Grocery Outlet

[BananaBirkLarsen]

A search turned up a ton of posts about this store on the Bay Area boards, but none in the rest of California, so I thought I'd start one.

I frequent the Fresno branch, usually every couple weeks. It isn't great for produce or meat, but I've found some amazing things here. As a matter of fact, I'm drinking a cup of the delicious Peruvian coffee I bought today, as I type (quite fresh, too, although sometimes their coffee isn't).

My boyfriend and I have gotten to know the manager (owner?) over the last few months, as he frequently gives us wine suggestions. And their wine selection is one of the highlights of the entire store. I can't think of anywhere else with such a wide variety of very decent wines for under $5 a bottle.

The cheese aisle is another highlight, with an ever-changing selection of really good cheeses for really good prices. I bought two blocks of nice blue cheese today for $1.50 apiece.

Their stock is constantly changing, which makes it a fun place to shop, but can also be quite frustrating. For example, I bought an amazing bottle of balsamic vinegar there in the fall. I have been attempting to replace it for months now, but they no longer carry the same kind (or any kind, for that matter, as they seem to have stopped carrying vinegar altogether). Shopping here can be hit-or-miss and you do have to check the expiration dates. But I seem to find a few great deals every time I go and it really is a great place for foodies on a budget (and who isn't on a budget right now, anyway?)

[millvillemurphs]

The Redding Grocery Outlet currently has Ben and Jerry's Dulce Delish for 1.99 a pint. Yum. Also a special on Boursin Vermont White Cheddar and Sage spreadable cheese. $0.99, but it expires May 3. Anybody try freezing Boursin before?

[iL Divo]

I haven't but often freeze full fat cream cheese with no complaints

[buzzardbreath]

I usually stop at the Merced GO when I'm near there. I stock up on everyday coffee like S&W (very tasty, actually) or MJB, which is a favorite of my OH. Their can coffee usually runs about $6.99 or $7.99 for the 33 ounce size, the cost being some $5 or $6 less than the local supermarket where I live.

[Tripeler]

Sorry, cannot understand OH. What's it stand for? Not Old Husband, I hope...

[jennyfur]

Maybe...Other Half? Maybe.

[buzzardbreath]

Oops, sorry :( ...meant Other Half. I will be more careful with abbreviations in future.

[iL Divo]

I was going to start a thread about GO but I "FINALLY" found where the ones were that I'd subscribed to.

Here's what I was curious about. Same pricing throughout all GO's?

My husband and I have been in several GO's over the last few or several months.
In September we were in the GO in Lake Tahoe where the prices were only pennies under a regular market. Of course I was in my glory at the chance to be in a GO as they always have such fun finds and we were on vacation. What I found was several of the prices were same as in any market. My husband came in to get me so I went to the checkout and said how high I found the prices and wondered if the policy of low pricing had changed. "No, people usually thank us for our pricing," he said as he rolled his eyes to another employee who was nearby. He was down right rude as he told her that I thought the prices were high in comparison to other GO's. She rolled her eyes too. With that, I was annoyed to say the least. We'd been in Susanville GO 2 weeks before and in Placerville a few days before and in Merced some days before that. I check out prices even if I don't need anything, my husband stops the car when we pass one so I can go in and get my fill of having one in my presence. Their prices were as I knew, the one in Tahoe wasn't. That's what confused me and that's what I was questioning.

So are they all the same dictated pricing or do they have their own price points?
We got to Placerville later in the week on our way to Sacramento so husband stopped there for me because of the bbq we'd be attending and wanted to pick up some snacks for it. Their prices with one exception were all much lower than in Lake Tahoe GO. Hubby was walking the dog so he gave me a nice amount of time in there and had my receipt in hand. When I saw that the pricing was not the same I finished my shopping and we drove out of town. The owner of the GO in Lake Tahoe said they are mandated to all use the same price for same products. I thought that maybe Lake Tahoe was upscale and therefore charged more. Was told no.
Now after checking the pricing in other stores, I find that doesn't appear to be the case. No, things are on special in one store vs. other GO's. My thoughts are they must be more expensive in higher end areas?

[jsaimd]

We often head to SLT GO when coming up to Tahoe. It is cheaper than Raleys, which is what is next to our condo. It all depends on what it is. I find that many of the staples, like bread, milk and eggs and even chips (kids get these every ski trip) are pretty much the same there as say, Safeway. However, I also do see specialty items for much less. They often have some gluten free food at good prices for my Celiac son. My kids always get to pick a cereal on vacation - no rules from mom (well almost none) - which is a big treat for them. They are generally a ton cheaper at GO than Raleys.

