Dear Atlantans, I NEED your help!!

[Sara Emily]

emilycat, iqueen, and any of the rest of you wonderful CL BBers that post here, I NEED the answer to a couple of questions regarding two specific places to grocery shop in Atlanta - Harry's and Harris Teeter's. I have contacted the Atl. Chamber and Info Bureau in several different ways, and they are being slower than molasses on a bitterly cold day! I need some REAL help, and I know I've come to the right place! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

First of all, where are both of these stores located? In the simplest terms, how do I get there? (driving!) From what people have said, I get the impression that Harris T. is primarily a gourmet grocery store and Harry's something like a glorified farmer's market, but with many interesting and unusual choices and lots of great packaged foods. Is there a place to eat in Harry's, as some large farmer's markets have, if DH and I need to regain our energy between bursts of shopping? How many THOUSANDS of dollars do I need to bring in order to feel that I have shopped well there? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

Finally, please complete the following sentence: You certainly don't want to leave Harry's without buying ______________! I'm anticipating a couple of short trips to Atl. in the very near future and DEARLY appreciate your expert input! "Country" is coming to the "big city" and I don't want to miss much if I can help it! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[laughsandlaughs]

I can't answer your specific questions about driving directions, etc (you might want to try Mapquest or Yahoo!Maps for exact directions from your locale) but I can tell you that I've lived all over the country and Harris Teeter far and away is the best overall grocery store. Best described as a regular grocery store with lots and lots of gourmet products. They usually have a really good deli/prepared foods section and many even have their own little cafe inside. They have just about everything, and that's the beauty of it. You can find most gourmet products, as well as good Ole' Oreos all in the same place. Gosh do I miss shopping there!!

[cooksrhot]

I don't know anything about Harry's, but as a native Charlottean, (Charlotte is the "home" of Harris Teeter)It makes me proud to hear you talk about "my" grocery store in such a good light. It's the only place I shop, since there are a million of them here! I wouldn't say it's a strictly gourmet store, but generally, they have a good selection of brands to choose from. I would say their produce is pretty top notch and the have a good deli/bakery. (Their cakes are REALLY good!) The variety of specialty foods depends on the size of the store where you shop. Some do have cafes, some don't.

For a list of stores and maps to get to them check this out: http://www.harristeeter.com/store_locator_results.php?findAState=2&x=2&y=13

Hope this helps!

[kwormann]

cooksrhot

I lived in Charlotte for awhile...where is the big beautiful HT??? (I believe it was near the big mall?) I cant believe in 4 years I have forgotten all names of major streets and malls! DO you go to Wolfman Pizza? We LOVED it! I miss it ! I need to get back for a visit! I miss going to Boone on the weekends!

Hope you dont mind feeding my nostalgia.....

Kim

[daner94]

Hi Sara Emily!

Let me start first by praising Harry's. The stores are gigantic. The prices are very reasonable. The selections are amazing, produce, bakery items,ethnic foods, meat...but the produce is the best, you can get items from all over the world. Harry's in a Hurry is just a smaller version of their big stores.

When Harris Teeter came to Atl, I was so excited, especially when they put one up a block from my house! However, I was really disappointed. Selections were really limited and the prices were way high! And those two reasons have kept me away.

Where are you driving from so I can tell you which Harry's to get to?

Dana

[emilycat]

Whew! What a question! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

You're pretty on-target in your store descriptions, but I have to say that after living in N.C. for 4 years, the Harris Teeters in Atlanta just don't really match up. I find the produce in ours to be a bit lagging behind what we had there, and the selections of ethnic and natural foods there seem to be lacking in comparison. BUT, they're still head and tails above any Kroger or Winn-Dixie I've ever been to.

As for Harry's, ahhh....my weekend treat. I'll just ditto what Dana said about it -- the produce is fabulous year 'round, and you can find nearly any ethnic ingredient you ever hoped to find. I can't possibly sing enough praises about their cheese selection, which is absolutely incredible, and the wine section at the Alpharetta Store is out of this world amazing. I spend an hour or more at Harry's each time I go -- it's such an experience.

All that said (sorry, I may have gotten a little carried away http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif ), I would advise you to certainly visit the cheese and chocolate sections, pick up some good olive oil if you don't have access to that at home -- oh, just have fun -- you'll see so many things you want, you won't be able to make up your mind! I suppose I take for granted the fact that it's only 15 minutes away from my house.

There are HT's all over the place, but if you want a good representation, the one in Brookhaven (adjacent to Buckhead) is far and away the best -- if you let me know how you'll be coming in to Atlanta, directions would be easier to give. And of course, I'm partial to the Alpharetta Harry's (north Atlanta), so I could tell you how to get there, as well.

Dana, which one do you shop at the most?

