How Erewhon Became America's Most Expensive Grocery Store

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  • Опубліковано 10 гру 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 205

  • @bakrifustok2976
    @bakrifustok2976 10 місяців тому +262

    When you think of everything wrong with Los Angeles, your brain should start with Erewhon.

  • @loveleighladey7945
    @loveleighladey7945 Рік тому +586

    There's absolutely zero reason for food to cost this much

    • @bizrise
      @bizrise  Рік тому +23

      does expensive = better food?

    • @theanatolian2908
      @theanatolian2908 Рік тому +122

      yes there is. to keep poor people out, because how else would you appeal to rich hipsters

    • @nicholasbrooks7349
      @nicholasbrooks7349 Рік тому +7

      ​@@bizrise to a certain extent however not that much

    • @nawwk79
      @nawwk79 Рік тому +13

      Unless they are made from the tears of the heavenly celestial maiden of Kaéndran.

    • @Joyish94
      @Joyish94 Рік тому +14

      Pretentiousness is the reason

  • @kdeloris2225
    @kdeloris2225 Рік тому +249

    When you don't want to shop around regular people, this is where you go.

    • @stefanong1917
      @stefanong1917 Рік тому +35

      Soon the regular people will shop there just to gain social status.😂

    • @jasonhaven7170
      @jasonhaven7170 11 місяців тому

      They can't afford it. @@stefanong1917

    • @jerrimenard3092
      @jerrimenard3092 11 місяців тому

      They take food stamps. I looked it up.

    • @MayaMaya-tj7kw
      @MayaMaya-tj7kw 8 місяців тому +12

      It's expensive to avoid normal people

    • @RAHULTMNT100
      @RAHULTMNT100 3 місяці тому +2

      poor people eww

  • @colleenwhalen6981
    @colleenwhalen6981 7 місяців тому +109

    Unfortunately, there was almost next to nothing about the original Beverly Blvd Erewhon in West Hollwyood from the 1970s' I used to shop at that store every week and eventually got a job working in their Culver City warehouse, then I started my own Macrobiotic catering business and sold ready to eat deli food at the Erewhon store. The REAL Erewhon from Boston and West Hollywood back in the 1970s has NOTHING to do with this current store, in fact - Michio and Aveline Kushi are probably rolling in their graves about what the new store is about - $19 fruit smoothies and the parking lot crammed with papparazzis, and social influencers aiming for their 15 Minutes of Fame. $100 would buy you lunch and maybe a can of soup to take home for later.
    The REAL Erewhon back in the 1960s and 1970s was devoted to authentic organic food at reasonable prices even low income folks could afford - it was a gathering center for authentic people who were really devoted to the organic foods movement NOT celebrities trying to "make the scene" and get photographed by papparazzis. 100% of the produce was organic and all grown by small indie family farmers, ALL of them local organic farmers and this was back in the 1970s before the Locavore Movement and Farm to Fork movement was created about 45 years later. The original Erewhone was a visionary place, not just a shop to buy healthy organic groceries but more of a community center and relationship building for the organic foods movement and Macrobiotics.
    BTW there was some nonsense that the old store on Beverly Blvd was grubby and a dump - this is completely false. I still vividly remember the BEAUTIFUL and classy old store from the 1970s on Beverly Blvd - it was lovely, with hardwood floors and very light and airy with sunshine beaming through the windows. The folks who worked there were "Movement People" and we were really like a family - there was a Macrobiotic Study House Center near Wattles Park in West Hollywood that Macrobiotic teachers gave lectures and dinners in a wonderful community center that was run by volunteers.
    I moved from West Los Angeles in 1979 and frankly, I am relieved that I was not there for the final days when the old Erewhon on Beverly Blvd went out of business - what the video fails to explain was a BIG reason for that old store closing was the govt ruled it was not earthquake safe, so the property was demolished. I don't know anything about the new owner but it is clear he understands NOTHING about Macrobiotics and the carbon footprint of the new Erewhon throws out massive amounts of plastic packaging daily and all that stuff winds up in the oceans plastic gyre, landfill dumps or incinerated!

