kme R.
Google
This is about the shop. 🛒
Google lists the restaurants and snack bars inside the shop separately.
---
HISTORY:
Many years ago, one of us attended an open air 'meeting' with about 900 other people regarding a novel new model of commerce in the food industry. The concepts of 'Slow Food' (the opposite of fast food), shortening the supply chain and food traceability were discussed. This meeting took place with the founder of Eataly on a raised platform in front of this building before renovation work on the old distillery had begun.
Going forward another few years, one of our coworkers came up with the comment that this location was "...the 'Disneyland' of food ..." This promoted some comment from others of us. Perhap that coworker should have said, "... Italian food..." but in any case, for us, this location IS a labyrinthian gastronomic playground.
LAYOUT:
Organized to explore. We felt on each visit that half the fun was in finding what we're looking for or discovering the surprise that was just around the next corner. This doesn't seem to be a 'I'll just run in and grab 'X'," type of place. It's big. None of us have ever managed to spend less than an hour here ... and we know all the hidden crannies! 🔎
ASSISTANCE/PROGRAMS:
Last time several of us visited they noted a courtesy desk just after the shopping cart area at the entrance. As they passed through the gates with their carts and grabbed a sales flyer, they turned left and it was there. As well as general information, this is where one can get info on the points card, gift cards and any other programs running at the time. They stopped by last time to cash in a bonus coupon.
Many of us have observed that most of the people on the floor are stockers and they're usually 'up to their eyeballs...' or 'on a mission'. People behind the counters are also busy but they have never failed us ... and seem to pay 'appropriate' attention to all customers ... including the ones who are just sharking for free samples 😇. When we talked to people on the floor who didn't seem busy, we found they were usually reps for a company or product that that company is promoting.
Aside from answering occasional questions and, of corse, at the various counters, shopping assistance does not usually seem to be the norm - it's supermarket style. Although, some of us have occassionally spotted a personal shopper situation, perhaps for a fairly large corporate purchase. On those occasions it was not clear if the person assisting the purchaser was independent or was a person from Eataly.
SELECTION:
We found it to be good ... but also variable. If we find something and we love it, it's usually there but it seems a certain percentage of items are either seasonal or stocked temporarily. We have not yet asked about ordering particular items. 🧭 We are all still busy exploring.
QUALITY:
Yes!
PRICE:
Um...
Well...
(-1.0 or -1.5 ⭐)
We have all found the prices of many items to be astronomical. On the other hand some items are 'at market' and there is a whole range in between. There always seem to be special offers to look out for (or to wait for). Each department has a cutout section and, at least in Turin, they take part in the 'Too Good to Go' program which aligns with the philosophy expressed in that meeting so long ago.
IN GENERAL:
Many of us have found a walk-through to be entertaining retail therapy. We all usually buy SOMETHING, even if it's small. Some of us like the points program and exploration facet, while others of us ... well, on their last visit a few days ago, let's just say they deeply regreted not buying that 'little' 1.4 KILOGRAM (!) wedge of truffle gorgonzola they tasted on their previous trip the month before!
Oh for lost opportunity! 🧀😭🧀