I tried to buy a week’s worth of groceries at Erewhon, a high-end grocery store in Los Angeles. I quickly blew through my budget, but I’d shop there again.

December 28, 2022 11:48 AM

Armed with a restricted finances, I got down to purchase groceries at one among America’s most costly grocery shops.

The author in front of Erewhon (left), a photo of Erewhon's interior (right).Samantha Delouya

The creator in entrance of Erewhon (left), a photograph of Erewhon’s inside (proper).Samantha Delouya

Erewhon is an LA-based luxurious natural grocery retailer frequented by celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Kim Kardashian.
Its cabinets are stocked with sudden dear choices, like camel milk and sea moss gel.
Armed with a restricted finances, I tried to purchase my regular week’s price of groceries at Erewhon. See what it was like.

Ever since I made a cross-country move to Los Angeles in the fall, many friends and colleagues have asked me some variation of the same question: Have you visited Erewhon yet?

Ever since I made a cross-country transfer to Los Angeles within the fall, many mates and colleagues have requested me some variation of the identical query: Have you ever visited Erewhon but?

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For the uninducted, Erewhon will not be your conventional LA vacationer attraction just like the Hollywood signal or the Santa Monica Pier. It is a ritzy grocery retailer.

Supply: The New York Instances

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Erewhon was based in 1966, nevertheless it has just lately exploded in recognition. It reportedly even impressed the fictional grocery retailer “Anavrin,” which was closely featured in season 2 of the hit present “You.”

Supply: Insider

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Armed with new non-public fairness funding, Erewhon has expanded from simply 1 location to eight grocery shops in Los Angeles in lower than a decade.

Supply: The New York Instances

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The grocery chain says it sells exceptional organic products and focuses on healthy foods. We believe that nutrition is the key to a radiant lifestyle, its website reads.

The grocery chain says it sells “distinctive natural merchandise” and focuses on wholesome meals. “We consider that vitamin is the important thing to a radiant life-style,” its web site reads.

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Erewhon has also gained the reputation of being one of the most expensive grocery stores in America, frequented by celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Miley Cyrus, and many others.

Erewhon has additionally gained the status of being one of the crucial costly grocery shops in America, frequented by celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Miley Cyrus, and plenty of others.

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Armed with a budget of $100, roughly what my household spends on a week's groceries, I decided to partake in the Erewhon experience myself.

Armed with a finances of $100, roughly what my family spends on per week’s groceries, I made a decision to partake within the Erewhon expertise myself.

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I visited Erewhon’s location in West Hollywood – proper down the road from the grocery chain’s unique location. At first look, the shop appeared like a daily upscale grocery retailer, just like Complete Meals.

Supply: LA Instances

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Upon closer inspection, I saw it was no ordinary grocery retailer. Many products were offered in reusable glass jars, and the snack aisle was filled with healthy options, like raw kale and $30 trail mix.

Upon nearer inspection, I noticed it was no strange grocery retailer. Many merchandise had been provided in reusable glass jars, and the snack aisle was crammed with wholesome choices, like uncooked kale and $30 path combine.

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Walking through the aisles, I saw products that were unfamiliar to me, like sea moss gel, which can apparently be consumed straight from the jar or added to meals

Strolling via the aisles, I noticed merchandise that had been unfamiliar to me, like sea moss gel, which may apparently be consumed straight from the jar or added to meals

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and dairy products I wasn't used to seeing in traditional US grocery stores, like camel milk and raw kefir.

and dairy merchandise I wasn’t used to seeing in conventional US grocery shops, like camel milk and uncooked kefir.

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After much time gawking at the products and puzzling over a $26 bottle of water, I started tackling my grocery list.

After a lot time gawking on the merchandise and puzzling over a $26 bottle of water, I began tackling my grocery listing.

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For breakfast, I usually have cereal and non-dairy milk. I grabbed some oat milk and a cereal called real corn flakes, which only had two ingredients: organic corn grits and sea salt.

For breakfast, I often have cereal and non-dairy milk. I grabbed some oat milk and a cereal known as “actual corn flakes,” which solely had two elements: natural corn grits and sea salt.

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My dreams for a homemade organic pizza were dashed when a store employee told me they didn't carry pizza crust or dough at the West Hollywood location, so I pivoted to tacos. One can of black beans was $5, which is significantly more than I normally spend.

My desires for a selfmade natural pizza had been dashed when a retailer worker instructed me they did not carry pizza crust or dough on the West Hollywood location, so I pivoted to tacos. One can of black beans was $5, which is considerably greater than I usually spend.

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It wasn't just the beans that were higher-priced than what I was accustomed to: most ingredients I purchased cost more than I'd normally spend, including $12 for paleo tortillas and $12 for plant-based taco meat.

It wasn’t simply the beans that had been higher-priced than what I used to be accustomed to: most elements I bought price greater than I might usually spend, together with $12 for “paleo” tortillas and $12 for plant-based taco meat.

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Next, I saw ricotta gnocchi pasta that caught my eye, so I picked up a box for dinner. However, I couldn't justify the price of some of the pasta sauce offerings, so I decided to use what I had at home.

Subsequent, I noticed ricotta gnocchi pasta that caught my eye, so I picked up a field for dinner. Nonetheless, I could not justify the value of a few of the pasta sauce choices, so I made a decision to make use of what I had at dwelling.

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After grabbing some additional groceries, including bananas, peanut butter, and eggs, I realized I had run through my $100 budget before barely making a dent in my list.

After grabbing some further groceries, together with bananas, peanut butter, and eggs, I spotted I had run via my $100 finances earlier than barely making a dent in my listing.

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I left Erewhon with a week's worth of breakfast, but I could only snag the ingredients for two dinners before going over budget.

I left Erewhon with per week’s price of breakfast, however I might solely snag the elements for 2 dinners earlier than going over finances.

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I found shopping at Erewhon to be more entertaining than the usual chore of a grocery store visit. While I don't think I'll attempt to buy a full week's worth of groceries at Erewhon again, I could see myself returning to the store for the occasional special treat.

I discovered purchasing at Erewhon to be extra entertaining than the same old chore of a grocery retailer go to. Whereas I do not assume I am going to try to purchase a full week’s price of groceries at Erewhon once more, I might see myself returning to the shop for the occasional particular deal with.

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Some might poke enjoyable at LA’s obsessive well being tradition, however Erewhon appears to have a legion of loyal followers, and it is setting its sights on growth: the grocery chain is reportedly seeking to open a brand new retailer on the East Coast.

Supply: LA Instances

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