    • @CoolHand273
      @CoolHand273 6 місяців тому +17

      yes this is another sad story about how authenticity and good intentions gets corporatized and the original message is lost

    • @lovelydanadane
      @lovelydanadane 5 місяців тому +6

      Very enlightening. I moved to LA in the early 2000s and can remember when it was a “regular” health food store that I enjoyed patronizing.

    • @rayouellette4200
      @rayouellette4200 5 місяців тому +4

      Phew ! I’ve scrolled till I found you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts

  • @alec187
    @alec187 7 місяців тому +62

    Imma stick to my radioactive Walmart produce 😂😂❤

    • @Texas_ice
      @Texas_ice 5 місяців тому +8

      😂😂😂😂😂 not radioactive!! I’m weeeeak!!

  • @ericbishop3468
    @ericbishop3468 7 місяців тому +113

    Erewhon is an anagram of Nowhere.

    • @exeuropean
      @exeuropean 7 місяців тому

      or whoreone

    • @crobrazilac
      @crobrazilac 5 місяців тому +4

      Was looking through comments to see if anyone else noticed 😂

    • @LaurenceDay-d2p
      @LaurenceDay-d2p 3 місяці тому +5

      That says it all. You can buy good produce at Costco.

    • @josephgaviota
      @josephgaviota 3 місяці тому +1

      👏👏👏 Bravo!

  • @irememberla6460
    @irememberla6460 6 місяців тому +42

    Visited Erewhon in LA. I came, I saw, I left...!

  • @newgoliard6059
    @newgoliard6059 6 місяців тому +39

    The power of a brand. Why one thing costs more than the same thing elsewhere.

    • @rahimi4762
      @rahimi4762 6 місяців тому +2

      They probably pay the workers well and the suppliers get paid for harder work to keep food clean and organic

    • @Azul661
      @Azul661 5 місяців тому

      @@rahimi4762Cashiers at Erehwon make $16 an hour which is very low considering the cost of living in California

    • @alvaroga1n
      @alvaroga1n 4 місяці тому

      ???????? Why did you leave this comment

  • @LilLinton01
    @LilLinton01 6 місяців тому +45

    My gf keeps buying food from this place and I must say, all of it tastes incredible. Of all the things she wastes money on, Erewhon is one I might actually tolerate.

    • @Smiley35S
      @Smiley35S 4 місяці тому +9

      You can just go to Sprouts and get the same thing for less. Last week I got 3 bag and a 12 pack of topo chico for 150 but the bags were stuffed full.

    • @xPussySlayerx69420
      @xPussySlayerx69420 4 місяці тому

      That’s placebo. I used to religiously shop there but I tried Whole Foods and it’s the same thing

  • @arfriedman4577
    @arfriedman4577 Рік тому +57

    I only heard of this store recently from you tube. I was in LA in 1995 and I had not heard of erewhon. I was in LA for a week vacation.

    • @SweetSpot909
      @SweetSpot909 Рік тому +1

      it really started around 2012 or that tie frame

    • @Snappy650
      @Snappy650 Рік тому +12

      Erewhon is a waste of time. If you want to pay $16 dollars for a juice feel free. I have better uses for my money

    • @Snappy650
      @Snappy650 Рік тому +3

      My ex’s dad worked at the Fairfax location in ‘96 by the holocaust museum

    • @arfriedman4577
      @arfriedman4577 Рік тому +2

      Erewhon is too expensive for me.

    • @Snappy650
      @Snappy650 Рік тому +2

      I’ll stick to Canters! G-d bless

  • @OptimizeWithRajan
    @OptimizeWithRajan Рік тому +26

    How does this only have 8k views?! Just randomly had this thought on its rise and why it’s so big

    • @rbae
      @rbae 10 місяців тому +8

      I think this is an AI generated voiceover video lol

  • @tan8813
    @tan8813 Рік тому +51

    What they did is create a space without poor people, it’s less to do with food and more to do with creating a space only the rich can access “
    / shop at

  • @Ash2theB
    @Ash2theB Рік тому +64

    Now it makes sense. Japanese whole foods are super expensive during certain seasons and of the "designer foods as well."

