Why read this: This short story is about a real grocery store in Los Angeles where prices are very high. Students will read about a place that is famous because it is expensive, and they will learn simple words about shops, food and young people's lives in America.
What to notice: Notice the high prices in the first paragraph: $16.50, $21 and $44. Notice why young people like the store — because it feels special and because famous people shop there. Notice that Erewhon is healthy food, but also fun food.
Skills practised: Reading: finding key numbers and facts in a short text; understanding simple sentences; matching a reason to a result. Writing: writing short sentences about a place using details from the text.
An expensive grocery store in Los Angeles
Why young people pay $21 for a smoothie
Tap any green word in the article to see its meaning.
Erewhon is a famous in Los Angeles. The store is very expensive. One bowl of chicken soup costs $16.50. One strawberry smoothie costs $21. One small jar of sea-moss gel costs $44. These prices are much higher than at a normal supermarket.
But many young people love the store. Famous people like the Kardashians shop there. Customers take photos of the food and post them online. The fruits and vegetables are placed carefully so they look beautiful. The store feels special.
Erewhon has only ten shops. They are all in Los Angeles. If you do not live in Los Angeles, you can pay to get the food delivered to your home. Some customers even travel to Los Angeles just to visit the store.
Why is Erewhon so popular? The store sells healthy food. Many young Americans today care about their . Erewhon's shelves are full of healthy food with unusual names. But the food is also fun. For example, the store sells "buffalo cauliflower bites." They are made with vegetables, but they are fried and tasty. Erewhon is healthy, but it is not boring.
The people who run Erewhon also do clever things with price. Customers can pay $200 a year to become a . Members get a small discount and some free smoothies. They also feel part of a special group. This makes the store feel even more important.
But Erewhon will probably not grow much bigger. The people who run the store think there are only four or five cities in America where people will pay so much for food. Erewhon is expensive on purpose. It is not a store for everyone.
Erewhon is a famous in Los Angeles. The store is very expensive. One bowl of chicken soup costs $16.50. One strawberry smoothie costs $21. One small jar of sea-moss gel costs $44. These prices are much higher than at a normal supermarket.
But many young people love the store. Famous people like the Kardashians shop there. Customers take photos of the food and post them online. The fruits and vegetables are placed carefully so they look beautiful. The store feels special.
Erewhon has only ten shops. They are all in Los Angeles. If you do not live in Los Angeles, you can pay to get the food delivered to your home. Some customers even travel to Los Angeles just to visit the store.
Why is Erewhon so popular? The store sells healthy food. Many young Americans today care about their . Erewhon's shelves are full of healthy food with unusual names. But the food is also fun. For example, the store sells "buffalo cauliflower bites." They are made with vegetables, but they are fried and tasty. Erewhon is healthy, but it is not boring.
The people who run Erewhon also do clever things with price. Customers can pay $200 a year to become a . Members get a small discount and some free smoothies. They also feel part of a special group. This makes the store feel even more important.
But Erewhon will probably not grow much bigger. The people who run the store think there are only four or five cities in America where people will pay so much for food. Erewhon is expensive on purpose. It is not a store for everyone.
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
How much does a strawberry smoothie cost at Erewhon?
- 02
Where can you find Erewhon stores?
- 03
Why do customers pay $200 a year to become a member?
- 04
Describe three things that make Erewhon feel special. Use information from the article.
Suggested length: ~50 words
- 05
Name two kinds of food that Erewhon sells. Explain if they are healthy or tasty.
Suggested length: ~50 words
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
How much does a strawberry smoothie cost at Erewhon?
- 02
Where can you find Erewhon stores?
- 03
Why do customers pay $200 a year to become a member?
- 04
Describe three things that make Erewhon feel special. Use information from the article.
Suggested length: ~50 words
- 05
Name two kinds of food that Erewhon sells. Explain if they are healthy or tasty.
Suggested length: ~50 words