Jackson Heights Life

Foodcellar, the brand new grocery store owned by the same folks behind Amish Market, has opened in Long Island City.  According to the LIQ City Blog, the store has a fish monger, butcher, large produce section, bakery, sushi bar and lots more.  The blogger states, "It’s so big, it feels like a suburban Whole Foods, in mod colors."

LIC Grocery Store ALERT: Amish Market’s ‘foodcellar’ opens

What would be the best way to drive to the FoodCellar?  I checked on google maps and it sends me on Northern Blvd almost the whole way.  Guess this is ok but sometimes Northern seems really slow.

I always feel like the trip to Trader Joes/Amish Market is kind of a trek too (yes, even though I have a car).  Maybe I just have never gotten used to Queens traffic.


edited to say. . . maybe I don't really need to know how to drive to FoodCellar after all.  After reading the comments on the blog chuckster linked to, I'm afraid I won't be able to afford the prices.

example comment from the blog
prices are pretty outrageously high, and you are right, we’re not talking just a few cents here.

however the salad bar is $8/lb at whole foods also and the produce is about the same. packaged goods are way overpriced by about 10 to 30% across the board. i guess some folks can afford this, but i am not paying $12 for two chicken legs. i’d rather go elsewhere (even if i don’t get a smile) and save a couple thousand dollars a year.

If the prices are exactly the same as Whole Foods I would still go occasionally and just be judicious about what I buy.  But if the blog commenters are right and the prices are even higher than Whole Foods.. . .well, it's not really worth the drive over there.

But I shall try to withhold judgment til I can make it over there myself.

I stopped by Food Cellar for a short while this weekend and confirm that pricing is higher...at least on products that I normally would buy.  On average, I'd say that prices are approximately $1.50 to $2.00 higher than what I pay for similar items at Fairway in Redhook or Met Food on 37th Ave.  For instance, a box of Nature's Path Oat Bran cereal was priced at $4.99 at Food Cellar.  I pay $3.19 at Fairway, possibly less at Trader Joe's.  The 1/2 gallon container of Silk Soy Milk is $4.99 at FC, $3.49 at Fairway.  A 30 oz. container of Utra Downy is priced at $6.99 at FC.  Met Food price is $5.79.

I purchased 1/2 lb. of two different deli meats (turkey breast and ham), 2 Rosemary Focaccia sandwich rolls and a 1/2 lb. of pre-packaged chicken curry salad.  The total was $18.49.

These are just some quick examples.  My visit was very brief.  What I also noticed is that the market is still not stocked completely.  There remain many empty shelves.  There also seems to be a large focus on organic food products and earth friendly items.  The deli section only carries Applegate Farms meats.  No Boar's Head to be found here.  The guy behind the counter said that it's because the owner wants to offer healthier and organic selections rather than meats loaded with additives and nitrates.  The fruits and veggies are gorgeously displayed.  One guy was looking at the bananas and commenting on how beautifully perfect they appeared.  The market in itself is not as large as Whole Foods.  I'd say that it's about the size of a typical Trader Joe's.  Another interesting observation is that while many people roamed the aisles, the register lines were empty!  Maybe they were also involved in reconnaissance duty!   

Food Cellar also offers tables and seating for its customers that stop in for a quick bite.  There are hot and cold food items and they also serve up brick oven pizzas.  By the way, the pizza is made to order and looked delicious.  Someone had ordered a personal pie that was just fresh out of the oven.  Very tempting!  I believe the small pies were priced at $10.00 with additional fees for toppings.

I don't think I'll be shopping for groceries at Food Cellar.  At best, I may stop by for a mini pie so that I can enjoy eating it by the docks overlooking Manhattan.  Nice view!