Milam's market is the worst store on the planet
I went to Publix yesterday but it was so crowded with Thanksgiving shoppers that I couldn't get a parking spot, so I went to Milam's.
Milam's never changes. It's dirty and overpriced. It reminds me of those dingy grocery stores my mother went to when we were kids in Brooklyn.
The food at Milams is double the price of all the other stores and the quality is the worst. One lady and I stared at the meat for a good 20 minutes, both trying to find something that wasn't full of gristle or fat. She finally gave up and said, "I'm going to The Fresh Market." And I said, "I'll see you there."
So off we went. I got a great steak at The Fresh Market, for a fraction of what Milam's charges. It had no gristle and very little fat and the guy behind the counter went out of his way to be sure I had a good steak. At Milam's the guys behind the meat counter are usually yelling back and forth to each other, ignoring the customers. If you stand there, you can hear about their recent fishing trips or what they plan to do over the weekend, they like to yell at the top of their lungs across the floor, forgetting that there are customers there who don't give a crap about their weekend plans.
At The Fresh Market, I got a panini, a bunch of fruits and vegetables and juice, the iced tea that I like (which is the same brand at Milam's but only cheaper at The Fresh Market), and the best part was that the creepy lady who I don't like wasn't working. So it ended up being a great shopping trip.
I know Milam's has a new store in the works, so I am anxious to see how that goes. But remember, you can put a tuxedo on a monkey, but it's still a monkey.
Milam's never changes. It's dirty and overpriced. It reminds me of those dingy grocery stores my mother went to when we were kids in Brooklyn.
The food at Milams is double the price of all the other stores and the quality is the worst. One lady and I stared at the meat for a good 20 minutes, both trying to find something that wasn't full of gristle or fat. She finally gave up and said, "I'm going to The Fresh Market." And I said, "I'll see you there."
So off we went. I got a great steak at The Fresh Market, for a fraction of what Milam's charges. It had no gristle and very little fat and the guy behind the counter went out of his way to be sure I had a good steak. At Milam's the guys behind the meat counter are usually yelling back and forth to each other, ignoring the customers. If you stand there, you can hear about their recent fishing trips or what they plan to do over the weekend, they like to yell at the top of their lungs across the floor, forgetting that there are customers there who don't give a crap about their weekend plans.
At The Fresh Market, I got a panini, a bunch of fruits and vegetables and juice, the iced tea that I like (which is the same brand at Milam's but only cheaper at The Fresh Market), and the best part was that the creepy lady who I don't like wasn't working. So it ended up being a great shopping trip.
I know Milam's has a new store in the works, so I am anxious to see how that goes. But remember, you can put a tuxedo on a monkey, but it's still a monkey.
posted by Tom Falco at 12:01 PM
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19 Comments:
Milam's is the worst. I blame the lame management.
I agree with you, I do not understand why people shop there at all.
Thanks Grape for your comment...I thought Fresh Market would be more expensive without doing any comparing myself.....
I think youre exaggerating big time. Ive always found the guys in the fish/meat department to be helpful when they arent busy cutting and wrapping product. Ive never heard this "yelling", which was most likely casual conversation and God forbid someone converse casually at their supermarket job. While the red meats there do occasionally suffer, the poultry is great and the fish is of good quality as well. Pricewise they are equal, if not lower than FM. In fact, FM brought down their prices on a number of seafood and meat items to compete with Milams because they were way high (ex: FROZEN scallops used to be $19.99/lb @ FM whereas they were $14.99 at Milam's and occasionally on sale for $9.99). Milam's is hardly "double the price of all other stores" and I can name 2 off the top of my head (Publix & Winn-Dixie) where quality is much worse.
While I will agree with you that Milam's definitely has its work to do to improve and become a better market (the market really needs to be organized better), I disagree with your raging diatribe listed in this post. This is just another classic example of Grapevine Tom flying off the handle because his lofty expectations are higher than what was presented to him. Hypocritical too, coming from someone who was on his soapbox during the Home Depot issue advocating to save Milam's and who now leaves nasty blog posts that encourage shoppers to go elsewhere.
