Quote:
Originally Posted by Turanacus
the homeland store on 18th, near classen, is pretty cool. the downside, I always get the itchies from my bullet proof vest while shopping, on a positive note, I always have plenty of takers for my spare change while walking through the parking lot.
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My conclusion, then, is that you might just be a bit paranoid and/or maybe a bit sheltered in your exposure to a wide range of income groups (no disrespect intended). I shop there probably 3 times a week, sometimes more, sometimes less, for short or long trips and have been doing so for about 20 years. Of course, I live in the general neighborhood, about 4-5 blocks east, so maybe it's just that I'm used to the perils which concern you.
I've lived in my present home on NW 19th for about 12 years now and I have never had any "crime" problems (other than the white guy living diagonally across the street who seems hell bent to get into trouble), even though the Mesta Park area is definitely a mix of high, medium, and low income people -- quite a melting pot, really. I'm in the medium group. While I've never considered the Homeland store to be "cool" (it's just an ordinary and nothing special grocery store), it's my neighborhood store and I tend to favor it for convenience and to support it staying there. Prices are somewhat higher than other places for the same things (my wife seems to think that her darn cat has to eat a small can of some kind of canned cat food 2x daily ... the same cans are 20 cents less per can at the Walmart grocery on NW 23rd, west of Penn); but, generally, I'm happy with it -- its produce is quite good and its meats are at least average if not a little better. But, ain't no way that it's ever going to measure up to, for example, an H-E-B in Texas. Not gonna happen (nor is any other Homeland in Okc, for that matter).
But ... concern for
safety issues? That has never even entered my mind. And it's pretty rare that I'm encountered by a homeless person looking for a handout there ... it has happened, and when it does I sometimes I give a little, but that sort of thing doesn't happen nearly as frequently as I experience it downtown. I don't recall a person asking for a handout in the last 6-10 months at the Homeland.