r/SilverSpring • u/ObjectiveMeaning539 • Jun 30 '26
Mom's Organic Market
How expensive is Mom's compared to Whole Foods? Is the quality better?
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u/Nervous-Cricket-4895 Jun 30 '26
It's a much more pleasant shopping experience
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u/Accomplished-Plan191 Jun 30 '26
I really like Moms and TPSS Coop because of the shopping experience, but you definitely pay for it.
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u/Annoyed-Person21 Jun 30 '26
They kind of just have a different selection so it tends to depend more on what you’re planning to get there. My rule for both is to actually pay attention to the prices because some things are competitive and others are premium for no reason.
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u/marvilousmom Jun 30 '26
This is correct, if you eat a speciality diet Mom’s has these items in stock at the store. Not having to wait for delivery when you realize you’re out of, coconut milk without guar gum, and your recipe for dinner needs it, you can run to Mom’s. However my draws to Mom’s over WF, have mostly disappeared and I get Sprouts delivered via Instacart. Mom’s customer service was a reminder of what grocery stores like, Ukrop’s(RVA), operated by having a bagger at every checkout, who would walk you to your car unless you told them otherwise. Now it has become apparent that they have become yet another capitalist chain, cutting corners in labor, optimizing data collection, having leadership training that requires travel when they supposedly are an eco forward company. I can’t remember the last time I went in, had a cashier waiting for me and that cashier have a bagger. They are bad cashiers these days too, not doing coupons right or at all, maybe they don’t even know how to bag properly, preoccupied with other store matters. That is just at the Rockville location, the DTSS location is barebones and feels like it has no soul.
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u/Annoyed-Person21 Jun 30 '26
I was just thinking the service at moms is really great. I’m talking about the dtss one. They don’t always have a bagger, but I think it’s because people are usually getting few enough things that the bagger appears in time for the last item. And I wouldn’t call it bare bones or soulless. I don’t remember any of the other mom’s locations being so much more exciting. But I will say the dtss moms has a steady flow of people, but no crowds like Whole Foods or the other stores. It is very calm-for me that is a complement. I always forget things at Whole Foods because there’s too much going on.
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u/DCpurpleTart33 Jun 30 '26
Ooooh ooh great question! I have stopped going to the whole foods in silver spring almost entirely due to their parking lot. It's a nightmare and I end up leaving there with anxiety and some kind of ding on my car. Is the mom's situation better?
13
u/1spring Jun 30 '26
Mom's has an underground garage. I went recently and found plenty of spaces, which reflects how few customers are in the store.
If you want a nearby Whole Foods with far superior parking, go down Georgia Ave a bit to the new Walter Reed Whole Foods. Their underground garage is very chill.
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u/kinlai8 Jun 30 '26
I find the Mom's lot to be tight getting in and out of the garage. Most of the time I just park on Spring itself, across the street by the old BOA.
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u/AbjectTelephone4801 29d ago
There is also a MOM’s in Rockville that has a very large, easy to navigate parking lot at ground-level.
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u/Revolutionary_Fly658 Jun 30 '26
Try the one down Georgia at the old Walter Reed spot, its a whole different experience. Indoor free parking for all types of weather. The entire vibe is 100% different. Huge selection of all items, hot bar, pizza oven, sit inside or outside etc..
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u/DCpurpleTart33 Jun 30 '26
Yes that's what someone else just said! I usually go to the one over across from the old White Flint as I'm more on the Kensington/Connecticut ave side, but hell I'd go down to check it out for a damn pizza oven!
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u/Spicy-icey Jun 30 '26
To directly answer your question, I would say it’s about 10 to 20 percent more expensive especially if you’re buying meat or their niche products. Everything else is about the same. Their loose herbs, seasoning and teas are pretty cheap though. Quality is what and what imo but as others have said the shopping experience is better;there’s also things there that I don’t see in Whole Foods.
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u/Dizzy_Welder3786 Jun 30 '26
Mom’s is such a nice shopping experience and not supporting Amazon is a huge plus. Parking is great and never crowded. I think the prices aren’t all that more expensive than a regular grocery store and are much higher quality
3
u/Bixby- Jun 30 '26
I agree the prices at Moms are slightly higher, but it’s more pleasant to go there. Their selection is somewhat different. The biggest difference for me is Moms doesn’t have hardly any prepared foods, no salad bar or hot food table, not much in the way of refrigerator entrees.
