Erewhon has been a popular grocery store on social media for a long time, but has recently had a burst in popularity due to the addition of a $19 strawberry to the produce section. This has sparked controversy online, many people believing Erewhon has gone too far. Is buying a $19 strawberry really worth it? Can it be that good? What is the hype with Erewhon?
Erewhon is a luxury grocery store where many celebrities go to get a quick bite or do some grocery shopping. Before gaining its popularity, it was a family-run business. Many people would say Erewhon is more high-end than other grocery stores due to its expensive prices and organic food. If people are going for a healthy meal and don’t mind spending some money, Erewhon is the place to go.
“I think Erewhon is overpriced and expensive. I bought bread for $20 one time,” said Calabasas High School student sophomore, Maddox Vilner.
The ingredients at Erewhon are supposed to be very clean and fresh. A unique sales tactic they have is making $20 smoothies that are created by celebrities. By boasting high prices, Erewhon creates an air of exclusiveness, attracting people to come be “part of the club” and try their drinks.
“Erewhons prices are way too much for me, their smoothies are overhyped, I think a lot of people would agree with me,” said CHS sophomore Megan Knudsen.
Recently, Sabrina Carpenter just released one of her own smoothies called “Sweet Smoothie” and Hailey Bieber released a smoothie called “Strawberry Glaze Skin Smoothie.” Bieber made this smoothie to promote her skincare brand, Rhode. It includes a lot of healthy ingredients, like almond milk, sea moss, grass fed collagen, spirulina, maca and cacao nibs. There is a large variety of smoothies, and they are supposed to be the most popular item at the store.
El Camino High School sophomore Aya Essid said, “I’ve never been, but from what I’ve heard, they make good smoothies and it’s filled with healthy ingredients, but not worth it for the price. I would wanna try it one day because I have heard a lot of good things about their celebrity smoothies.”
Another ECHS sophomore named Mia Sanchez said, “I think it’s too overhyped. I could just go buy sushi at Ralphs and not have to pay a lot for the same sushi at Erewhon. They are like the same thing.”
According to an article from PreStige, before Erewhon gained popularity, it was a small family-owned business owned by Aveline Kushi and Micho in 1966. Their mentor, George Ohsawa, wanted to lead them into making a grocery store that is healthier and has less processed food. They started their business in Boston, but it didn’t work out, so they moved locations to LA to promote creators and celebrities to make their store more relevant.
While many Calabasas and El Camino students say that Erewhon’s prices are not justified, the grocery store still attracts a loyal fanbase and continues to trend online.
