I am a little surprised at the "shock and awe" expressed on here regarding the prices at the Food Cellar. We have known for months that this was going to be an Amish Market (even though it morphed into the Food Cellar) and that the Amish Market is an upscale, high end, gourmet supermarket - and not Stop & Shop. I lived near the Amish Market on 45th St in Midtown and think what we got here is very similar to what they offer there. My guess is they will make adjustments as they go to suit the tastes and budgets of the locals here, but those adjustments will be based upon market conditions and actual financial results rather than complaints on this board.

I've shopped at the Amish market in Middle Village/Glendale and found it quite in line with most other supermarkets in which I shop, such as Key Food, Waldbaums, and stop and shop, etc.  Although I do agree that they also carry higher priced items, I do not believe it to be anywhere near what this store (Food Cellar) is charging.  Especially the butcher dept.

Now, if you really want to protest a landlord's choice of tenant................

Previously hsirg wrote:

I would call Whole Foods a high end specialty market as well (the joke is that some people call it "Whole Pay Check"), but Food Cellar is about 25% more than the Whole Foods in the Time Warner building.  The rent in the Time-Warner building in Columbus Circle is much higher than in LIC and offers the same high quality foods, so where is the justification for the higher prices, especially since they are being investigated for paying their employees less than minimum wage???

Previously hsirg wrote:

I am a little surprised at the "shock and awe" expressed on here regarding the prices at the Food Cellar. We have known for months that this was going to be an Amish Market (even though it morphed into the Food Cellar) and that the Amish Market is an upscale, high end, gourmet supermarket - and not Stop & Shop. I lived near the Amish Market on 45th St in Midtown and think what we got here is very similar to what they offer there. My guess is they will make adjustments as they go to suit the tastes and budgets of the locals here, but those adjustments will be based upon market conditions and actual financial results rather than complaints on this board.

I would call Whole Foods a high end specialty market as well (the joke
is that some people call it "Whole Pay Check"), but Food Cellar is
about 25% more than the Whole Foods in the Time Warner building.  The
rent in the Time-Warner building in Columbus Circle is much higher than
in LIC and offers the same high quality foods, so where is the
justification for the higher prices, especially since they are being
investigated for paying their employees less than minimum wage???

The fact that Foodcellar is upscale and carries high-end items is simply not the whole story.  I seriously have gone in 3 times trying to find something I could justify buying and cannot do it.  I know it sounds stupid to keep going in, but I after living here for a few years I have waited to have a real grocery store and I feel cheated.  I don't blame them for charging what the market will allow (I am pro-capitalism), but it's personally very frustrating.