    • @MayaMaya-tj7kw
      @MayaMaya-tj7kw 8 місяців тому +5

      This store isn't Japanese owned anymore

    • @Holdac-oq9lz
      @Holdac-oq9lz 6 місяців тому

      @@MayaMaya-tj7kwyes it is

    • @MayaMaya-tj7kw
      @MayaMaya-tj7kw 6 місяців тому +1

      @@Holdac-oq9lz nope am American guy bought it

    • @camieragdoll6661
      @camieragdoll6661 6 місяців тому +2

      @@Holdac-oq9lzIt literally tells you an American bought the company 4:14

  • @jerrimenard3092
    @jerrimenard3092 11 місяців тому +14

    I remember the cereals. They were at almost every health food store I went to as a kid. My parents were LDS and were always looking for food storage add ons. From what I remember, the oats were a decent price. Now, I would never shop there.

    • @nowyouredoingthesponge4644
      @nowyouredoingthesponge4644 6 місяців тому +1

      Yeah mine too
      They used to always get deseret foods. Their own brand was actually good

  • @randyscott3386
    @randyscott3386 4 місяці тому +3

    # 1 . Most Important Thing ! Set up the store in an area where the people are so rich they have no idea what the prices should be to even begin with for things like a loaf of bread or a pound of coffee . Then if they do ask questions .. Tell em it's special and it's organic and good for them .

  • @markdc1145
    @markdc1145 9 місяців тому +85

    No single business explains the disappearance of the middle class better than Erewhon.

    • @KOSMOinfinite
      @KOSMOinfinite 6 місяців тому +3

      It is a top of market store. It is not designed for middle or mass market.

    • @Bunnito-q2w
      @Bunnito-q2w 6 місяців тому +2

      @@KOSMOinfinite that’s not what OP said though.

  • @kalanioney5136
    @kalanioney5136 7 місяців тому +11

    If I had a choice between erewhon of Traders Joe, I’ll Definitely Chose Trader Joe’s

  • @nowyouredoingthesponge4644
    @nowyouredoingthesponge4644 6 місяців тому +9

    Well as an native to Florida which is in the US, we as a nation have the worst problems with health and it is because you walk into a store and you see all this junk food and candy, processed foods. So yes it's expensive to get non processed food but your health will thank you. The type of food that the store sells should be our normal and not a hot commodity

    • @ogororo1347
      @ogororo1347 6 місяців тому +5

      You can buy the same shit, make it yourself for a fraction of what they sell it at

    • @ws1814
      @ws1814 4 місяці тому +2

      I don’t think you should put the total blame on shops. People also should use their brain and buy healthier products and also cook as much as possible at home.

    • @nowyouredoingthesponge4644
      @nowyouredoingthesponge4644 4 місяці тому +1

      @@ws1814 I know it's personal choice as well

  • @shawyonsharifi3394
    @shawyonsharifi3394 5 місяців тому +6

    There is a place very similar to this in my town. It’s like an upscale Whole Foods, it’s not a chain though. But it’s a fancy two story grocery store, all organic food, higher end meats (think A5 wagyu beef) with a real premium butcher. Premium craft beers, a fresh bakery, wine tasting bar, sushi bar, indoor and outdoor seating where u can order food, and little stands of stores selling premium jams, juices, and jellies. However it makes sense for my location (my town has a lot of high income families) it’s also the priciest grocery store I’ve ever seen. It’s still pretty though and I always go there after school with my friends to get something to eat.

  • @DanaBrady-h9m
    @DanaBrady-h9m 10 місяців тому +37

    Ill stick with Aldi

  • @mohandx4z
    @mohandx4z Рік тому +134

    This is such a massive scam

    • @gjd424
      @gjd424 7 місяців тому +11

      Exactly the same people who buy Gucci and can’t afford shop here 😂

    • @HumanFirst001
      @HumanFirst001 6 місяців тому +4

      That's the only way you can make money now.. Not thru honesty 🙏

  • @d3vi0uz1
    @d3vi0uz1 6 місяців тому +16

    The same mindless drones who will complain about "corporate greed" are the same drones who happily shop at Erewhon and brag about it on social media.

  • @undermygarage
    @undermygarage Рік тому +7

    Great and informal video thanks

  • @CoolHand273
    @CoolHand273 6 місяців тому +9

    This place makes whole paycheck look like the walmart grocery isle.