Anyway, have a blast here! I love having all this selection and abundance at my fingertips http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[funnybone]

I used to live in Duluth, GA and there was a Harry's not far from the Gwinnett Place Mall
on Satellite BLvd., I believe. From what I remember, they had a number of locations, so depending on where you live, you would want to go to the closet one most likely.

[Mousie29]

Sarah Emily,

As many things in Atlanta are, I just wanted to point out that the several Harry's farmer's market locations are pretty far out in the suburbs, depending on where you are coming from, like everyone said! ATlanta is so spread out and Harry's seems like a destination (unless you live near it)compared to being in the city, in Buckhead, Lenox/Phipps, Decatur or Virginia Highlands.

Also, if you let us know the part of town you're staying in, I'm sure you'll get lots of answers (or the part of town you're shopping in).

[cchhbb]

I have to chime in here. Harry's is excellent for produce, fish, and ethnic foods. I really try to limit my shopping to those categories. I'm very disappointed with Harry's in a Hurry. I only go there to by fish during the week since Harry's is too far away for multiple trips during the week. I lived under 5 minutes from Harry's when I was in temporary housing in Duluth. Now it's a 25 minute drive to the Alpharetta store and I don't tend to go as much. Just a note: be careful about shopping there around a major holiday. It is a mess.

I have been disappointed by Harris Teaters that is near me. Frankly, I have found Publix to be a better solution for me. Maybe it's the Harris Teaters that is near me and the fact that our Publix is only a few weeks old.

[mb]

we lived in atlanta for about 4 months, and frankly, the only thing that we miss about atlanta now is harry's (sorry to all you atlantans...)

at first, we really liked harris teeter, but we also found the prices to be high. they have a free card you can get that gives you lots of discounts, though, and the one we went to also had double coupons, if that's your thing.

we lived right next to kroger, which i absolutely hated, so i would drive a little further to publix. i'm a floridian (where publix started), so i'm partial to publix http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif harris teeter was a little more out of the way, so we only went there on occasion for a regular grocery shopping.

Harry's, on the other hand, was a huge trek for us. We lived in Decatur, and found it easiest to hop on the highway and head out to the Harry's near Gwinnett Place Mall out in Duluth. Since we generally combined our stop at Harry's with other shopping stops out there, we would rarely buy perishable items, but it was so fun to peruse all the aisles and sample the wonderful goodies. There were always items that weren't in 'regular' grocery stores. We always bought a lot of stuff for what seemed like not much $.

Whatever you hear, keep in mind that Harry's is WAY better than the Dekalb Farmer's Market. That market is ok, but Harry's is the best!

mb

[Joyce]

I also come from Charlotte, and I have to say that whether Harris Teeter is wonderful depends on the places you have shopped previously. Compared to the New Haven, Ct. area, I have rate it extremely high, however compared to the Akron, Oh. area where I was used to fresh produce markets and the oh so wonderful West Point market, I would rate it not so great. The prices are definitely higher than the surrounding stores. We are going to Atlanta on Sunday of the C/L weekend, and I hope to visit Harry's. Sara Emily, if you are coming from a small place, where you do not have access to a variety of foods, you might want to pick out some ethnic specialties you like and visit an asian market, or a mexican market, etc.

[emilycat]

Sara Emily --
I don't know why I didn't think of this before -- here's the website: www.hfm.com (http://www.hfm.com)
It's not particularly extensive, but it should give you some idea of what the stores are like, and directions are included, as well. If you need more info on how to get certain places, though, don't hesitate to ask http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[cooksrhot]

kwormann

It's the Morrowcroft HT at Southpark Mall. I live 2 minutes from there, but don't like it too much cause 1-it's too huge and 2-there's a bunch of old crabby women who shop there! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif I shop at the smaller store down from the Harris Y at Quail Hollow and Carmel Roads.

I eat Wolfman Pizza ALOT! They deliver now, so it's definitely the pizza of choice. You can't beat the BLT!

What a coincidence that you went to Boone a lot. My best friend is the associate minister at Boone United Methodist. It used to be right next to campus. Did you go to school there?

BTW, did you teach here in Charlotte and where?

Joanne

[This message has been edited by cooksrhot (edited 05-11-2001).]

[Mousie29]

Sarah Emily,

I believe there's a Harry's in that area of Gwinnett, so you should be in good shape to go there.

Although Dekalb is my neighborhood market, these are some things you might like to buy at Harry's(non-perishable ideas):

gourmet pastas, rices, dried beans, spices in containers, pasta sauces, oils, capers, oriental sauces, soy milks, sun dried tomatoes - you'll see!

You will be very near the Harris Teeter mentioned, from Lenox, you just go north on peachtree a couple of miles. If you're going to Harry's, I doubt if you'll want to go to Harris Teeter though.

[kwormann]

cooksrhot

Ship me a WOlfman, ok?

