Both Sides of the Fence
A Tosa resident since 1991, Christine walks the dog, raises kids, cooks but avoids housework, writes and reads, and works too much. A Quaker and
The Aging Maven, she has been known to stand on both sides of the political and philosophic fence at the same time, which is very uncomfortable when you think about it. She writes about pretty much whatever stops in to visit her busy mind at the moment. One reader described her as "incredibly opinionated but not judgmental." That sounds like a good thing to strive for!
Sendiks
By Christine McLaughlin
Thursday, Oct 4 2007, 12:11 PM
When my kids were little, it seemed like my entire life was lived in a 2.5 mile radius. Home, school, work, church, grocery store. Sometimes it still seems that way, only now I have the pleasure of three Sendiks stores in the same circle.
We're suddenly blessed with an abundance of great grocery stores (but no "low-price leader"). So why Sendiks? It's just a Sendiks kind of day.
Elm Grove
And then there's news: a reader wrote that October 4-10 is grand opening week for the newest Sendiks near Tosa, the old Sentry store at 13425 Watertown Plank Road.
I shopped there yesterday: it’s a great store, even though the check-out lines are set up “left-handed.” You’ll just have to go to see what I’m talking about.
Backstory
Sendiks has a lot of emotional resonance for me. I practically grew up in the Oakland Sendiks store, owned by my friend Mary Jane’s father, Ignatius, and then by her hunky older brothers Ted and Steve.
It’s because of the Balistreris that I'm a foodie. There may be exceptions to this rule, especially in this generation, but Italians love good food and they love to feed people. I won’t start in on the fragrant groaning table this family set because I’ll start drooling on my keyboard.
86th and North
The new Elm Grove store is run by the same branch of the Sendiks/Balistreri family who run the Tosa store on 86th and North, the old Silver Spring Sendiks family. This is the store I visit most often. I love the smaller size, the hustle bustle of businesses around there, and the chance of running into someone I know. Another lure: dog treats next door at Wisconsin Garden and Pet--and mom treats (gelato) at Stam Chocolate down the street.
Brookfield: 124th and North
To the Sendiks store at 124th and North in Brookfield, run by the Downer Avenue bunch, I owe a special debt of gratitude. Son George worked there from the time he was a little under 15 years old until recently. And as he says in the college essay he’s working on, the people there helped raise him.
Good grocery stores make good neighbors--and better neighborhoods.