    • @josephgaviota
      @josephgaviota 3 місяці тому +1

      In my neighborhood they're building a new Erewhon ... about 3 blocks north of a Whole Foods. I wonder how this is going to work out?

  • @LEONFENG134
    @LEONFENG134 10 місяців тому +20

    It’s nothing about the green; it’s everything about the greed

  • @marielabelle1492
    @marielabelle1492 6 місяців тому +4

    My daughter moved from the mid west to Los Angeles and kept bragging about this supermarket. When I came across this video, I thought the whole time she was saying Air One😂😂😂 But seriously, with the homeless population out of control in L.A., this supermarket shouldn’t even exist! They certainly have their priorities all screwed up!

  • @Bobross12345
    @Bobross12345 7 місяців тому +11

    Even if I was a billionaire I’d much rather just go to my local grocery store.

  • @Bboyred20
    @Bboyred20 Рік тому +23

    I work a across the street from an erowhon it’s disgusting. No cash no card under an undefined minimum ENTITRE store has monthly price hikes and clientele regularly hits pedestrians cause they’re looking at phones while speeding their land rovers

    • @angelinimartini
      @angelinimartini 10 місяців тому +4

      No cash and no card? Then what do they take?

    • @jhundo
      @jhundo 9 місяців тому

      @@angelinimartinihe’s saying there is a minimum purchase amount for both types of payment

    • @SashRobin
      @SashRobin 7 місяців тому +5

      ​@@angelinimartinithey mean customers can only bring a certain minimum amount of money in order to shop there. For example no less than $100.

  • @ClaudiusPGreen
    @ClaudiusPGreen 7 місяців тому +7

    Erewhon better not come to NYC; Whole Foods Market is quite enough, thank you.

  • @frontporchmint
    @frontporchmint Рік тому +3

    I am partial to the farm fresh almond milk and the smoothies; favorite location is in Pasadena, since its not a mission like the L.A location(s).

  • @jimmynodean
    @jimmynodean 9 місяців тому +2

    Very informative video

  • @lee420129
    @lee420129 6 місяців тому +3

    We need to do studies on babies fed on only Erewhon products

  • @SandraSealySeawomanBDS
    @SandraSealySeawomanBDS 5 місяців тому +4

    The profits are a "side benefit"? Yeah. Riiiight.

  • @houseofhamm
    @houseofhamm Рік тому +8

    excellent insight of the history of Erewhon. my favorite place ever

  • @benjaminlibertarianscorpio
    @benjaminlibertarianscorpio 2 місяці тому

    Erewhon is a great place to spot celebs at

  • @jirou6228
    @jirou6228 10 місяців тому +11

    I guess Erewhon is not aimed for the lower income and is not your everyday supermarket... it does have some niche products that you couldn't buy easily but still...

  • @JojoDamap
    @JojoDamap 4 місяці тому

    definitely shopping here anytime I’m in LA

  • @KokoKyssed1
    @KokoKyssed1 7 місяців тому +2

    There’s one being built near Ponce City Market 🥳🥳

  • @th2030
    @th2030 Рік тому +8

    Very informative video :)

  • @ewed418
    @ewed418 4 місяці тому

    I entered a fancy bakery in Prague (CZ) the other day and I saw a cookie for the equivalent of 8 euros. I left immediatelly noticing many visitors were also sprinting towards the door. Erewhon bullcrap has spread worldwide

  • @gjd424
    @gjd424 7 місяців тому +2

    When they stopped selling all organic and their hot bar wasn’t hot I stopped with the madness😅

  • @lucyguiland-nt9vu
    @lucyguiland-nt9vu 4 місяці тому +1

    Quality cost🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

  • @jbb8261
    @jbb8261 6 місяців тому +1

    I actually sell stickers designed after the smoothies on my red bubble account. I’ve sold so many 😂😂😂

  • @Ruth-os4mi
    @Ruth-os4mi 6 місяців тому +3

    Love it. Yes I'm pretentious and segregate myself from poor people.

  • @gracecooney4504
    @gracecooney4504 3 місяці тому +2

    I stick to Costco I don’t need Gucci grocery store🙄

  • @Lifeisshortby
    @Lifeisshortby 6 місяців тому +1

    That was Victoria principal in the movie earthquake clip.

