Whole Foods Market

The Whole Foods Market in Arlington has been hostile to me on a number of occasions over 2 things: handicap parking accessibility and rat poison. I am disabled. And on quite a few occasions, I have been unable to park in the HP parking spaces, because someone who isn't disabled is ILLEGALLY parked in a manner taking up several HP spaces. Whole Foods not only refuses to get involved, but acts annoyed at me when I bring it up. Yesterday, we went to Whole Foods and someone was in one HP parking space picking up a delivery of his groceries (even though there are already designated spaces for that a few spaces over). A WF worker was then helping him load by standing in the other HP spot (so now 2 spaces taken up). So we went to park at the other HP space to the right....but the guy had his doors open into that space as well....so THREE HP spaces taken up. We then tried to point this out to the WF worker helping that guy load his car. He instead interrogated us several times if we had a HP placard, which I showed him repeatedly. He then SNAPPED AT US: "So park there!" And I had to repeat more than once, that the person's car doors were in the way. The guy finally closed them so we could park. When we asked if he had a HP placard, he said he didn't, but WF worker (who ID'd himself as "Bryce") said it was ok, because he worked there and he gave him permission to park there. When we pointed out he doesn't have that authority, because HP spots of legally rendered, he got a huge attitude. We complained to the customer srvc desk. While we got an apology, they clearly didn't seem to care that much. I have never had people taking up HP spots @ the other Whole Food like Medford and Fresh Pond. Only here. Which makes me think it's enabled by work staff who don't care about disability access. Even the customer service desk acted like it was reasonable for people picking up groceries to use those spaces for a "few minutes." No, it's not. It's ableist. Have them use the spaces that are designated for that. This is far from the first time this has happened and mgt hasn't cared. Additionally, Whole Foods uses rat poisons that have killed our wildlife, including Great Horned Owls and eagles nesting mere blocks from this store. There was even a hawk last year found dead in the parking lot from rat poison. Yet, mgt refused to speak with us and was hostile and snippy when we even tried. I avoid this place as much as I can and would altogether but they have a few staples I need for my health. You should avoid it too if you can.

Cashier so rude today. I walked up to the register, no other customers there. When she saw me she sighed the most obvious sign of disappointment. Then started ringing me up without saying hello. After 5 minutes she started talking to the person bagging my items. They kept on chatting. I was standing there and didn’t exist to them. Like what happened to the friendly hello’s back in the day? Did you find what you needed? Etc. Back in the day, cashiers who worked there would talk to me, and some I knew by their name. Btw, I don’t normally come to this store anymore, and never saw this cashier before so it wasn’t personal. It just seemed like she just hated her job. With the exception of the occasional friendly Cashier at this store, many have been cold and unfriendly. I switched over to market basket and Trader Joe’s where I’m treated like a person. Where’s the humanity in our everyday lives? — That’s said the guy working at the fish counter was polite and respectful and people I ask for help have often been kind.

The girl who started bagging my groceries abruptly walked away, and the cashier then told me I had to bag them myself. For the prices they charge here, you’d think basic service like bagging groceries would be included. Trader Joe’s is cheaper and they still bag your groceries. Very disappointing experience.

I used to go to the Whole Foods in Newton on Washington Street but a few months ago I found this Whole Foods. It’s less crowded and has more items in stock. Also the checkout is much faster. Today I was shopping there and I came to the checkout but when I went to get my reusable bags in the lower basket of my cart they weren’t there. I was shocked. I’ve been shopping at Whole Foods for years and this is the first time someone has stolen my bags. They are my favorite two shopping bags also. One of them has long handles that I can put on my shoulder. I guess I need to hold my reusable bags while shopping from now on.

This store is quiet, large but laid out to feel small. The team members are quiet, lack knowledge of product location as I was asked by both customers and team members where things are at my first ever visit to this store. Kind of odd. Seems to be a neighborhood location where it's mostly community shoppers. Decent selection of products. Hot bar looked beat both for breakfast and lunch. Pizza looked old and crusty. All in all not my favorite whole foods.