• 4
• Lots of organic produce, builk items; Dull deli

Jimbo's Naturally is a good store for fresh and local organic produce, refrigerated foods, and bulk foods. I'm a vegan and whole grain kind of guy, so there are always lots of fresh organic fruits and vegetables to choose from and the bulk bins of organic grains, nuts, dried fruits, etc. bring joy to my heart. While Jimbo's is no "OB Peoples" (even though that's where he got his start,) it is convenient and complete and in the past 30 years, I've almost never been let down by the quality of the produce (and when I was, they promptly refunded or exchanged my purchase). As with any brick-and-mortar store, it's a good idea to do some due-diligence around pricing for non-perishable products. Some times Jimbo's will have a great price on these products, and sometimes they will be significantly higher than can be purchased from an online store such as Vitacost.com. The deli on the other hand seems oriented towards people who want dull, tasteless food, and with only a few exceptions, the baked goods don't satisfy either. It's a good thing that they give samples of anything you want to try so you don't end up spending a fist full of cash on a piece of cake or a hot food item only to be disappointed. Thirty years ago, when I was shopping at OB Peoples, I got into the habit of thinking that "Health Food" stores wouldn't be selling meat. Of course, it's bee a long time since then and it's rare that any large natural foods store doesn't sell meat and Jimbo's is no exception. It's a bit ironic to think that in one isle the shelves are specifically stocked with "cruelty free" bodycare products and in another isle they sell slaughtered animals (Whether the animal lived a "happy" free-range life or not, it's hard to say that slaughter could in any way be "cruelty free.") I must say that the majority of the cashiers at the Carlsbad store seem to be very demoralized. A few friends have worked there over the years and low pay, insignificant raises and long hours of standing were their chief complaints. At least Whole Foods provides their employees with a living wage, benefits and promotion opportunities. I still shop at Jimbo's even though WF is closer to my house, mainly because of the organic produce and bulk items. I know that some of the other Jimbo's stores will give you a different experience.