We're probably going tonight if the kids aren't too tired after skiing and I'll look to see.

[jsaimd]

I dropped by GO after wandering the isles at Raley's for a bit in the morning biding time before I could get into the condo. I have to agree with iL Divo - the prices really weren't that great. There were a few things hit or miss, but not much that was considerably cheaper than Raley's. Some was more expensive. I don't recall that being the situation in RWC (Bay Area) but not positive.

We did find a Kerrygold light cheddar (same as TJs light Irish cheddar), which I lke. The berry captain crunch my son likes (no idea why) was a good price, and $.99 nut thin crackers. The gelato/sorbetto mentioned above was abundant but all damaged.

[iL Divo]

the GO in South Lake Tahoe probably won't get my business anymore simply because of the owner lady's attitude. I don't handle attitudes very well and customer 'no' service is simply wrong. especially when I have no budget when I walk into a GO. I know a good price or bargain when I see it and if I want olive oil because it's Spanish and the price is crazy ridiculously good, I'll buy 5 or them. we may not need chocolate but if I see a brand my beloved loves at a great price, I'll buy 5 of them. we have ultra freezer space and cupboard/pantry space plus room in frig if some things need to go in there.
usually my experiences are great at all GO's though I must say.

[c oliver]

I don't know if GO has a set policy on pricing but I'd expect Tahoe to be more expensive than the other places you mention. Real estate is expensive. Very expensive. That alone can drive prices up.

[BeefeaterRocks]

Found bags of frozen fire roasted New Mexico chiles in my store last week (So. Or. coast) Might want to check your stores, you could get lucky.

[Melanie Wong]

The Salinas store today has a big pile of the packs of Serrano ham reported on the SF Bay Area board --- probably the best deal this month. Also bought Straus organic ice cream, $1.99/pt, Brown Sugar Banana flavor only --- has chocolate chips and doesn't taste much like banana.

[iL Divo]

that's one thing I always found when we had our GO before it closed, DANG!
they'd have a top notch ice cream but only one flavor and it was usually an odd ball at that.
I always looked at the frozen section because hubby loves ice cream but he's a basic vanilla guy and not much else. once in a while he'll buy Neo or Cookies&Cream.

I enjoyed making rice in the rice cooker tonight out of the extra large bag of CalRose type rice now that was a bargain.

I've been thinkin it's time to get on the road and find me a GO and soon...the bug's hit me again.

[Melanie Wong]

Passed through Atascadero on Monday evening, sliding into the Grocery Outlet (near 101 exit) at 8:35pm, just enough time to do a quick walk-through and buy a few items. This is a good one. I bought:
Wondra flour, not sure of the box size, maybe 2 lbs? $1.99
Hain peanut oil, 32 oz, $3.49
Roquefort cheese, Vernieres vert, 3.5 oz, $1.99 (the real thing!)
Dagoba lemon ginger bars, $1.49
Scharffenberger 41% sea salt almond bars, $1.99
Garlic and herb Boursin, $1.99
Pelopennese Greek wild capers, 100 g, 99¢

Other things I noted in stock:
Lurpak butter
Maple syrup (current season had low yields so stock up now)
Amy's organic frozen entrees, including the light and lean line
Dried pasta from Italy
Organic sugar
Specialty salts

[toodie jane]

have you been to the Marina store, near the Farmer's Mkt? Stumbled on some great buys on Scharffenberger nibs & choc. there. The AT store has carried the Dagoba minis since they opened. They're my fav size.

[Melanie Wong]

Yes, the Marina store has good buyers. Better wines than in Salinas typically.

[iL Divo]

sad thing is my closest GO is 71.9 miles one way.
although that's far, that's not the problem as much as the traffic I have to drive through to get there which is awful but worse (even) driving back.

years ago when we had one here before it closed, if having a party of friends, neighbors, a shower, or luncheon, I'd choose GO for my cheese platter. although I didn't know some of the cheeses from experience, the platter was always pretty and interesting (plus) > plentiful.
oh I miss my GO and all of you who have 1 close are fortunate.

I do wonder what makes them close. it was always busy like all others I've been in, hummm.

