I find the Emory Commons Publix to be better and better over time under the leadership of John Saneda so I’m hoping that any inconveniences with the rearrangement are temporary. I was a little confused when I ran into the store last week but I was able to find a staff person immediately to find me what I wanted. I think a Starbucks or Caribou would fit in here more than the Big Kroger. I seem to be the only one buying coffee at the Big Kroger Starbucks. (Only way I can get the courage sometimes….)

I tend to use Big Kroger or Sam’s Club (also rearranged recently, confusing me much more than Publix) when I’m doing a big monster amount of food shopping and have plenty of time to trek the huge aisles and handle the long checkout lines. I use Emory Commons Publix more for those frequent, routine trips to buy staples and last-minute items when I don’t have a whole hour or more to spend at the store. It’s cheerier, friendlier, and quicker and the extra expense doesn’t add up as much for small to medium size shopping lists. On the other hand, I’m sure to see someone I know from Decatur and/or work. So I have to make sure I’m not looking too raunchy. At Big Kroger, I always feel overdressed.

You can’t find anything without walking up and down every aisle about 3 times. My 30 minute trip stretched to a frustrating an infuriating hour and 15 minutes. I got sick of walking back and forth, peering up at the signs and down the aisles trying to find … bread? Oh no! Where did I pass the canned vegetables? Wait, I saw fruit juice somewhere. Where was it? Salad dressing? Peanut butter? Rats! I think the peanut butter was on the cereal aisle. Lightbulbs? No longer on the end at the back; hidden halfway down one of the aisles in the middle. They have been out of 60W bulbs for 3 weeks now. Canned nuts? Where the heck did I see them? Dog food? Oh man! It’s not at the back. Soup? I think it was at the front. Think of something else you want, just before you leave? Probably take you 15 minutes to find it. Prepare yourself for a lot of walking back and forth and grumbling. Very dissatisfied. They are apparently not at all interested in keeping loyal customers happy. I (used to) spend $200 a week in this store.

This is why I quit going to the little Kroger on Commerce Drive. They re-arranged that too. I never went back.

I gave up about halfway through my list (after an hour and 15 minutes of getting angry and hot) and went to the big Kroger. They are happy to take my $200 a week. Almost everything I had purchased at Publix was cheaper at Kroger too. The pineapple was $4.99 at Publix and $2.99 at Kroger. That was the first thing I noticed. A lot less stressful and a lot less infuriating when things stay where they belong.

I don’t plan to go back to Publix unless I absolutely have to, and then I will only go around the edges to bakery and deli, etc. and not wander the aisles looking for apple juice and bread. This is ridiculous. They have lost me as a loyal customer.