  • @tonatiuhcortes9968
    @tonatiuhcortes9968 5 місяців тому +1

    It’s crazy how every where else in the world organic food is sourced locally and sold to locals for a reasonable price yet here in America you need to pay a premium arm and a leg just to purchase organic sourced produce. Late stage capitalism is insane

  • @alyssajones4368
    @alyssajones4368 7 місяців тому +2

    Holy shit. And I thought Sprouts Farmer's Market was a little on the pricier side 😮

  • @Atilla-m9i
    @Atilla-m9i 6 місяців тому +2

    Too much inventory on shelves to be considered luxurious

  • @LaurenceDay-d2p
    @LaurenceDay-d2p 3 місяці тому +1

    If people want to waste their money paying high prices, let them.

  • @pitigus76
    @pitigus76 6 місяців тому

    I mean, i cant afford to shop there but the FOMO makes me want to travel from CDMX to LA just to go there 😂

  • @veronicadhawkins
    @veronicadhawkins Рік тому +2

    Good job

  • @SweetSpot909
    @SweetSpot909 Рік тому +2

    well produced video

  • @speedyflixofficial
    @speedyflixofficial 2 роки тому +2

    Hey man, I reached out again! Thanks!

  • @leagueofotters2774
    @leagueofotters2774 3 місяці тому +1

    There's one born every minute...

  • @rancosteel
    @rancosteel 5 місяців тому +1

    Nothing exceeds like excess.

  • @lee420129
    @lee420129 6 місяців тому +1

    Based on taste tests by influencers, I'd rather live next to Trader Joe's than Erewhon

  • @SimplySheilaB
    @SimplySheilaB 11 місяців тому +8

    They’re totally milking the instaworthy and flex culture system and the sheep still keep spending 😂 #afoolandhismoneyareeasilyparted

  • @Mikomido5
    @Mikomido5 5 місяців тому +1

    People who don’t mind getting ripped off shop here

  • @williamkim5016
    @williamkim5016 3 місяці тому +1

    For the rest of us, there’s Trader Joe’s

  • @reillytaha6669
    @reillytaha6669 Рік тому +1

    7:28

  • @ws1814
    @ws1814 4 місяці тому +1

    So only rich people should have access to healthy food?

  • @fiof
    @fiof 8 місяців тому +4

    75 thousand homeless people in LA county and 20 dollar yogurt. Then my American friends get offended when I tell them they are going straight to hell.

  • @JackTrahanOfficial
    @JackTrahanOfficial Місяць тому

    I’m eating Erewhon right now btw

  • @dgchvz
    @dgchvz Рік тому +13

    So it’s just expensive to be expensive? A joke.

    • @jordancastillo9654
      @jordancastillo9654 10 місяців тому +1

      Yes if people can’t afford it just don’t shop there simple as that

    • @gjd424
      @gjd424 7 місяців тому +3

      Yes a lot of the products are the exact same as Whole Foods but twice as much!😂

  • @Nesuma-mo9qp
    @Nesuma-mo9qp 7 місяців тому +4

    Erewhon should be boycotted. The prices are ridiculous. Eating food is a basic need for all living beings to ensure survival. Food should not be a luxury good.

    • @camieragdoll6661
      @camieragdoll6661 6 місяців тому +1

      Relax, other grocery stores exist (also Erewhon encompasses a small area anyways aka not coming to a neighborhood near you)

  • @MalaysiaBarista
    @MalaysiaBarista 5 місяців тому +1

    Voice sounds like Siri on my phone

  • @savvystrandsxsnatchthatcat8122
    @savvystrandsxsnatchthatcat8122 7 місяців тому +3

    The owners look like they aged like ….

  • @jaimalhotra8702
    @jaimalhotra8702 6 місяців тому +2

    Why did I see Raj Kapoor in a grocery store video

  • @lee420129
    @lee420129 6 місяців тому +1

    I like fancy but not that fancy

  • @derHINDU
    @derHINDU 5 місяців тому

    It's "Yin & Yang"

  • @xpaperxcutx4588
    @xpaperxcutx4588 6 місяців тому +1

    What?? You mean this is more expensive than Whole Foods???

