Mandylubug Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 I know some people prefer a national chain due to the regularity and consistency of products offered, etc. However, I find myself wanting to support local businesses instead. It is difficult at times when the smaller companies just can't compete with a national chain price wise. Anyway, we have a new grocery store coming into our town that is a local family chain. I am excited about it because of it not being a chain and really excited about the prices on their sales flyer that came out today Check it out: http://littlegiantfarmersmarket.com/imgs/specials2.pdf How do the sales prices compare to your area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandylubug Posted June 10, 2012 Author Share Posted June 10, 2012 I shop at large chain stores. The very few smaller stores we have are very dirty and uninviting. eeek, I hope this store doesn't end up this way. It is a "local ma and pop chain" they are opening up their fourth and fifth stores and have good reviews from people we know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby-do Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 I prefer supporting mom and pop businesses. It's much more personal and they go the extra mile. We order pizza from a mom and pop store and their pizza can't be beat. Plus, if we go in for dinner they know us and to me I like the personal end of that. Free enterprise is being squashed; I do all I can to preserve it.:patriot: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 We don't really have Mom and Pop grocery stores around here, unless you are counting gas stations. I do buy some things directly from different farms. We cannot even get a good farmer's market as of yet, the one we've had in the past was people trucking in things from big farms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dealea86 Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 We like supporting local places, but I don't think there are *any* Mom and Pop grocery stores in our area. There used to be a family-owned Korean grocery store about 20 minutes from our house, but they closed this past year. That was sad. They knew DD by name and were always so thrilled when we came. Also, the next closest Korean store is about twice as far from our house, so now it's a huge production to get Korean food. The prices are better (it's a huge chain store), but 40 minutes is an awfully long ways for us to drive for groceries. :tongue_smilie: Aside from that Korean store, there is one natural food store near our house that I think is privately owned. However, I had a really, really bad experience there one time. I was making a return on a product and the owner complained over and over about having to take it back. She was very aggressive about it, even though the return was legitimate according to their policy. I haven't been back since. Every other grocery store I know of in our area is a national chain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 I prefer some place with great produce. In our area, TOP foods has good produce, as do local chains of various "Brothers" with the first word being a very Italian last name. There are also some large Asian markets with out of this world choys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelaNYC Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 I like the idea of a mom & pop store, but I've noticed they usually have less variety and higher prices than a big chain store. Unfortunately in this day and age it's all about convenience and savings. I prefer to shop at the big chains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 I sometimes shop at our local Lunardi's (local gourmet grocery chain) for the selection, and when we lived on the other side of the Bay, Mollie Stone's. Their prices are typically higher than Trader Joe's but lower than Whole Foods. Usually I check TJ's first, then Lunardi's, then WF. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristineW Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 Due to some dietary restrictions (no dye, limited preservatives, clearly marked labels regarding gluten, soy, etc), we buy our processed foods from Trader Joes (definitely a national chain). However, an independent grocery store in the same shopping center has amazing produce and I buy eggs, milk and meat from there when I can get a good sale. I also shop at a couple produce markets which are cheaper but only if I plan to use it in the next 24 hours as it seems to spoil quicker. I like having variety. Where I grew up, the two main grocery chains were locally owned and regionally operated. Christine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissad2 Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 I shop at a chain store. We don't have many mom and pop grocery stores left, however those prices are pretty similar to what I pay on sale:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicAnn Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 We used to have a small upscale independent grocery store, not quite a mom and pop. I like supporting them as well as independent book stores, non chain local restaurants. But there is a reason that most have gone out of business. It is really difficult to complete with the prices, selection and quality of the chains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandylubug Posted June 10, 2012 Author Share Posted June 10, 2012 I shop at a chain store. We don't have many mom and pop grocery stores left, however those prices are pretty similar to what I pay on sale:) yep :) I thought their prices look really competitive for a ma and pop store. The grand opening is tomorrow and I can't wait to give them my business. Hopefully, they will meet my expectations. I have been shopping at Kroger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegoat Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 We have two main grocery chains here, and one is locally owned (though I think officially they are off-shore for tax reasons.) I try to shop elsewhere, at the farmers market, or from a CSA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Michelle* Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 We spread it around. It would be nice to get all of our groceries locally, but we just wouldn't be able to afford it. Our main grocery store has a really nice line of store-brand organics that are competitively priced with non-organic branded products. We get a lot of that kind of stuff there. We get all of our milk and cheese from a local dairy that supplies a mom-and-pop health food store. We get the bulk of our produce and our eggs from a CSA. We are finishing up a quarter beef that we purchased from a local farm. We want quality food and we're willing to show it with our grocery budget, but we just couldn't afford to get everything we use from local businesses. Sometimes, the prices are doubled! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuntieM Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 I don't mind paying a bit more at a local store when my budget allows it, but I can't pay twice the price for the same item. I would be a poor shepherd of my family's limited resources if I did that (at least that's how I feel about it). Now, if money were no object.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lionfamily1999 Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 I shop here . They don't carry every brand and sometimes I might get it cheaper at Food Lion, but... when I was sick and all I wanted was Sleepy Time tea, Hall's didn't carry it so Emily (one of the owners) got me boxes of tea from her own kitchen free. When we went through h*** Emily gave us credit. She knows us, all of us, by name. Family owned all the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 I don't mind paying a bit more at a local store when my budget allows it, but I can't pay twice the price for the same item. I would be a poor shepherd of my family's limited resources if I did that (at least that's how I feel about it). Now, if money were no object.... :iagree:I haven't seen a 'local' grocer here per say, but there are local clothing shops, etc. Frankly, as much as I would like to support them, I can't afford to. I went in looking for every day type sandals...and they were on SALE for $98. No. No, no, no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 I shop at both and try to support small businesses. There are a lot of mom & pop stores near me, including ethnic markets. I buy lots of produce very cheaply from small stores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2_girls_mommy Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 I shop at large chain stores. The very few smaller stores we have are very dirty and uninviting. Same here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 The long tradition of corner stores has been dying out here in the last decade. Five of them that were within walking distance when we moved into the city have closed since then. Gentrification and all that - the big one a block and a half away is now a hip gastropub. I have mixed feelings about it. They were nice when you had forgotten to buy eggs or milk or something and didn't want to walk all the way to the market or actually get in your car. In our first year in our house, I went several times to the one half a block away in my pajamas and flip flops with nothing but a five dollars bill to get just one thing. And many times, the owners know the neighborhood people and the kids - it's a nice thing to have that connection. My kids are allowed to walk to the one that's still left and get ice cream... though they'll be allowed to cross the big streets soon and walk to the frozen yogurt place. A chain... though a local one. On the other hand, the prices, the selection, the cleanliness... all lacking. And it's not really that far to the big chain market. There's a local chain of smaller groceries here as well that is clean and inviting and not so small, but the prices are absurd and my experience of the quality of their produce is that it's lower. There's one literally across from a Safeway that I know of and I can't conceive how they stay in business, though they always seem to be doing okay. The one exception is that there's a small local chain of organic groceries that are little - they can't compete with Whole Foods completely - but their prices are good, they're clean and nice. I do shop there sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakia Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 In a perfect world, I would shop at a locally owned business that had everything I need with prices like yours. BUT there's no such thing around here. So I shop at Ingles, a chain grocery store, and in the summer, we hit up a bunch of little produce stands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandylubug Posted June 10, 2012 Author Share Posted June 10, 2012 In a perfect world, I would shop at a locally owned business that had everything I need with prices like yours. BUT there's no such thing around here. So I shop at Ingles, a chain grocery store, and in the summer, we hit up