Pondering the Joy of Grocery Tourism…

TC hearts grocery stores. In this post, he strolls down memory aisles (lanes) and unveils way he’s now getting his shopping fix. Read on! – the editor

For those who know me, I am a grocery store junkie. I can be easily bored with my local stores and have been known to travel to expand my horizons.

Back in my youth, I kept trying to get my mother to go into other area grocery stores, like a lonely ACME Market in Chatham Boro, a brand-new Pathmark that replaced the Two Guys in East Hanover, or a visit to Kings Food Market, that had the long-haired traffic cop directing car flow out of the parking lot.

We had a routine. Shop-Rite for the main shopping, A&P for meat and sale items, Hassler Pharmacy for the TV Guide (six cents cheaper than at the grocery store!), Cumberland Farms for milk (which was 30-cents cheaper than grocery stores). The only specialty trip was to the Esposito Bros. Butcher Shop for fresh ground beef, and square shaped hamburger patties.

For me, the only excitement, if any, was during vacation. Though we had an Acme and Super Fresh near our shore house, Mom insisted we travel the extra six miles to a Shop-Rite in Rio Grande, NJ. It came down to summer traffic patterns and she did not want to have her frozen and fresh food purchases to spoil during the drive back to Stone Harbor.

Visiting my aunt in Florida and my sister in DC, brought me ample opportunities to explore. Aunt Doris had Publix, the Florida grocery store [link] that I found enjoyable. And while setting up sister at American University, we went to a Safeway, which had a round conveyer belt, and high load shopping carts! Fancy!!

A visit to my godmother in Boston, brought visits to Star Market, (pronounced Stahhh Maaaket!), and a revisit to Stop & Shop, which briefly left New Jersey.

For a short time, we ventured to a place called Sammons Food Warehouse, which was pre-Sams Club and sold fresh baked Italian Bread for three loaves for a buck. At that price, they did not last long.

We Grand Union-ed before the closed at Madison Plaza, and had two A&P’s near us, my editor briefly worked there.

Since my teens, up to recently, I still visit grocery stores from all over. My last trip to Boston in 2021, I visited Star, Stop & Shop, Market Basket, and a true treat, Wegmans. Florida included Publix, Winn-Dixie, Aldi, and Fresh Market.

So when I traveled in May for my birthday, a quick trip to the local Winn-Dixie to get my birthday gift and cake, was all I could muster in my current condition. What’s a guy to do?

YouTube to the Rescue…

I found several bloggers who video visits to the swanky Publix stores in Florida. Also some visits to the Smith’s Marketplace in North Las Vegas, with a bar in a Kroger superstore, came up.

If only I could travel to the UK. I found visits to Tesco and Marks & Spencer Food, intriguing! Choices! And lots of plastic packaging!!!

All this influence from my Mom taught me how to grocery shop, even in challenging times. Food ad releases are must see posts. I helped my brother manage his relocation to Florida, the land of BOGO, a major marketing tool of Publix. He is now enjoying choices, including Aldi and Winn-Dixie, now owned by the same company.

I am awaiting our local changes—Aldi and the possibility of Piggly Wiggly.

That’s a Wrap…

I thought I was the only grocery geek. It is nice to have company. Check out some example videos below. And if you have one to share, please do! I’m all eyes!

Thanks for reading and pondering with me. —TC