  • @NowherewithNate
    @NowherewithNate 10 місяців тому +4

    I love the video but hate the ai narrator’s voice

  • @landi76
    @landi76 3 місяці тому

    *chickenmeat from ERWOHN comes from a farm and from a random grocery store it comes from a concentration camp*

  • @kalanioney5136
    @kalanioney5136 7 місяців тому +1

    A lot of Celebs Shop there.

  • @kingo904
    @kingo904 5 місяців тому +2

    I wonder if your doo doo comes out expensive after eating food from here

  • @carlyg7322
    @carlyg7322 2 місяці тому

    Am I the one that is prouder and more showy about how little I spent on something?

  • @paulreza5354
    @paulreza5354 5 місяців тому +3

    Influencers are losers.

  • @j-h-123
    @j-h-123 Місяць тому

    Just because you're wealthy doesn't mean you should waste your money. If you want to knowingly get ripped off, then you do you. I personally would rather spend my hard-earned money on other things that give me joy instead. I guess their target market is celebrities and it's all about the status. 🤷

  • @xenafan234
    @xenafan234 6 місяців тому +2

    Do they Take EBT? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAH!!!!!!!!

  • @nayyy9822
    @nayyy9822 5 місяців тому

    7:36 Tf is Joe Goldberg doing there lol

  • @RobertPahlavi-ko4gj
    @RobertPahlavi-ko4gj 5 місяців тому

    Should we close the erewhon stores? Maybe I could afford justice and 3 meals a day then ? #ayatollah

  • @parrotletsrunearth1173
    @parrotletsrunearth1173 5 місяців тому +1

    This makes the Japanese markets seem like low budget. I would NEVER shop here!!!!!!!!!

  • @texaswild3346
    @texaswild3346 3 місяці тому

    *temu can offer 1000 erewhon shopping bag just for $19.99*

  • @jeffbabies7428
    @jeffbabies7428 6 місяців тому

    Uh, I think you mean YIN and YANG. Not YING. And just FYI, “YANG” should be pronounced more like “YUNG”. All of this being information readily available on UA-cam, ironically enough, when one sets out to make an educational video on the very same platform, but then strangely does not use said platform to educate oneself on their own subject matter.

  • @cringecraft1845
    @cringecraft1845 Місяць тому

    Why is this place not bankrupt?

  • @Kv-nb1gm
    @Kv-nb1gm Місяць тому

    You forgot the cult fase

  • @shadralewis5433
    @shadralewis5433 6 місяців тому +1

    Too bad they couldn’t afford a real human narrator, instead of AI.

  • @nexx410
    @nexx410 7 місяців тому +3

    So health is for the rich

    • @wh6201
      @wh6201 7 місяців тому

      Yes, the poor can go kick rocks.

  • @alvaroga1n
    @alvaroga1n 4 місяці тому

    He says influencers and chooses an actor and an unknown person….. your research can’t be trusted

  • @BarbaraPineda-v9p
    @BarbaraPineda-v9p 4 місяці тому

    @ericbisop3468 7945-2mo ago you's confused, and so mad that's becuz...your's life's styles no where's, I changed m...life's styles also I had individ...too checked for blood pressured, and it's was 132/ 85 still higher becuz...its had somethings too, do with medicals, r...artist...and also obesity too, so agained I had other's individ...too have's its...checked agained, it's lower 124/82 better then before, the products I ates organic, and other's products, not too much sodium, and sugary,

  • @jocelynadolfo-cg1vm
    @jocelynadolfo-cg1vm 5 місяців тому

    This is pure corrupt, greedy and immoral way of business.

  • @brettfine3444
    @brettfine3444 4 місяці тому

    And people fall for this scam??? Sad!

  • @ELEKTRARE
    @ELEKTRARE 5 місяців тому

    Nope 👎🏼 byeeeeeeeeeee

  • @stevieg6418
    @stevieg6418 6 місяців тому +2

    Erewhon may be flashy but I think Bristol Farms is the real money shoppers choice.

  • @michaelmcginsie2600
    @michaelmcginsie2600 6 місяців тому +2

    Just lost 5 sec of my life