I didnt "teach" there....I worked at a daycare down southwest side trying to see if I wanted to go back to school to be a teacher. I would love to move back someday, but DH has no interest! He worked for Brookstone at Southpark while we were there. We lived on the east side pretty close to Wolfman at Paces Glen apts...of course, with a retail manager and daycare salary, we didnt get to eat out much!

I miss Boone and Blowing Rock!

Kim

[iqueen]

I never leave Harry's without COFFEE!!!!!

[funnybone]

Oh, another thing about Harry's is that they have a better wine selection than the State run stores in PA. I used to buy most of my wine there as well.

[Sara Emily]

Thanks, folks! All of you have been so good about coming to the rescue! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

I had foolishly assumed that there was only ONE Harry's and ONE H-T store in Atlanta, so did not give the necessary details on where we will be staying and how we will be getting there! We will be coming up from Albany on I-85, and will be spending some time in the Lenox/Buckhead area (with a necessary visit to Phipps Plaza/Lenox Square shopping centers!) Our "home base" while in Atl. is Gwinette Place.

From the things I read in this thread, I may SKIP the Harris Tetters experience this trip and concentrate on Harry's. Albany is "pretty" good about the variety of things we are able to get, but a far, far cry from what is available in Atlanta, and I LOVE experimenting with new food items, ethnic cooking, etc. I would certainly be willing to travel a bit out of my way to have a GLORIOUS shopping experience at Harry's, followed by MONTHS of blissful creative cooking experimentation!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

If you could point me in the right direction, I would be obliged. "Y'all" are the GREATEST!

[Joyce]

Cookrhot, it's so funny...I live about a mile from the Harris Teeter at Quail Corners (in Cameron Woods on Park Rd.) I shop almost daily at Quail on my way home from work, but there is a big new HT at Arboretum (if you remember, near the big pink church) that is even better and bigger than Morrocroft!! Charlotte has changed so much. We also have a daughter living in Jefferson now, who used to be in Boone, so we are up there a lot.

[daner94]

Emilycat-

Since I moved to Dunwoody from Alpharetta a year ago, I am farther away from the Roswell Harry's so it is a trip for me to go there. I used to try to go every weekend but there is no other reason for me to head up that far so now I maybe go once every 6 weeks or so.

I do go to the Harry's in a Hurry in Dunwoody once in a while though, but it is not the same http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif

PS) The Gwinnett Place Harry's has a way more intense ethnic section because the neighborhood is so ethnically diverse-- you could easily spend an hour looking through those shelves! I like the Asian candy section.

[Melman]

I live in the upstate of SC. ANY TIME I get a chance to head to Atlanta, I make sure I have a chance to go to Harry's!! My favorite one if the Alpharetta store. I've been in there enough that I can pretty much find anything I want without too much effort.

Sara Emily originally asked: "You certainly don't want to leave Harry's without buying ___". I laughed at that question. There are certain things that are ALWAYS on any shopping trip.

* I usually pick up one unusual item in the produce stand. I've picked up beautiful asparagus tips, some kind of special sweet potatoes, assorted pears...stuff that I can't find in SC.
* The bread department!! OH MY!! I almost always come away with a loaf of cinnamon raisin hearth bread. The last time I was there, I bought a 9-grain bread instead. AWESOME!
* Be sure to look at the fish counter. It's HUGE! They have fish in there that I can't even identify!! I can't say I've tried any of the fish...I'm a little nervous about trying to get it back home even in a cooler.
* Check out the ethnic ingredients! Unbelievable!!
* Oils and vinegars!! Buy buy buy! They have an unbelievable selection of any flavor or brand...and quite a few items are at terrific prices. (I bought a bottle of really good olive oil about $4 cheaper than the same bottle in the local stores.)
* Chocolate....yum....just enjoy!!
* Cheese! Stop here! Wonderful choices...pretty decent prices. Check out the Brie cheese. I've found excellent prices periodically. Much much better prices than here. I think I paid around $9.99/pound for a hunk of Parmesan Regianno cheese...the local stores are $14.99/pound.
* If you buy Luna bars, you cannot beat these prices anywhere! Individually, they're 99 cents each. If you pack a carton of 15 assorted Luna bars, depending on the person at the register, you might end up getting it at the carton price....seems like it's $12.50 or so. I've even found a carton of sesame seed Luna bars on sale for a grand total of $5!!!!
* Flowers. Beautiful! I haven't brought any of those back with me either but they have a terrific selection.

PS.....Harris Teeter is my favorite store in my local area. :-) Prices are probably a little higher than other stores, but the selection is much better......and I have to admit I LOVE those double coupon offers!!!

[cooksrhot]

Neat Joyce! Do you go to the Harris Y at all? I teach wayer aerobics on Monday morings.

Small world, huh?

Joanne

[kwormann]

Joyce....I worked down the road from the big pink church....quite a ways, but you get the picture http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Kim