I worked at Erewhon, a high-end grocery store, for a year. Here are 6 things I wish customers knew.

• I used to work at Erewhon, a high-end grocery chain with several locations in California.
• I wish more customers knew that they can — and, in my opinion, should — tip some Erewhon employees.
• I also wish customers realized their smoothie order could take a while to make.

If you're a Los Angeles local, the name "Erewhon" probably holds weight for you. The former locals-only grocery store, marketed toward fans of organic produce and the environmentally conscious, has gained nationwide recognition on social media over the past few years.

The retailer, which recently announced plans to open its 11th location in 2025, is known for selling organic items and an array of wellness products. But most of all, the California-based chain is notable for its high prices and status as a celebrity-loved store.

I was hired in 2022, just as Hailey Bieber's strawberry-glaze skin smoothie (a popular beverage from the chain) took off on TikTok. I trained at a Los Angeles location and helped open the now tourist- and celebrity-filled Beverly Hills store before quitting to pursue my music career.

As an employee, I served customers tea, smoothies, and other drinks at the store's tonic bar. Here are six things I wish customers knew about Erewhon.

There's a reason Erewhon's products are so expensive

Erewhon is known for its high prices — essentials like a gallon of milk and some precut fruit cost about $20, and home goods, like store-brand hand soap, are nearly $25.

However, many of these lofty price tags are in place because of Erewhon's high standards for product and ingredient sourcing. The retailer highlights products that are non-GMO, regeneratively farmed (a sustainable way of farming), and organic.

Even so, I think shopping here is like buying a designer bag — sometimes you're just paying extra for the name and exclusivity, not necessarily a huge quality increase.

You'll likely have to wait a bit for your smoothie

To make a smoothie at Erewhon, I usually combined three to five different supplements, raw house-made milk, and ingredients like avocados, walnuts, blueberries, and ginger.

Though employees tried to batch prep as much as possible, fresh smoothies took time to make. Add the influx of tourists and no-cross-contamination laws (which regulate how long utensils must sit in sanitizing liquid and how ingredients are stored), and it could take a while to create one smoothie.

Unfortunately, backups were inevitable no matter how many workers were on shift. 

Most Erewhon customers seemed to like the exclusivity

Most of my coworkers couldn't afford to regularly shop at our store, even with our employee discount. But I think that's part of what makes Erewhon feel so special: It's not for everyone.

Similar Los Angeles smoothie establishments, like Robeks and Sunlife Organics, charge about $10 to $16 per drink. In contrast, many of the smoothies I was selling at Erewhon cost up to $23.

Still, the Beverly Hills elite couldn't seem to get enough — I think I saw just about every celebrity, influencer, and businessman come through those sliding doors.

For certain customers, Erewhon's high prices made the place feel super exclusive and thus more appealing.

Employees are committed to making the entire store look like a Pinterest board

At my Erewhon location, aesthetics were of the utmost importance. The produce department, in particular, took great pride in its displays, which were always perfectly organized and color-coordinated. Not a carrot should be out of place.

The second a piece of produce was taken off the shelf, it seemed like three workers were always ready to replenish the display.

In my opinion, Erewhon added value to customers' shopping experiences by creating an environment people enjoyed.

Simply put, the store felt clean and beautiful. If you ask me, the aesthetically pleasing displays were A+ marketing. 

Tonic workers can (and should) be tipped

I'll be the first to admit that tipping culture has gotten out of control. However, when I worked at Erewhon, most employees greatly appreciated tips. 

Each barista had their own technique, latte-art expertise, and attention to detail. I kept a log of regulars' orders to easily prepare their drinks exactly how they liked and have them ready when they walked in.

Erewhon employees often make ingredient-dense coffee, smoothies, and acai bowls customized for their (often picky) customers. My store had a sushi section, a hot bar, and a tonic bar, all with separate employees, leads, and managers.

All this to say, Erewhon is not a typical grocery store — in my opinion, you should be tipping for good service. 

Customers can buy many of the brands at a cheaper price elsewhere

When it comes to the hot bar and fresh produce, I'll give it to Erewhon. Most of the food is excellent, and the service is great.

But I've found that many things are easy to find for cheaper elsewhere. I've tracked down products Erewhon sells from popular brands like Poppi, Siete Foods, Vital Proteins, and Malk Organics for much less at other grocery stores.

My favorite Weleda moisturizer was even $5 cheaper at Ralphs than it was at Erewhon when I worked there.

Many people who shop here aren't concerned about saving money, but if you are and want to check out Erewhon, you might be better off focusing on its brand-specific foods, fresh produce, and juices.