Everyone’s got a crazy grocery store story. A new web series, “Co-op Stories” reminded us that going to the grocery store can turn into an absurd errand. KCRW Facebook users posted their stories. Here are some of our favorites:
Rhoberly Gillon writes a story that reminded this blogger about the time I hugged my mom’s leg (at Santa Monica Seafood before it relocated and opened a restaurant). When I looked up, I looked into the face of a man.
Here’s Gillon’s story: “As a kid, I would go to the store with my grandpa who I was very attached to. I some how wondered off and lost my grandpappy and started getting worried. Then I saw a man in the checkout stand that I thought was my grandpa and hugged him, then he turned around and was I surprised and scared at the same time. I had to page my grandpappy and was so happy when he found me! I scolded him and said ‘grandpa, you need to stop getting lost.'”
I also liked this one for the simple chocolate syrup detail.
Johnny Schaefer: “A ditzy but loveable friend-of-a-friend attended a training class on cleaning up spills in the grocery store where she worked. They poured chocolate syrup on the floor and then sprinkled a product on it that absorbed the syrup and created little balls to sweep up. When they opened it up for questions she raised her hand and asked ‘so no matter what you spill, do you always have to pour the chocolate syrup first, then sprinkle the other stuff.'”
Thanks to everyone! You can read all the responses below. (Also, check out a fun photo stream with more pictures of food and dinosaurs.)
Heather Duran: One time I was in Rite-aid on Sunset, and Chris Kattan came running from the back of the store, carrying a package of paper towels. He ran right out the front door without stopping to pay!
Kevin L Poore: Manager approached me in line and started chewing me out about a “cake I ordered”… It continued for about a minute until an employee directed him to a guy standing patiently at the store bakery counter. He stormed away without another word as the girl and checker rolled their eyes.
Angela Bagby: I remember the ice cream licking Asian lady at Whole Foods Sierra Madre. lol She was tasting the flavors then putingt them back! A customer ran to get help and the employee asked her which ones she licked! Will never buy ice cream there again.
Johnny Schaefer: A ditzy but loveable friend-of-a-friend attended a training class on cleaning up spills in the grocery store where she worked. They poured chocolate syrup on the floor and then sprinkled a product on it that absorbed the syrup and created little balls to sweep up. When they opened it up for questions she raised her hand and asked “so no matter what you spill, do you always have to pour the chocolate syrup first, then sprinkle the other stuff”
Malky Kertis: The fleet of Mercedes, Ranger Rovers and BMW in the busy parking lot might give it away. The Armenian Delicatessen. The sign say they open at 8am, but they start working only at 10am so don’t buy bread before 11am because it will be yesterday’s. If you don’t speak Armenian, don’t worry, they’ll speak it to you and for you. The variety of olives, cheeses and the hot oven with the fresh baked bread with a crust that is begging to be broken are winning the competition with the men on break from butchering meats, sitting outside on crates and smoking cigarets, if you lucky they might smile and give you a glimpse of gold. The last place to have a minimum charge on a credit card and the only place where trying to lock the eyes of a server is a prelude to being ignored, because she saw you staring at her. Going there is like a trip to the Real Kardashians everything look tempting and
Seana Yates: I was at the check out and noticed the hot guy behind me loading up gallons and gallons of vegetable oil on the conveyor belt. As I was finishing paying, I was about to turn to him and say, “you’re either deep frying a turkey or having a REALLY good weekend” when I looked just passed him and noticed the guy he was with was Lance Bass from ‘Nsync.
Duff Owens Wilmoth: I use to work as a clerk and during summer took my breaks in the cooler sipping coke. Just right.
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