a bunch of little produce stands. I always plan to hit up produce stands.. and I always forget until they are closed or I don't have cash on me :/ I need to be more diligent in my efforts. I truly want to support our local farmers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakia Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 I always plan to hit up produce stands.. and I always forget until they are closed or I don't have cash on me :/ I need to be more diligent in my efforts. I truly want to support our local farmers. Oh yeah, I almost always forget cash!! Thankfully there's an ATM right between two of the ones we like to go to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 We mostly shop in locally owned stores. I feel the slightly higher cost is worth it for my average shopping. When I need other things or on things that have really lower costs I go to Walmart (stocking up while there if the cost difference is large). Everything I need/buy from a grocery point of view is at one of those two stores. I suppose I'm boring... ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 We don't have any local groceries here, I don't think. All seem to be chains- though Publix is a regional chain versus a national chain. BUt many grocery chains are like that. Within a few miles, I have a choice of Target, Publix, Fresh Foods, and Kroger (the furthest)/ Even further I have two more chains and also the commissary. I shop at the commissary, Publix, and Fresh Foods most often. I only occasionally shop at Kroger;s, even though they have good prices and nice produce, because they are further away and in a more crime ridden area. I don't know whether Walmart here has food but I usually stay away because it is in the same crime ridden area as Kroger's plus I don't like the store anyway because of its mess. I only use Target when I quickly need an item they probably have for a recipe and need to get it fast. It is the same distance as the other two, but the traffic is quicker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandylubug Posted June 10, 2012 Author Share Posted June 10, 2012 We don't have any local groceries here, I don't think. All seem to be chains- though Publix is a regional chain versus a national chain. BUt many grocery chains are like that. Within a few miles, I have a choice of Target, Publix, Fresh Foods, and Kroger (the furthest)/ Even further I have two more chains and also the commissary. I shop at the commissary, Publix, and Fresh Foods most often. I only occasionally shop at Kroger;s, even though they have good prices and nice produce, because they are further away and in a more crime ridden area. I don't know whether Walmart here has food but I usually stay away because it is in the same crime ridden area as Kroger's plus I don't like the store anyway because of its mess. I only use Target when I quickly need an item they probably have for a recipe and need to get it fast. It is the same distance as the other two, but the traffic is quicker. I miss the commissary produce :( We lived at Ft. Huachuca, AZ and they got most of their fresh produce from Mexico. I know I shouldn't have "loved it" but it was THE best produce, always fresh and always such a great price. It is one thing I sorely miss with my husband being a vet! Ha ha! ETA: I like publix a lot and if I had all the money in the world, perhaps I would shop there but I feel they are REALLY over priced on some things... best cakes by far, though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annlaura Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 I shop at a local store as much as possible. They have fabulous produce, meat, and deli. And their prices are fantastic. My boys love going there and helping me shop. They each get a huge dill pickle every time. They don't have a great selection or prices on some things like cereal, and they don't stock organics. I shop SuperTarget and Aldi for a few non-perishables regularly, and sometimes just buy everything I need so I don't have to make trips to multiple stores. And I sometimes go to SuperTarget or TJ's for a few organic items. I haven't had good luck with quality or prices at the Jewel near us, so I only end up there about once a year anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 Trader Joes Costco Winco Safeway New Seasons Chains I guess. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
black_midori Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 I shop at large chain stores. The very few smaller stores we have are very dirty and uninviting. :iagree: Around here, the few Mom & Pop type stores I've tried to shop at have pretty much made me shop exclusively at large chain stores. The prices are generally cheaper & the selection generally much better, anyway, and they tend to keep the stores neat & clean & "nice looking" & bug free (yes. yuck.). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maeintx Posted June 11, 2012 Share Posted June 11, 2012 We shop a lot at the Mom and Pop type store in our town but the biggest reason is they employ our teenage son. We spend a bit more on our groceries but they are flexible with his college schedule and are willing to change his hours each semester accordingly, give him extra hours over holidays and summer, etc. He plans on quitting come Fall, but we have another teen that will hopefully be able to work there next summer. So for now, we shop there as much as possible. We do shop the chain store too..Costco and HEB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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