getting an item.
English is not the first language of many of the workers and natives in the neighborhood, so I usually stop myself from asking.
The presentation of the store reminds me of the Key Food (Second Central Harlem location) and I am wondering if this Fine Fare will change into a Key Food at some point.
It was clean with no foul odors or unsightly things in the store. The floors were so clean that the light hit my eyes quite a bit (some Manhattan delis can take a lesson from this store!)
Overall Score: 50/100
My scoring for supermarkets is different from my snack, drink, and food reviews. My rating system allows for exceptions like language barriers, out-of-stock items, etc.
The availability of unique items is slim to none. The store feels stuffy and uncomfortable and the workers are pushy while recommending if you need a bag.
The neighborhood needs a new supermarket desperately, and if anyone who reads this works for the city government, please think about the residents in the Bronx and other boroughs who need more food options.
It is insane that in 2021 these residents have no options for healthier food or unique items.
That's all for right now.
Take care and be well!
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