My Mom passed away years ago but what I wouldn't give to go on a shopping trip like this again. thank you

Haven’t been to one in a very long time… this was a throwback. Thank you for the video as always

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Thanks! Glad you like it!

I remember when Caldor was where this Stew Leonard's was, right across from a Toys R Us where the Burlington is now

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Good times

@MrCraigblaze

Ай бұрын

Cal and Doris..

There is one other place that uses animatronics a place called jungle Jim's Ohio Cincinnati if I remember right video if I remember I was in unicorn production

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

I'll check it out if I'm ever in the area. Thanks

@jimkear6749

Ай бұрын

"In 1971, "Jungle" Jim Bonaminio set up a semi-permanent produce stand in a parking lot in Hamilton, Ohio. Over the next three years, Bonaminio moved the stand to several vacant lots throughout the area until he bought a plot of land." I lived in Hamilton at the time, it was literally just a guy selling veggies out of his van and some temporary tents and racks in various little vacant lots (probably until the landowner found out and told him to move on).

@prw6058

15 күн бұрын

There are 2 Jungle Jim's in Cincinnati. I have visited both!

@WilliamBrown-qx1fx

15 күн бұрын

@@prw6058 I don't know how to describe it to you it's kind of like a combination of Disneyland can I see the hot sauce not to mention the beer cheese the bathrooms and the fact that they have a real fire truck on the shelf not just a cardboard Mach off almost reminds me of the swap shop in fort Lauderdale in the bay time Play flea market at night it's a drive-in movie

@marymccoy6303

15 күн бұрын

@@fleabittenadventures it is a destination grocery store. My favorite animatronics are the Snap Krackle and Pop rock band and the giant Campbell's soup can that sits on a swing and serenades you while it swings. kzread.infot7CUJcn3ml4

This place is amazing! Thanks for sharing.

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Spoilers: It’s not, the store largely relies on gimmicks to hold up it’s reputation. It does have quality produce, meat, and baked goods, but their prices on the whole are higher (in some cases significantly so) than other grocery stores. Go once for the experience, but it doesn’t need to be a regular stop on your weekly shopping.

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

I wouldn't do my weekly big grocery shopping there, but I would probably stop by just to take a look and pick up a couple of things

@MichaelRei99

Ай бұрын

This is not true. Yes they are higher priced on certain items but if you have the ap they are always running specials and their beef is excellent and reasonably priced.

I’ve always heard this was a cool grocery store but I had no idea it was this great. I’ll have to take a trip there someday!!! Thanks for showing this store Tom.

Love hitting up the serve your own buffet and brining it upstairs for lunch!

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

You work there? Thanks for watching!

@huntshowdown9834

Ай бұрын

@fleabittenadventures oh no I don't work there! They have a whole upstairs eating area anyone can go!

@tanikokishimoto1604

Ай бұрын

​@@huntshowdown9834 in all the stores? I go to the Danbury one.

@huntshowdown9834

Ай бұрын

@tanikokishimoto1604 not sure if all of them but they do on the berlin turnpike which is the same store as the video.

Whoa, I had to pause the video and go get something to eat! Don't think we have a store quite like that in Australia. Thanks for sharing.

Cool lookin' place. But their prices are nothin' to write home about!

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

No. It's not a discount store, that's for sure.

It's entertainment while you shop. I get it. The prices are high and this one's like a NICHE type grocery store. I don't see this one staying around too long. I like my shopping without distractions and simple in and out experience. I guess some people might like this.

I remember Stew Leonard's operated milk vending machines on E. Main St. in Stamford in the 70's near Clark's Hill.

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Really? I've never heard of such a thing.

Wegmans has the overhead train and one noisy animatronic chicken. 😅

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

I've only been to one Wegmans and it didn't have a train. Which one has a train?

@EJHarrop

Ай бұрын

All that we have been to in NY and MA have them running overhead on an oval track. They are mostly in the back of the store near the refrigerated foods. Happy hunting.

I would love to visit Stew Leonard's one of these days.

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Go for it!

Ok looks like I'm making a trip very soon😋

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Definitely! It's free entertainment if you're in the area.

I haven't been to this store. Very interesting and entertaining store layout. A bit pricey for me. That child was not a happy camper thru the whole store! Lol. Thanks for sharing.

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Yes, Definitely expensive, but fun to visit.

As always great video 👍

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Thanks! I appreciate it!

The one and only nitpick about Stew Leonards there is that the animatronic stuff is really overdue for maintenance and need regular cleaning. They aren't cleaned nearly as much as they need to be, giving many of the figures a shoddy, falling apart appearance. It's not apparent unless you actually look at them closely. But I'm a bit OCD and when I notice something, I can't unsee it. The animatronics really need a little bit of TLC. This is a small nit-pick as I really enjoy the store. The animatronics don't have much to do with my enjoyment of it. The food there is top quality. The animatronics have nothing to do with how great that store is.

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Yeah, I'll bet they rarely do any maintenance, unless they break down entirely.