[Melanie Wong]

Yesterday at the Salinas Grocery Outlet

Lurpak unsalted Danish butter, 8 oz, $1.99
Jules Destrooper Butter Waffles from belgium, 99¢
Sea salt rice crackers, 69¢
Boursin, shallot, $1.49
Sage triple creme blue brie, $2.99
Grey Poupon mild and creamy dijon in squirt bottle, $1.69
Organic orzo pasta from Italy, $1.99/lb

[Agrippa]

Saw Dagoba Hot chocolate mix in Merced. It was a pretty large bag for $25 or 50% off.
Not sure if they'll have any luck selling considering the price.

[susancinsf]

Some of yesterday's Merced GO purchases:

Challenge butter: 1 lb $1.99, salted and unsalted. I freeze it if the expiration date is coming up fairly soon.
Brazilian Arabica coffee, 1 lb, I think, 2.99. No idea if it is any good, but we are going to try it.
Columbus artisan pinot noir salami: $1.99
Herdez salsa verde: 69 cents. (about 30 cents less than grocery stores here)
Hardy's Nottage Hill Shiraz, 2006, $3.99. Definitely in the drink now category, and at that price, we were happy to do so.
Asparagus: 99 cents for a one pound bunch, and it was thin stalks, which is how hubby likes it. have only seen thick in the grocery stores (at $1.99 I think?) and none at the farmer's market. Will serve it for his Easter dinner tonight.

[susancinsf]

forgot to mention:

limes, ten for a dollar.
California Olive Ranch Miller's Blend EVO, $5.99 for 500 mil (more than half off retail).

[BananaBirkLarsen]

I've had a few great finds the last 2 times I went to Grocery Outlet. A week ago, they were selling smallish wedges of Rougette Bavarian Red cheese (very buttery, soft-ripened cheese, similar to brie) for $3.49/lb. I bought a few wedges and thought I'd found a great deal. When I went back yesterday, it had been marked down to $0.99/wedge, so I restocked my cheese drawer. They've also had Organic Valley half & half 1L cartons for $1.99. They can be stored, unopened, out of the fridge for something like 6 months, so I got a few of those for the cupboard. Other highlights include a family size three-pack of Johnsonville cheese-filled hot dogs for $0.99 (that's three packages of 6 hotdogs each -- a total of 18 hotdogs -- for $0.99). And blocks of Cracker Barrel peppercorn cheddar and jack cheese for $0.99 apiece. Also, a jar of organic tahini for, I think, $2.99. And a variety of excellent imported red wines (we drank a Bordeaux and a Beaujolais last night) for less than $5 apiece.

[arjunsr]

haven't got a chance to look at the wines yet. i found some nice beer selections for superbowl.

got a great bottle of extra virgin olive oil and sea salts for under 4 dollars.

thanks for the suggestion! we pass by it all the time but my family never went in there.

[Stephanie Wong]

Glad you found some goodies -- I tell my friends it's a treasure hunt unlike "normal" grocery markets. I found a great wicker laundry hamper one time for much less than Cost Plus-World Market.

[orangeworld]

The Grocery Outlook in Roseville, CA on Douglas Blvd. is going out of business. According to a cashier, Walmart wanted the building along with the one next door. I'm sad to see this store close as it one of the cleanest, most organized GO's I have been to. I work in Roseville and would frequent this store a couple of times a month to score cheese and wine. The upside to them closing is that the whole store is on sale. Groceries, beer, and wine are 20% off while houseshold items are 30% off.

[iL Divo]

well cr@p. last time I was in Roseville and driving up Douglas toward the lake, I didn't even know there was one there. I knew about MacFrugals though further down Douglas going in direction of old town Roseville. Oh well, another one bites the dust.

same thing happened to me in Pittsburgh PA when the GO there was closing. It's scary to think how much I spent that day as same of your store, all was on sale. Good news is though, they were closing it due to size, it being too small. The new one is opened now but I've not been back.
I seriously have so much fun walking the aisles of any GO. You just never know if it's gonna be a great day or a bust

[ragtimejoejoe]

Here in NorCal, I used to frequent the Newark store and they always had odd but great deals. The store had a slightly chaotic and cheap quality that I liked--it went with the bargain atmosphere. The new Fremont store just a few miles away has moved upscale and the great quirky buys are long gone. The store is orderly, and you can get a shiny new shopping cart, but it's not the "OMG, look at this great deal" store it once was. Last week I caught a deal on a pound package of high-end Hillshire sausage for a buck, and I bought all 4 packs left, but that was the kind of deal I used to grab just about every visit. Their wine prices are still a nice buy, and now and then ice cream and frozen foods. Give me back the shabby surroundings; I'll be happy to go home with the breakthrough bargains.