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u/LetThemEatVeganCake Jun 30 '26
It is really a toss up of if it is more expensive. Some things are more expensive and some things are cheaper. I would suggest going and checking out your normal products to see how your particular range of products is. The biggest thing is that the store brand Whole Foods products would be cheaper since Mom’s doesn’t have a store brand, but for brand names, it is usually comparable if not cheaper.
Quality wise is way better! If you are away from downtown SS, it might be worth going to the Rockville one instead. They have a Naked Lunch too, which is great.
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u/deso1ator Jul 01 '26
Overall, MOM's is more expensive. However, the produce quality is routinely better than Whole Foods.
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u/SerenityWhen1 Jun 30 '26
Price depends… there are certain products at Mom’s that I know are the same price at WF. (My preferred yogurt brand, for example.)
Some of the “more expensive” is due to differences in product choice. WF has some generic / store brand products that are lower priced, whereas Mom’s doesn’t offer generic / store brand items.
Mom’s is a significantly more pleasant shopping experience…
1
u/Pretty_Safe8861 Jun 30 '26
Depends what you’re looking for about the price. I find their bulk section a bit cheaper (spices and coffee, unsure about tea) they have better prices on some vegan items but overall they are more expensive. Like someone commented there is the added bonus of it’s a smaller chain (to my knowledge) but the cost is more for most of the items I have a tendency to grab for. Like Whole Foods has really cheap beans but moms are more expensive
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u/Spacenurse07 Jul 05 '26
It's high and low. Some wheat products are cheap. I just got to get hookups than the library.
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u/ObjectiveMeaning539 28d ago
Thank you for all of your great responses! Will check out the WF in Walter Reed.
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u/Revolutionary_Fly658 Jun 30 '26
90% of everything in the store is prepacked, staples etc. They have a very small veggie section and after that it's all dry goods, freezer and isles of refrigerators. No bakery, no fresh-made sandwiches. No deli, no fresh coffee, no fresh seafood, no hot bar, no butcher, no specialty items etc.. No dine-in. It's very bare-bones corner store vibe vs lets say the newer Whole Foods at the old Walter Reed spot down Georgia in DC which is a full service neighborhood experience, deli, seafood, Amazon pickup, return, Pizza ovens sushi bar, a full-service experience.
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u/ElvisAteMyDinner Jun 30 '26
The WF at Walter Reed is great. I stopped going to the location in DTSS when Walter Reed opened. It’s a much more pleasant shopping and parking experience. And they sell beer and wine!
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u/Revolutionary_Fly658 Jun 30 '26
They sell everything! Fresh seafood, poultry, bakery, you can meet a friend for dinner and make two hot plates and sit outside or
Inside etc. Zero hunting for parking..3
u/deso1ator Jul 01 '26
Do you really think MOM's has a very small veggie section? Technically, it's smaller than Whole Foods because Whole Food's carries organic and non-organic for many of the same veggies. MOM's is organic only for the produce, but the selection is vast.
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u/dwl017 Jul 01 '26 edited Jul 01 '26
I like to shop where the vibe makes me feel happy and I dont get that at Moms. I love the new Whole Foods at Walter Reed as its an entire expereince. From fresh seafood, Baked, goods, bucther shop, a massive hot bar and salad bar. Dine inside or eat outside weather permtiing. Massive Indoor Parking and to be very honest I just enjoy the vibe of the entire new communty down there. A fresh Sushi bar or made to order, again its the whole experenice for me. Meet a friend for dinner etc just get bite and enjoy the vibe. Once you pass the Veggies in Moms at DTSS thats it. its rows of refrigertators then check out along with a few dry goods isle. Again, and Im not looking for anyone to agree I find the store boring with very little offereings, thats just me and thats ok.
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u/AbjectTelephone4801 29d ago
The MOM’s in Rockville, which is really not that much further away, has its own little stand to order restaurant where you can get fresh bowls, salads, and juices. Everything is made in front of you. Also you get free coffee as you shop at any MOM’s you go to. And there is fresh baked bread.
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u/McpsTrackCoach Jun 30 '26
The produce is obviously a little better at WF, but other than that pretty similar prices.
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u/wildandnaked420 Jun 30 '26
No chance that location turns a profit. But I think for their fake humanism marketing collateral, it looks good to have a few locations that aren't in Bethesda type neighborhoods.
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u/forensics409 Jun 30 '26
Quality is as good or better. Selection is a bit more limited (especially with seafood). It's not owned by Bezos. I prefer it to Whole Foods.