Amazing, thank you.
Wider aisles: Ironically, who has wider than Bingo?!
Cleaner: I'm not aware of any exceptionally dirty supermarkets.
Selection: I'm not so sure the higher-end supermarkets have any larger selection than the standard ones.
Staff: Maybe more helpful management? But I see the same Mexicans in the aisles packing shelves.
Crowds: That really varies by the store, day, time of day etc, and of course aisle width/capacity.
But we're left with "nicer". Oddly some people care for that.
Plus..
The cheaper stores got much nicer over the years as the higher end stores opened. Competition raises the tide, which brings up all ships.
Yes, nicer does include nicer displays, better inventory management by staffing, more competent and helpful assistance, more palatable and comprehensive fresh and prepared foods, platters, produce, bakery, takeout, dips, fish, and meat sections, often shorter checkout lines, and overall a more pleasant experience. There's no denying that you pay a premium for that, though. The analogy to a high end restaurant is a decent one. As a non foodie, I find those absurd too, but that's because I don't properly value the added components they offer which a fast food or mid range restaurant does not.
