They’re organic, overpriced and spreading fast! Khim’s Millenium Markets, like the one on Bushwick Avenue, have enjoyed nine years of success in North Brooklyn and a recent article in the New York Press examines whether the rise of this luxury corner store is threatening those old, grimy local bodegas that reek of “bacon and bleach.”
Reporter Sarah Portlock gives readers a peek into the mind of Charlie Khim, the Millenium Market’s birth-giver, while providing some interesting background on the chain’s roots. One of the main gripes in the article is the grocer’s high prices, which Charlie believes are justified through store cleanliness and friendly service, but there are always alternatives for poor herbivores: dumpster diving! (On several occasions, I’ve seen local residents digging through the trash bags outside the Khim’s near the Montrose L stop. Apparently they throw out perfectly edible wheat crackers and organic cookie dough…)
Courtney May 13th, 2009 at 9:33 am
How about justified for people with severe food allergies that can’t eat many of the things sold in bodegas? I regularly shop at Khims before heading out to Ridgewood because I can’t buy soy/wheat free soup, flour, bread, pasta, frozen dinners etc. in my neighborhood. I know I’m an exception, and I save money using Fresh Direct for some of these things…but bodegas are for my lunchmeat, milk, morning coffee and junk food. I like both.
Jeremy Sapienza May 13th, 2009 at 9:58 am
I think they’re all too expensive. Bodegas are a ripoff for the stuff I buy locally like garlic, coffee, pasta, rice — I get that stuff at supermarkets. Khim’s isn’t near my house but even if it were, I’m not sure I’d pay the $30 for a watermelon they tried to charge me on my way to a BBQ once. That stuff would come from Fresh Direct.
Dresden May 13th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Korean delis are nicer, cleaner and about 1-2 dollars more than boedgas, but like everything, the immigrant comes in and is willing to work shitty ugly nasty jobs and do them better than the immigrant who came before… that’s America. So, good luck Koreans. The Arabs are coming next.
ricmac01 May 15th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Three cheers for FreshDirect!
Mjay May 24th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
My bodega across the street, charges me a different price for milk every time I go in there:also my carpenter was buying there regularly and he pulled the same stunt w. him knowing full well he was ripping us off, like don’t you boys get it? We LIVE here. I gave up and started buying from the Lebanese 1 block away and saved $1. per half gallon. They are really nice,
and the store is clean.