[toodie jane]

it's a way off your route, but the Grass Vally GO is fabulous. Highest volume in Calif I believe. something like 7 checkout lanes.

[BananaBirkLarsen]

Been finding a ton of great stuff at GO recently and not all of it has been food (ie. Infusium shampoo and conditioner for $2.99 a bottle!)

They had a wine sale last week (20% off everything) and we picked up a number of great Bordeaux wines and several from California as well.

My big find yesterday was an 8 piece Bialetti stoneware baking set for $17.99. Lidded casserole, au gratin pan, pie dish, and 2 lidded ramekins.

[iL Divo]

you did find some fun stuff.
it's a store that for me, is like many other stores I frequent...it's a great day with lots to ponder over or nothing there for me today..................

[BananaBirkLarsen]

Yes, exactly! Sometimes I come out of there with a boatload of great stuff and sometimes I end up with nothing at all.

[Melanie Wong]

A few days ago at the Watsonville Grocery Outlet:

Dagoba organic milk chocolate (37%), toasted hazelnuts & rice crisps bars, $1,49
Mull of Kintyre extra mature Scottish cheddar, 7 oz, $2.99
Nash Brothers organic fair trade vanilla extract, 2 oz, $3.99
Numi organic monkey king Jasmine green tea, $3.99
Numi organic Rooibois chai, loose, $5.99

Thanks to Columba for the tip on the SF Bay Area board to look for the teas. This was my first time to the new Watsonville store. Didn't have time to shop the whole store but was favorably impressed with what I found in a quick trip.

-----
Grocery Outlet
1000 Main St, Watsonville, CA 95076

[BananaBirkLarsen]

I really lucked out in the dairy aisle this week. Alouette creme fraiche for $0.50/tub (8oz, I think) and Horizon Organic Plain Yogurt for $0.79/large container. Also, a couple bottles of really good wine (a Merlot and a Barbera, but I can't remember the details off the top of my head -- possibly the lingering effects of said wine from last night...)

[Bruce in SLO]

We noticed a "Coming Soon" sign at the Atascadero Outlet venue off El Camino Real in the north end of Atascadero. Del Rio off ramp puts you in their parking lot.
can't wait.

[Bruce in SLO]

The Grocery outlet opened in Atascadero on El Camino Real last week.
We stopped in yesterday to check things out.
A fairly large store with small wine section. I was told it will get larger as soon as they determine local preferences. Good meat selection and a large freezer section with many items not seen in Santa Maria.

[toodie jane]

I stopped in couple of days before Thanksgiving, they'd been open 3 or 4 days. Lots of shoppers esager to discover the GO experience. Gound some good buys on chocolate, some good cheeses, and the New York chub sausages that are pretty good. The chorizo is a favorite. In the past year or two, GO has expanded its produce selection and added fresh meats.
I appreciate any and all wine recs from GO shoppers. Maybe we should start a separate "GO Wine BUYS" to update as needed? As I understand it, each sotre is individually owned and they buy from a central warehouse according to their local demographics.

Visiting GO when out of town has become a new type of tourism for me. The catch is when you find really good bread (Truckee Sourdough Bakery) or cheese, and you can't take them home with you without refrigeration.

[Columba]

Old, but not out-dated funny story about shopping at GO---
http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sonoma/08.03.05/dining-0531.html

The Philosophy of Products

Surrealism is alive and well in the aisles of North Bay discount supermarkets

By Matt Pamatmat

In the perennial holiday children's film Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer--featuring Burl Ives as the snowman narrator, goofy animation and an unexplained overabundance of purple clay--Rudolph discovers an entire island of defective, unpopular or just plain weird toys: the Island of Misfit Toys. I felt a little like Rudolph when the Grocery Outlet supermarket first opened in the wake of Safeway's disappearance from the Fourth and College location in Santa Rosa a few years back. Inside the Grocery Outlet, bizarre, dusty products fill the store like misfit toys, just waiting to be bought and taken home by someone looking for bargains or the shopper who simply delights in finding an item too curious to pass up.