@kway745

Ай бұрын

Reminds me of this: kzread.info/dash/bejne/nIB9scVtfazLpM4.htmlsi=IVz9DTMNmh_5bZnG

Always liked going here though I went to the Norwalk store a number of times when I briefly resided in Fairfield County (was doing something over the summer). I ought to go back there for a trip down memory lane.

They are awesome, they sell less than 2000k products mostly locally farm sourced and made in store products. They have very little of the mass produced boxed, canned and bottled goods sold nationally. I ran their 401k plan for many years.

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Interesting. Thanks for watching.

Tony's Chocolonely is the best!! Mega expensive but so worth it!

While I couldn't afford to shop there regularly, I'd definitely go there just for the novelty of it. I kinda like the way you have to navigate the maze, instead of conventional aisles. Cool video Tom, keep up the great work!

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Thanks! Glad you liked it!

17:22 love those chooks

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Yes, they were fun

This store looks very cool.

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

I thought so. Thanks for watching!

If you want to see an even crazier store go to Jungle Jim's in Ohio. The original store is insane.

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Someday, if I'm ever in the area. Thanks

I use to work there,awesome place

My ex used to do product tastings for Stew Leonard’s on the weekends.. 1 weekend the SL in Farmingdale NY had Danny de Vito and she got to meet him.. they had him standing on a wine crate apparently..

Do you mean long lines and high prices? Then, yes.

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

That is true, but I'd still like to go to Disneyland and Stew Leonard's on occassion.

I grew up near the Norwalk store. I remember it was just a diary store. Now live close to Danbury store. We try to avoid it for the most part.

A good ice cream before leaving, nice😊.

I always love going to this store (the location shown in this video), the food is great!

My grandmother used to take me to the Stew Leonard's in Norwalk, CT a lot, when I used to live in Danbury and Stamford. We would walk around the mini farm out in the middle of the parking lot before heading in to shop. I went to the Danbury one when I stayed with my aunt near there 30 years ago. Back then that location was in its infancy and a work in progress. All these other locations popped up after my time. I think the last time I went to the Norwalk location was about 27, 28 years ago.

Amazing! Wegman's meets Storytown meets Chuck E. Cheese's! Wegman's is still the best. 🙂

You should go to Holyland in Waterbury! It is so weird! 😆

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Been there a couple of times. Check out my videos. Thanks

Great vid! I would be there if I lived there.

Nice video I would love too go there

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Thanks! Glad you liked it!

Looks like a nice selection. Sadly everything is in plastic. And pricing is horrendous! The US used to be cheaper than Europe. But now it looks like you've passed even us in Sweden. I wish we had more farm/wholefood stuff here though.

Been going to Stew's almost from the beginning (I was born in 1966). Stew's was a store you could go to regularly at first, but like the rest of Connecticut it has gotten expensive & "high end" or snooty as I prefer to call it. Now my family rarely goes there, mainly for special occasions like Christmas dinner.

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

I wouldn't do my weekly shopping there, but I'd probably stop in every other week or so if it was closer

They used to be more affordable. But, they do a good job of obtaining quality goods. Stew Sr. Used to deliver milk in my grandparents neighborhood and my family knew the Leonards. As a kid it was a particular treat to drive to Norwalk to visit the store when it was the only one. The animatronics were entertaining but the best was the ice cream cone that I would likely get on the way out since they had a counter at the entrance/exit. Stew Sr. Did a good job originally securing produce/meat from local farms or directly from the market in Hunts Point...he also bought other goods in bulk and sold them direct to his customers. He didn't do the usual grocery store thing of using the grocery store as real estate to sell shelf space to companies like pepsi or frito lay, etc. He kind of pioneered the wholesale market concept in regard to groceries. The Deacon at my church was a pizza baker and cook for Stew's and they tended to hire really talented people for their kitchens. Unfortunately, Stew Sr. Did go to prison for a while...he calibrated his scales to rip off his customers. How they not only bounced back but Expanded to multiple locations is a testimant to their cult following and/or quality.

If that place ever had a small oven fire or something, it would go up in about half a second with all the old dried wood. And then you're trapped half way through this maze. Seems like a major oversight by the local fire department chief inspector that stamps occupancy permits. Don't matter how good your sprinkler system is, it takes north of 200 degrees to pop the Glas bulbs to activate the system, by that time the building doesn't have a chance, and many occupants might not either

@DanoFSmith-yc9tg

15 күн бұрын

Plus wood is like a sponge, it has pours everywhere, perfect for hiding insects and vermin, which every grocery store on earth already has. This place is friggin disgustingly unsanitary

@DanoFSmith-yc9tg

15 күн бұрын

And unsafe.

