The Amazing Second Coming of Alfalfas In Boulder

UNCHAIN OUR HEARTS

IT ALL STARTED RIGHT HERE IN BOULDER AT THE CORNER OF Arapahoe and Broadway back in the 80s. A little neighborhood, upscale health conscious grocery store came into being. In a very few years it was so successful it changed its name and became the mother lode of Wild Oats Markets which spread over the granola capital of the world, before franchising in selected markets throughout the country.

But then: its biggest, baddest competitor from Austin, Texas---Whole Paycheck---swooped in and gobbled up Wild Oats and other smaller stores and chains, and there was nothing left in the land but the omni-present monolithic fat cat Whole Sachs.

Then a funny thing happened in federal court. WFM verged on violating anti-trust laws and was ordered to divest itself (regurgitate) of some of its myriad holdings. Whole Sachs decided to divest itself of the old Alfalfas store since it had a massive new one about 2 miles away. When they heard about it, the original owners bought Alfalfas back, came in to the old property, jazzed it up,, brought in a little wine shop, and reopened as---you guessed it---Alfalfas, the friendly little neighborhood un-chain grocery store. It even re-opened on Earth Day for good measure.

Today, the world is just a little better, more diverse because there's not just one big bully kid on the block anymore. Now, there's Whole Sachs AND Alfalfas. I myself am so glad it's back . They've done a fabulous job!







BELOW IS a photo of The Med on Walnut, several blocks from Alfalfas, which is truly the most successful restaurant--- as far as I know it's the only one---in the history of the entire world, year in and year out, decade after decade. They simply do an incredible business and the quality hasn't waivered at all. Standing room only most nights starting about 5 pm.