First, we stopped by the Amazon-owned Whole Foods Market location in New York's Tribeca neighborhood.
We were swiftly informed that Prime members would be offered special deals in the store that would be indicated by blue signs.
The interior of the store was darker than we expected, which was probably a result of the lighting and dark color scheme.
We started our shopping experience near the spices, where we found an overwhelming wall of different herbs and seasonings.
We also found a section for customers to fill their own bags with different beans, spices, and dried fruit.
Not too far away, this charming collection of barrels was bursting with coffee beans waiting to be scooped up by customers.
The store seemed to be going for a rustic look, as seen in these display shelves that had a dark wood finish.
We made our way over to the produce section, where we found a large selection of fruits and vegetables.
Though everything looked fresh, we couldn't help but be put off by the prices that seemed to be higher than average. The prices plus the chic store atmosphere made the shopping experience seem more high-end and not tailored to the average customer.
And some sections of the store carried food items that seemed a bit too elaborate for a grocery store, like this cheese display.
There were, however, a lot of organic options. That factor is definitely a draw for the more health-conscious buyers.
It wasn't long before we started noticing the deals for Prime members. We quickly found this cart filled with Amazon electronics.
When it came to snacks, we were somewhat disappointed. Whole Foods has a list of unacceptable food ingredients that includes hydrogenated fats, high-fructose corn syrup, and artificial sweeteners. The result was a lot of healthier options on the shelves ...
The store was a lot larger than we initially expected. After making our way through various aisles, we found ourselves in the middle of a hot food buffet that smelled delicious.
The options here seemed endless. Customers could choose from a smorgasbord of salads, desserts, and meats.
A wall in the buffet room outlined the "higher purpose" of Whole Foods. The motto of the store — to provide natural and healthy food — was certainly evident in our journey thus far.
Before we left, we saw yet another advertisement for a Prime member perk. This 2-hour free delivery was probably the best Prime member deal in the store.
We left Whole Foods feeling like we wanted more. The healthy options and large hot food selection didn't negate the overall higher prices and austere store environment. The Whole Foods experience was a little too high-end for us — even for the upscale neighborhood of Tribeca.
The store was markedly smaller than Whole Foods, but the wide aisles and open design made it feel spacious, even during the post-work shopping rush.
The soft tone of the blue walls and light wood finish on the shelves contributed to an overall laid-back atmosphere in the store.
Plus there were gorgeous embellishments like this every so often that beautified the space even more.
All Trader Joe's stores are nautical-themed — and this store was fully committed. The rooms meant for employees were labeled "Crew Quarters" and every so often, we heard the toll of a ship bell signifying a customer in need of assistance.
And many of the shelves and boxes for food were designed to look like something we might find at a coastal trading post.
Trader Joe's recently announced that it would stop selling certain items in plastic packaging as part of its plan to reduce its overall plastic footprint. This made the price of garlic slightly drop, which is a huge boon for shoppers — and we saw the effect firsthand.
Source: Trader Joe's
In the food aisles, we were surprised to find so many items that were from the Trader Joe's brand. Trader Joe's claims it keeps its prices low by eliminating the middleman and buying products directly from suppliers.
Source: Business Insider