[cf]

I grew up in Brooklyn and supermarkets didn't really become a thing here until the 2000s. Like there was Key Food, but that felt more like a general store. There was a Waldbaum in the area but it was pretty inconvenient to get to.

Instead we had fruit stands selling produce, a bakery, a butcher, fishmonger selling seafood. And this isn't mentioning all the ethnic food stores. All of this was on two or three short blocks. The first time I saw a supermarket was when we went to New Jersey. It was a Wegmans and I think what was amazing to me was just how much stuff a single place could have.

I think ultimately it does come down to convenience. I think it's easier than ever to have decent meal at home. You don't even have to peel your own carrots or tear your own lettuce anymore. Sure something with more complexity might take time, but that's better for a weekend.