L'Epicerie gets the once-over by the brownstoner crowd

The French grocery store on Vanderbilt and Dekalb is getting the once-over by the crowd over at brownstoner.com. The gourmet grocer has had a bad reputation from day one, it seems. Some choice comments:

• l'epicure (sic) is gross. they are the same people who owned a table, who were rude, especially to people of the "non majority" race. i am SO happy that that closed down and i hope l'epicure does too.
• Maybe the people at l'Epicerie aren't unfriendly, just French. If you've ever lived or shopped in Paris especially you'll know what I mean. Merchants seem to have a different idea of customer service -- it's not about being all lovey-dovey with the customers, just providing them with capable service and quality merchandise. They're friendly with their friends and do eventually warm up to regulars.
• the people at L'epicerie may be French, but they speak with American accents. Which implies to me that they are at least bi-cultural. My parents were immigrants from a country that is certainly not known for their warm and fuzziness, in fact, they are known for their brusque efficiency.

Apparently, a new French grocery at Lafayette and Grand Ave is opening up soon, which may spell some of the naysayers...