In fact, what Grocery Outlet offers is a trip to the surreal. The store carries items that never took off with a finicky populace, have dangerously close expiration dates or are simply better sold as discount items. This can be good for the frugal gourmet or bargain-hunter: many costly items such as honey, alcohol, medicine and cereal, can be found here at very reasonable prices. I once scored a beautiful little jar of smoky-sweet Peruvian honey that was some of the best I've ever had. And for a family on a tight budget like mine, a place like Grocery Outlet is a godsend for keeping food bills under control.

continued at
http://www.metroactive.com/papers/son...

[Melanie Wong]

In Salinas this afternoon:

Roba Dolce chocolate chunk gelato $2.99
Heinz ketchup, 14 oz, 99¢ - small size appreciated by infrequent consumers like myself who only buys ketchup once a decade or so
Lea & Perrins, 5 oz, $1.99 - small size again, and the ingredient label does not have "corn sweetners" but includes "sugar" like the original UK recipe
Kerrygold "Swiss" cheese, made in Ireland, random weights, $4.99/lb
Also saw Emmenthaler for $5.99/lb

[iL Divo]

curious how the gelato was. I bet it was wonderful. love buying ice creams there. good for you, you found a great flavor yes?

you mentioned ketchup.
we are huge ketchup lovers because the 1000 island salad dressing is always made at home here and serves a few purposes. salad dressing and sandwich spread plus a dipping sauce for home baked fries.
husband and I were in Indiana over the weekend and had a new to us brand of ketchup.
it's made in Indiana and has such a zing and twang to it, called Red Gold. loved it.

[Melanie Wong]

No, I couldn't say that the gelato was "wonderful" or "great". It's a good chocolate ice cream, not very gelato-like, with deep chocolate flavor. My mother complains that it has too many hard chocolate pieces embedded in it, which would be a plus for some folks.

[iL Divo]

Mel, it's a serious plus for me, love chunks of choco.
also love deep rich flavor of chocolate.
was in cleveland the other day and walked by a gelato joint.
as I started to drool and plan my attack for which flavor, my friend warned me against temptation saying "it's not very good gelato, I've eaten there 2 times and won't again"...I was thankful

[toodie jane]

I picked up some Sharffenberger nibs paskages for $3-something last time I was through Marina. I stopped at the center where the FM is to check out what I thought might be an Eastern European Deli (not so much), went to GO and was able to score some goodies.

[CookingwithMochi]

I was afraid to go here since it is so charmingly also known as "Gross Out," but I went and was pleasantly surprised. There are some nice (and cheap) things that you can find and I do now frequent it!

[iL Divo]

oh how funny, which one do you go to?
Gross Out, that's one I'd not heard before, but makes sense I suppose.
they can be dingy dirty and messy, but if you hunt, you'll be sure to find treasures

[happybaker]

People! You're killing me!

I comfort myself with the fact that I have Superking in LA but honestly. Really. You're making me cry.

[iL Divo]

not worth tears happybaker. :0 :)

I'm with you not having one ANYWHERE near me.

we have reasons, we own something in Jamestown California and we're up there often to see it. So Sonora, Tahoe, Placerville and Merced are easy picks for us while we're there is all.

and I stock up.

[iL Divo]

in Sonora Calif today and tomorrow and already been to the GO up here.
bought 5 kinds of olive oil, all different, 4 different kinds of chocolates, for our hotel room got husband some kind of specialty ice cream cone and cheeses deli meats snacks for tomorrows' adventure.

[Melanie Wong]

Here's what I bought at the Grocery Outlet in Salinas this morning -

Hebrew National kosher beef franks, $3.49
Living Right frozen mini cheese pizzas, $2.49 (label says made with 88% organic ingredients, whole grain crust)
Pacific Foods uncured pepperoni pizza, frozen, $2.49
Dixie Crystals cane sugar, $1.49, one pound
Tropicana orange juice, $2.29
Straus organic blueberry-pomegranate low fat organic yogurt, 32 oz, 99¢ (sell by date 30 Sept)
Amy's organic lemon poppy seed cake, frozen, $2.99
Hellman's mayo, 30 oz, $2.49

-----
Grocery Outlet
1415 N Main St, Salinas, CA

[iL Divo]

my husband has figured it out that when we're in Tahoe, he knows right where to park and sit while I spend way too much time in there. the olive oils in there and the chips and chocolates usually grab my attention and the ice cream, oh my gosh, that kills me. love the place and hate that mine closed, oh well.