2:10 ,made my stomach hurt just watching this as I am lactose intolerant 🍑💨💩🚽🧻 Nightmare fuel ...thankfully I was on the bowl watching this,Dairy is Scary

That kid… better be quiet! Tom is filming and when Tom isn’t happy, people pay the price! 😂😂😂

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Yes. I had to wait for him to leave the area before I continued filming. It was kind of ridiculous. Thanks for watching

I shop there every monday. We just get certain items there, Hit the buffet for me lol . Then we get our free ice cream ( have a 100 ice creams with our store points right now) Hit sams club next door and home by 6. Lol.. My grandkids love it there when we take them. This is a older video from monday night when we were there. The store changes every few months with layout.

Compared to Walmart, this store is way nicer. The shelves are not blowed out. Everything is fronted neatly. People are not screaming and hollering and cussing like you see in Walmart. But the prices are higher than Walmart. Thanks for the tourer. Look forward to your next adventure.

@angelanolastname6114

Ай бұрын

What walmart do you go to lol this is funny

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Yes, there is no comparison to Walmart.

Thanks for the upload !!

Looks like a very nice upscale place. That’s why prices are higher.

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Yes. It's definitely high end for a grocery store. I wouldn't do my weekly shopping there, but I would stop by to pick up something unusual once in a while.

Jungle Jim's is the only one I ever new

You should have gone to the Norwalk one. It is probably the most elaborate of all of the Stew Leonards. I’ve been to four of them. 5th one coming soon.

Hah!! You have the Chiquita Banana animatronic and get this, they are selling at the time of the video, Dole Bananas!

Just like all the other people in here…go visit Jungle Jims. The original location is incredible and it was a weekly stop growing up.

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

I would if it were closer.

Finally someone else agrees with me that candy corn is awful!

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Yes, it's gross.

I’m still mad Orange CT would NOT allow SL to bill there!

So you made this trip last September/October based on all the pumpkins and Halloween decor/signage. Just wondering why it took 10 months for you to upload? It does look like a fun place to shop. Never been to one myself.

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Got busy with other videos and work and kind of forgot about it. I've got some other old videos that I'll probably be posting soon too

What a nightmare! Also Toffee is disgusting! Candy corn is.... Ok

This looks like what would have happened if Nolan Bushnell who founded Chuck E Cheese decided to start a country store.

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Yes, the animatronics would have been right at home in a Chuck E Cheese!

Thanks!

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Thank you very much! I appreciate ot!

I have heard of them But there are none in Ma. 😂

This store in the chain seems to have more animatronics than the Danbury one. But I'd hate to be an employee assigned to one particular area only ... The constant repetition of the same song/sound effects all day long would drive me postal. At least not all areas there are so afflicted. That being said, I do like Stew Leonard's. Dairy, produce, lamb, seafood. I used to live near the Danbury one... I make it a point to bring a cooler down when I go back to the region for whatever purpose, to pick up at least seafood.

I love how you make no comment about the guy in full Harry Potter cosplay in the produce section

I am like number 461

Started primarily as a dairy store in Norwalk. If you look into the history you will see Stew was prosecuted for tax evasion and fraud. He cheated customers on the weights of items and then got caught for not paying the correct taxes. There was also a petting zoo at the Norwalk store.

Great Video!!!!! F+L, Corey

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Thanks! Glad you liked it!

You missed the dinning area, too.

To think that most of these food is going to trash is a travesty 😢

You should look up a place called jungle Jim’s in Ohio Cincinnati/Fairfield area

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

If I'm ever in that area, I'll be sure to go. Thanks

t0 bad no direct buses to here from hartford

Are vegetables and fruit sprayed with Apeel?

Bro that place creeps me out

7:29 agreed 👍 candycorn is disgusting

Certainly not filmed 3 days ago LOL

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

Nope.

What if there was a fire? How do you get out of the maze 😮

@tanikokishimoto1604

Ай бұрын

At least in the Danbury store, it's easy to get out. The local fire department made certain of that when it was built.

This store is ridiculous. You definitely cant go in for just 1 thing quickly because the maze makes it time consuming, prices are high, bakery items are gross especially the cupcakes. Not worth the hype.

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

The bakery looked nice, but I didn't buy anything in the bakery, other than the apple cider donut holes, so I can't really comment.

@angelanolastname6114

Ай бұрын

Agreed the bakery looks esthetically pleasing however the cupcakes were disgusting. Bought a 6 pack for the kids, I took 1 bite and threw the whole box away. Had to go to another store to get good edible ones.

@tanikokishimoto1604

Ай бұрын

I don't often eat bakery goods anyway, so can't answer to that. But dairy products have decent prices. And I love the variety and the freshness at the seafood department. Yes, the maze can be disconcerting... Sort of a small scale IKEA... But I've shopped there often enough that I know how to avoid sections I'm not interested in shopping at. I am only familiar with the Danbury CT branch of this chain.

Only in American would you get singing puppets in a food store? 🤣 why was that labelled English toffee?

@fleabittenadventures

Ай бұрын

English toffee is a kind of toffee. Not sure if it's actually English, but that's what it's called

@MrSloika

Ай бұрын

@@fleabittenadventures The devil you say! Next you're going to tell me that English muffins aren't baked in England!

Over rated