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GAW -“After all, they have a nut bar.”
What’s that?!?
GAW -“After all, they have a nut bar.”
What’s that?!?
My understanding (as reported to me) is this is a specialty appetizing area that only sells different types of nuts, such as walnuts, cashews, etc. A sign of decadence and spare wealth that the area has.
Nuts are actually healthy (not sure if everything there actually is, like too much sugar, salt etc.) And are overpriced due to the huge demand precisely because of its health benefits. Although with China’s economy going downward, it’s bound to change.
“that only sells different types of nuts,””A sign of decadence and spare wealth that the area has.”
You know that in Geula there are a number of stores that sell only nuts and the like.
On the corner s of Manhattan there are street vendors selling nuts.
Are those considered the height of decadence?
It seems that it is just a section in the store, perhaps offering an opportunity for some young man to have some sort of job.
It was described to me as being extremely luxurious, not like the stalls in Machane Yehudah. Perhaps someone who lives in the area of Lakewood can give us a report regarding the store and tell us what they think?
gavra, the description that reached you about the luxuriousness of that nut bar is an extreme overdescription, to put it diplomatically.
Joe – You live in Lakewood and have seen it?
I only ask because you are prone to making statements that support your cause/thoughts, but then have no facts to back it up.
You have been to Gourmet Glatt in Lakewood? What is it like?
I’ve been to Gourmet Glatt. It’s a “fancy store” but it isn’t the lap of luxury.
Based on what it charges, I would say Gourmet Glatt appeals to people of above average means. I remember a couple of years ago, a quart of chicken soup sold for $8! Just soup!
I’ve been to Gourmet Glatt. It’s a “fancy store” but it isn’t the lap of luxury.
Mind giving us a verbal tour? I would be interested to hear how it compares to somewhere like Shalom Kosher (the big Kosher only store in Silver Spring, if you’ve ever been there) or Pomegranate in Brooklyn (which I have visited).
I’ll take your word on the nut bar. It doesn’t change the Lakewood has much more money than it ever had, and is more Gashmius (which contributes to the issues of schools not wanting to accept that “type”).
Thanks.
How would you describe Pomegranate, gavra?
I haven’t been there for a while, but…
First, there is valet parking. You walk into the store, and there is a gourmet hand crafted cheese display to your right, and a huge sushi area straight ahead. Turning left, a showcase of artisan breads. The fruits and veggies are beyond that, and the meat counter (sliced to order and packaged) is in the back left of the store.
I could go on, but you get the idea?
P.S. For people who go there or live in Brooklyn, was that accurate?
Pomegranate has higher prices than say the Kollel store or Goldbergs but not by much. Where Pomegranate gets expensive are in specialty items, like cured meat at $50 a pound.
Pomegranate: A chambered, many-seeded, globose fruit, having a tough, usually red rind and surmounted by a crown of calyx lobes, the edible portion consisting of pleasantly acid flesh developed from the outer seed coat.
GAW -“If the policy is full tution or elsewhere, that is the price that needs to be paid!”
So what is wrong with my post of -“There should be 2 full tuitions, one for the rich & one for the poor!”?
I never have been in Glatt Gourmet!
gavra, Gourmet Glatt could fit into the same category you’ve described for Pomegranate. But that is a display of “extreme wealth”?! I mean those are all very expensive food items that most people don’t often buy, but luxury is relative. An expensive (i.e. $25) pen is a luxury considering you can buy a pen for 50 cents. Purchasing a fancy wallet versus a cheaper wallet can also be called a luxury. And an infrequent purchase of artisan bread and fancy sliced-to-order meat (or nuts from the nut bar) in Pomegranate or Gourmet can be a luxury. But none of these I would call a display of extreme wealth.
A display of extreme wealth is more along the lines of having a yacht or new Lamborghini. A display of wealth is more along the lines of going to a hotel for Pesach. But being an occasional customer of a fancy food item in Gourmet Glatt (let alone being in the store simply to purchase milk) isn’t a display of wealth, let alone extreme wealth.
gavra, Gourmet Glatt could fit into the same category you’ve described for Pomegranate. But that is a display of “extreme wealth”?! I mean those are all very expensive food items that most people don’t often buy, but luxury is relative. An expensive (i.e. $25) pen is a luxury considering you can buy a pen for 50 cents. Purchasing a fancy wallet versus a cheaper wallet can also be called a luxury. And an infrequent purchase of artisan bread and fancy sliced-to-order meat (or nuts from the nut bar) in Pomegranate or Gourmet can be a luxury. But none of these I would call a display of extreme wealth.
