By Leila Madelenat and Sierra Melton
Staff Writers
When Erewhon opened its Manhattan Beach location on June 2nd summer of 2025, it immediately drew large crowds and plenty of curiosity. The store is aesthetically pleasing, carefully curated, and designed to feel more like a luxury boutique than your average grocery store.
Erewhon is known for its famous celebrity smoothies and insane special produce, with a simple strawberry costing as much as $19. While the presentation and marketing is impressive, the real question is whether or not Erewhon is a good way to spend your money.
For basic everyday items our answer is no. The same brand of basic products like produce, pantry staples, and household goods are marked up well beyond what you would find at Whole Foods, Sprouts or even Trader Joes.
In many cases, it’s the exact same product but for a significantly higher price. For example, at Erewhon, the signature Hu Chocolate Bar (2.1 oz) can cost around $7.99, while you can find the exact same bar at Whole Foods for about $5.49 or even cheaper at Target for around $4.39. Even basic items like eggs are much more expensive at Erewhon than at other stores. For example, a dozen eggs that might cost $3–$4 elsewhere can easily be $8–$10 at Erewhon.
Shoppers often say that walking through Erewhon feels very polished and intentional. The products are neatly organized, the lighting is clean and bright, and the store has a modern design. This setup makes even basic items like water and fruit feel more special, and the focus is less on necessity and more on creating an upscale shopping experience.
At the same time, Erewhon thrives on its reputation as a social hotspot. It’s not unusual to see influencers filming content in the aisles, or even running into a celebrity. The store’s branding and culture have turned it into more than just a grocery store, it’s become part of the Los Angeles lifestyle and a statement about wellness, beauty, and success. In many ways, people aren’t just shopping, they are participating in a cultural moment.
At Erewhon, certain products do feel worth the money, the hot food bar and prepared meals are seen as a good value because of freshness, convenience and portion sizes. Erewhon boasts about their Malk Smoothies, which come with a hefty price tag. But even if you buy Malk and make your smoothie at home, it will cost you more than Whole Foods. Some fan favorites include the Hailey Bieber’s Strawberry Glaze Skin Smoothie and limited edition smoothies like the Sabrina Carpenter Short n’ Sweet Smoothie.These items are considered to be some of LA’s best treats. The organic produce section, while expensive, is also praised for its freshness and quality, especially items like avocados, specialty greens, and seasonal fruits.
Erewhon is also widely recognized for offering high quality, organic products that prioritize health, sustainability, and purity. The store carefully curates sections ensuring that everything on its shelves from produce to packaged goods is free from harmful additives, GMOs, and synthetic ingredients. With a strong commitment to sourcing from ethical and organic farms, Erewhon has become a trusted destination for those seeking clean, nutrient-dense foods and wellness products. Many customers find value in the store’s adaptogenic powders, herbal supplements, and freshly made juices, which can be harder to find at traditional grocery stores.
Shoppers at Erewhon need to be careful and aware of what they are buying. Many products are priced much higher than at other stores, so it is very important to ask yourself if you really can’t find the item anywhere else or if it’s genuinely worth the money. Otherwise, it’s easy to fall for the stores’ marketing packaging, and luxury image. Paying a premium should feel justified by quality, uniqueness, or convenience, not just because the product looks viral or trendy.
People shop for everyday groceries at Erewhon not just for the food, but because they are buying into luxury and the status of feeling wealthy. The store itself has become a symbol for exclusivity, where even simple items feel elevated. At the same time, many shoppers appreciate the quality of the products, the focus on wellness, and the effort put into curating healthier, organic choices. For some, walking out of Erewhon with a small bag feels like a small sense of accomplishment and success, but also because they know they are taking home products that align with their health and lifestyle goals.
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