TFM has always had better prices than Milams on most things. Milams is there only to line the pockets of Max Milam they do nothing to benefit the community. They used to give away turkeys at Thanksgiving I don't even think they do that anymore. Shame.
Grapie, I agree with you on this one.
As you know most of the staff abdicated from Milams to the Fresh Market when Fresh Market first opened. Wonder why.
No one is flying off the handle on this one. This one hit bullseye. The place is dirty and pricey. I only go in there for emergencies. I've always wondered how they stay in business.
Milams is barely worth buying soda from. Their fruits look like hell, especially the grouping to the righ of the entrance.
I also bought fish there twice (TWICE) only to find it smelling somthing bad on the way home. I returned it both times, the latter being the last time I bought anything other than soda or chips there.
Max Milam does give to the community but in his own quiet way. That is a fact. The residents fought to keep Milams because it is the only full service grocery store in the Grove and Home Depot had no right to take that away from the Grove.
If Max wants to give back to the community he should lower his prices, sell fresh food and clean up that dump.
Max has no respect for the community or he wouldn't try to pass of third rate crap to us at top prices.
Yeah Grape, Brooklyn In Da House!!
What neighborhood are you from, I'd be happy to send you some Bodega Photos if you're Homesick!
They probably are either a bank or a nail salon nowaday's.
Brooklyn loves The Grove!
I am not with you on this one - I have no real issue with Milams, and staff there have been very kind to me - always. They have one of the best (and freshest) meat counters in the city, and some of the best prices - have you seen some of the specials over the last two weeks... have you? I even know people who drive all the way from Key Biscayne to buy stone crabs (very good prices too..)
The new store will even better.
If I need anything the staff will look for it (in back) and order what I need too.
And the butchers have been really good with me (maybe I am a regular) and I have been treated with the most respect.
I worry you like the "hate" a bit too much. It is your blog after all - but with this one your wrong, in my opinion. And I do not work at Milams. And, if you really had such an issue why don't you write Max. As you have pointed out to others on your site at different times - let the owner know what going on... But, I still feel you totally off-base with this one, really.
And I was just in Pulix two days ago - and the pricing is not that different - and the meat counter at publix is so limited. Once I tried to buy a leg of lamb for Easter - and they thought I was "crazy" (Stores on 27th and 107th).
And speaking of stores, have you been to the WinDixie on Coral Way (by Babies R Us) that is a nice store - and I had never thought of that store as nice (check it out).
So, Grape-V, sometimes I read and I just think you love the "hating", and this is your vent - your blog, which is your right, it's your blog. But, please do not be surprised when people call you on your objectivity (and or selectiveness).
Great blogg'n require great responsibility.... While I wish you well, I worry that you are getting rather crotchity with time.
All the best,
Bill Anderson
Overpriced food? How do you think they're going to pay for that expensive redo? I told you cut oolite for a storefront would be expensive, but you put me down for that comment. Yes, a pretty storefront would be nice, but I'd rather have the prices the same or lower than the other stores. (I haven't been in there since the huge picture of Linda Haskin was hanging over the tomato and basil.)
So, Grape, I figure you can probably forget about getting Max to advertise on the blog?
:)
I totally agree!
I bought chicken from there - and it was BAD!!! It smelled horrible -I returned it and didn't even get an apology.
I think it's overpriced also, but so is Fresh Market. To discuss either store as a place to shop regularly is just putting you in a rich, snotty, grovite class. how about a nice little Publix with parking like the one in South Miami where i do all my shopping.
On Saturday, December 27th I went out of my way to go to the Coconut Grove Milam's. Among other things I left with 1 lb of Mahi Mahi ($9). When my boyfriend took it out to cook it on Monday evening, it smelled awful! So, I again, went out of my way to return it. I ended up exchanging it and left with a lb of Grouper ($19). Took it out of the refrigerator to cook it this evening and it was starting to smell very fishy--not inedible, but on its way. After looking at it closer, it was very bony. A Pre-Schooler could have done a better job at filleting this fish. So tomorrow, I will again go out of my way to go to Milam's--One Last Time
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