A display of extreme wealth is more along the lines of having a yacht or new Lamborghini. A display of wealth is more along the lines of going to a hotel for Pesach. But being an occasional customer of a fancy food item in Gourmet Glatt (let alone being in the store simply to purchase milk) isn’t a display of wealth, let alone extreme wealth.
Sure, of an individual. But as a community, it shows that the community has excess that can be spent on luxury items, so the stores stock them.
It isn’t Rav Aharon’s (or even Rav Shneur’s) Lakewood anymore.
I’m still interested in the verbal tour, if you have the time.
I don’t see it reflecting a sense of extreme luxury on the community as a whole because a yochid businessman decided to open a grocery store, keep it well kept and have some sections in the supermarket sell fancy prepared food items. All it reflects is that he thinks (perhaps/hopefully correctly) that there are enough people able to purchase those products for him to make a profit after paying his workers for preparing and maintaining those sections.
The verbal tour would fall generally along the same lines you gave for Pomegranate. (The valet parking there is because in Brooklyn you have a lack of parking problem.)
“But as a community, it shows that the community has excess that can be spent on luxury items”
Nah, it shows that there is an extremely wealthy family in need of a hobby.
I went in to see the place one time when I was in town. I was wowed.
I went in to see the place one time when I was in town. I was wowed.
Mind going into details?
The verbal tour would fall generally along the same lines you gave for Pomegranate. (The valet parking there is because in Brooklyn you have a lack of parking problem.)
Like was said originally, they don’t open Pomegranate or Gourmet Glatt in areas that are “Out of Town”.
“Mind going into details?”
It was a while ago, and I had a newborn at the time, so my memory is a little hazy. I remember big whole fish in ice in a show window. The items were displayed beautifully. Many spacious isles filled with everything you could want. There was also a screen where you can electronically, not sure what. The place looked like a present tied up in a ribbon.
What’s the frum population in Lakewood?
There are wealthy people in Lakewood, and even not wealthy people occasionally splurge. With a large population, you can’t really say that a nut bar (uch’domeh) shows that the overall character is one of decadence and wealth.
Like was said originally, they don’t open Pomegranate or Gourmet Glatt in areas that are “Out of Town”.
Because there are too few Jews OOT. You’ll always find 1% who can regularly afford luxuries. If you’re starting in a town with a million Jews, 1% is significant; if a town has only 10,000 Jews, 1% won’t support it.
Except that Lakewood’s Jewish population is still a little short of a million…
So I’d venture a guess that about 10% regularly buy those specialty items, and another 25% splurges every once in a while or lekovad a “special” Shabbos or occasion. But I’m just pulling those numbers out of my magic hat…
What’s the frum population in Lakewood?
There are wealthy people in Lakewood, and even not wealthy people occasionally splurge. With a large population, you can’t really say that a nut bar (uch’domeh) shows that the overall character is one of decadence and wealth.
“overall character” Maan D’kar Shmei? The point is (and you seem to agree) that a school the caters to full tuition payers as an “elite” school should do well for that subgroup, as there is a significant presence in Lakewood.
“Mind going into details?”
It was a while ago, and I had a newborn at the time, so my memory is a little hazy. I remember big whole fish in ice in a show window. The items were displayed beautifully. Many spacious isles filled with everything you could want. There was also a screen where you can electronically, not sure what. The place looked like a present tied up in a ribbon.
Sounds like a fun place to visit/window shop. I’ll have to put it on my bucket list.
No, I don’t agree. There is little or no demand (v’ho raya, it doesn’t exist).
In the 2010 census, Lakewood had a population of 92,000. About 50-60% of the towns population is frum meaning about 50-60,000 people
Gavra: For sure if you are in the area, it’s worth popping in just to see the place. There aren’t many (or any) that compare in the kosher market.
No, I don’t agree. There is little or no demand (v’ho raya, it doesn’t exist).
Lo Raeinu Aino Rayah!
Seriously though, the transition is still new. Let’s see where we are in 5/10 years. I would expect a Flatbush/Five Towns type Yeshiva to open in Lakewood.
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