For the longest time, it felt kinda cheesy to check in at Kroger. But what the hey, I noticed this…read moreK-Roger getting some bad press, and I felt like someone needed to speak up for it.
These changes are all recent, as Kroger underwent some fairly major remodeling about a year ago. For a few months in the interim, this place was a hot mess. BUT Y'ALL, DADGUM. It was worth it! Kroger now has a VERY impressive collection of sections dedicated to organic produce, artisanal cheeses, sushi (yes, it's that crappy grocery store sushi, but whatever) and other goodies. They also have several lanes dedicated to natural/organic/non-GMO food. IN ROME, GEORGIA. I used to have to trek all the way to Trader Joe's, a 100-mile round trip adventure, in order to get organic food without taking out a loan to handle it. Kroger has brought healthy groceries to a place that sorely needed them, and I for one am seriously on board with that.
There's also a Starbucks inside this Kroger. Personally, I think this is sort of dumb. It seems to do good business, but honestly... Starbucks? Inside a grocery store? WHY? If I'm gonna blow 300 calories on a coffee drink, I seriously want to stop, collaborate, and listen to NOTHING but that coffee drink and enjoy every. last. sip. I do not want to gulp it down while I'm dodging kids-run-amok (I know it happens everywhere, but I swear to GAWD it's worse in Rome than anywhere else, these parents just walk into grocery stores and immediately abdicate all responsibility as their curtain climbers wreak havoc. Happens everywhere; worse at Wal-Mart, see below.)
Now onto the disclaimers... It is absolutely true that if you spend enough time in this establishment, you're going to encounter some very interesting characters. But hey, y'all, Kroger can't help the fact that they're in Rome and native Romans are a very interesting crowd. The real reality show cast-offs tend to congregate at the West Rome Wal-Mart, though, so as long as you're at Kroger during daylight hours you'll be okay. I've seen some interesting things after hours, though, and don't recommend it.
My real peeve, and this isn't the store's fault, is that I have gotten more dings on my car in this parking lot than anywhere else. It never ceases to amaze me that someone will walk all the way across a 200-yard parking lot, unload their groceries, but can't be arsed to push the cart the extra 20 feet to the cart corral. Inevitably, those stray carts are drawn to my bumper. LAZY BONES.
Still, it gets four stars because it is clean, the staff is usually friendly (you can only ask so much of teenagers, really) and most of all, Kroger is trying to bring healthy alternatives into a Rome, GA grocery store. For this, I gotta give 'em props.