The Fresh Market is a wonderful store. Is it for everyone in Toledo? Definitely not. Overpriced? Some items are. You have to know your prices and you need to learn what and what not to purchase here.
I've been a faithful customer since they opened nearly two years ago. Their meats and poultry are top shelf - you get what you are willing to pay for. The seafood is also very high quality. I've found the seafood to be generally on par with Rohr Fish. They also do some amazing things with the seafood - like pecan encrusted flounder, bourbon salmon, etc.
In the meat case, there are some fantastic ready to cook options such as stuffed chicken breasts, various kabobs that are grill ready, etc. IMHO, they have the best Italian sausage I've ever had. All of their chicken is hormone and antibiotic free. Yes, you will pay more for it than that which you can get from the local mega stores but the quality is far superior and you will find you have much less waste. So what's the better bargain? Boneless, skinless chicken breast for $3.99/lb that requires very little trimming therefore less waste or, boneless, skinless chicken breast from Kroger for $1.69/lb. that requires half of it to be pitched?
The Fresh Market is a great place to grab top quality ready to cook items so you can make a tasty, healthful meal as opposed to picking up a bag of junk food from a fast food joint.
They have an extensive bulk food and coffee selection, hundreds of ethnic items - heavy on the Indian and Asian choices and a wide selection of pastas and sauces. The wine selection is also amazing for this size store. And there are many, many good choices for less than $10 a bottle.
My only quibble would be the produce. It can be hit or miss. Seasonal vegetables and fruits are generally very high quality but your everyday produce can be iffy.
You really need to spend some time browsing your way through this store. You'll be amazed at what you discover - and there are bargains to be had.
I nearly forgot to mention the Sushi - incredible. Without a doubt, some of the best in the area - and that would include some of the better Sushi bars.
So, again, try to put aside your initial sticker shock when you go to TFM. Look around and see what is offered. Ready to eat soups for example. $3.99 or $4.99 may sound like a lot for a tub of soup that would easily feed two with the addition of some salad and bread. But it's homemade with quality ingredients. You'll pay well over $2.00 for a can of highly processed, canned soup at the local mega store - and it's laden with sodium and preservatives. Or, a meal for two from your local fast food joint will cost you at least $10 for a bag of artery clogging junk.
Stop in and pick up one of their monthly sales catalogs - they have items on special every week. The aforementioned chicken breasts can very often be had for $2.99/lb. on special. Same for the top quality meats and seafoods.
Again, it's not a store for everyone. Even in great economic times, many Toledoans would not patronize this store because so many are all about quantity over quality.
But, if you are looking for the best Toledo has to offer, The Fresh Market is it.
**Update 06-21-2013**
Likely no one in Toledo has been more of a cheerleader for The Fresh Market than I have been over the years. However, fair is fair and I need to update my comments with the fact that I am VERY disappointed with the recent health department inspection conducted at the Fresh Market: http://www.toledoblade.com/Restaurant-Inspections/2013/05/27/Restaurant-inspections-5-27.html .
The violations are unacceptable in ANY establishment but are even more so in a high end, gourmet market. The report makes me suspicious of all of their departments and has caused me to shop elsewhere until I can be convinced that the store is consistently following safe and acceptable food handling procedures. The report hit home with me particularly because I regularly purchased all of the items outlined in the report. Not any more. I have a feeling it has resonated with others as well. I've stopped in a few times since the publication of the health department's findings to purchase items such as their organic milk (hopefully, that's a safe purchase) and the store is virtually void of customers. I've wanted to make my thoughts known to local management but have not seen a single manager anywhere in the store on my recent visits. I did write the CEO of The Fresh Market and included a copy of the inspection report that was published in the local paper. That was several weeks ago and I've had no response from the company.
This store has an unusual pattern of store managers (general store manager, not department managers) who don't seem to stay on very long. Typically, I'd see them outside smoking with many of the other employees (having the smoking habit seems to be a prerequisite for working here) but haven't even noticed that of late. read more