What's The Most Expensive Grocery Store In The US?

For your average American, the grocery store of choice is the one with the best prices. In October 2024, a survey commissioned by retail technology company Swiftly found that 70% of U.S. shoppers were struggling to pay for their groceries, making value shopping a must (via Produce Blue Book). Such is not the case at Erewhon, a destination grocery chain with 10 locations in the Los Angeles metro area. You've heard Whole Foods being mocked with the nickname "Whole Paycheck?" Well, get ready to have your mind blown by an even pricier entrant.

A quick peek at Erewhon's current website reveals some shocking discoveries: a $42 apple pie, a carton of 12 eggs for $15.99, and a pair of branded tie-dye socks for $32. And that's just on the landing page. The store offers a $200 annual membership for folks who want free delivery, while valet parking is a popular perk for in-store shoppers.

Perhaps the most surprising news is that Erewhon is insanely busy. While the worst time to go shopping at a normal supermarket is the weekend, Erewhon is packed shoulder-to-shoulder even on an average weekday. Regular grocers may change their store layouts periodically to drum up continued interest, but Erewhon seems to accomplish the same goal just by charging ridiculous amounts of money. Who, exactly, is shopping at this palace of excess? Is it the celebrities that call California home, since they are surely the only people who can afford $20 raw milk? The actual answer might surprise you.

Erewhon is popular with influencers and content creators, who cash in on the fascination that most of us have with the concept of a luxury grocery store. When The Cut profiled the opening of Erewhon's 10th store location, they came to the realization that most of the people in the long line to get in were equipped with cell phones and selfie-ready 'fits, looking to capitalize on the social cachet of ordering Hailey Bieber's viral $18 strawberry smoothie. On a Reddit page dedicated to Los Angeles influencers, most comments agreed that shopping at Erewhon was a status symbol to boast about on social media, and that most shoppers were there to grab an overpriced meal from the hot bar and take lots of snaps of themselves eating it.

At the same time, Erewhon does carry quality products that many believe are conducive to clean eating. While the best time to buy normal grocery store produce is after restock towards the beginning or end of the day, Erewhon is a certified organic retailer that prides itself on stocking the very best specimens of what it sells. It prioritizes fair trade, non-GMO, wild-caught/grass-fed/cage-free farming, and green beauty products. If you are invested in the ethics of what you consume, you may find value in its offerings, provided you have the deep pockets to fund a shopping trip.