[BananaBirkLarsen]

The ice cream!

One time, they were selling Hagen Daaz ice cream for $1.50/pint. The next time I went in, they had been forced to raise the price because of some law that said they couldn't charge less than $2.50 for it. But at the checkout, they were giving a $1-off-your-next-purchase coupon for every pint of ice cream that you bought. I thought that was pretty cool of them.

[iL Divo]

have been fortunate to find really incredible ice creams in there, crazy [in a good way] flavors. my husband is an ice cream freak as is the kid. birds of a feather I suppose. me not so much but the cheeses, really [?] the cheeses are just so affordable. I spend a good deal of money in the deli section because of the feta in fancy olive oil in real pretty jars, the brie cheese wheels, the fresh mozzarella balls, [novelty cheeses I don't even know what they are or taste like] the list goes on and on.

[BananaBirkLarsen]

Yes, the cheese section is the best! I haven't bought cheese anywhere else since I found the place.

[iL Divo]

back in the day, I loved going there for the wine selections.
they seemed to come from everywhere and were so inexpensive. if they were terrible, they didn't cost the farm. I'd buy such pretty bottles for gifts and match them up with cheeses and fruit and chocolates.

[BananaBirkLarsen]

I did a quick GO run this afternoon. Stocked up on more of that blue cheese, even though I'm nowhere near done with the last 2 (things at GO have a tendency to disappear.)

Got a couple bottles of a red Chateau Grand Jean Bordeaux that we tried last time and liked ($5.99 / bottle) and a bottle of a Spanish Centracion Monastrell for a mere $2.99. I'm no wine expert, but it tastes pretty frickin' delicious to me (although the Bordeaux is even better).

I also grabbed some fontina cheese ($1.50), blueberry-chicken breakfast sausages ($2.50), Schaffen Berger bittersweet chocolate chips ($2.50), a bottle of sparkling passionfruit lemonade ($1.89), and some hickory BBQ sauce that looks delicious and was only a little over a dollar.

All in all, a successful shopping trip.

[Bruce in SLO]

A nice wine available at the GO is the 2009 Tempranillo Rose from The Penascal Estate, a Spanish import at $ 2.99. Quite dry and tasty with light dishes and salads. If any 2008 Whitehurst Sav. Blanc remains, pick it up.It's a good value.

[iL Divo]

we lost ours a few years ago, one day I went in there and it was all but empty, then closed up.
sad cause I knew the benefits of this unusual food place.
mom and I used to shop at GO in Auburn, loved it.
love the new GO in Pittsburg, it's killer
big.
our favorite GO is in Tahoe with other ones we like in Placerville, Sonora, and Merced-ish. not sure of name of town but close. was disappointed that the GO on Dillingham in Honolulu is also gone. you never knew what you would find there but must not have been able to survive.

[susancinsf]

There is a GO actually in central Merced, on Main Street, two in Modesto, and the one in Sonora.

[iL Divo]

thanks susan,
the main street one is the one I'm thinking of.
Merced has special meaning for me, Steven Stayner, never forget him.

[susancinsf]

Thanks for the report! It is the nature of GO that stock will change from month to month, day to day, store to store....which is why on the Bay Area boards someone tries to most a monthly report. I am game to start this tradition on the CA boards if you are...

Haven't been (to the Merced GO) yet in August (will post when I do) but in July I found great deals on limes and Smucker's peanut butter....

[BananaBirkLarsen]

I will definitely report on anything great I find at the Fresno branch! Every time I go I find at least a few great deals.

[Gail]

Banana, where in Fresno is this store?
Thanks...

[BananaBirkLarsen]

It's on Blackstone and Ashlan, tucked back behind a gas station and an In-N-Out burger.

[Gail]

Thanks, I'll check out their wine...

[Stephanie Wong]

Also conside the Clovis GO.

-----
Grocery Outlet
1845 Clovis Ave, Clovis, CA 93612

[Gail]

Stephanie, thanks for the Clovis suggestion, closer to me. Regarding the wine, do they have a quality wine selection a la Costo or is it mostly jug wine?

[susancinsf]

the wine selection, like everything else, is hit or miss, but plenty of hits, especially for the prices. No, it isn't jug wine, it is bottles, sometimes from smaller producers, often but not always from European producers. Typically (at least at the Merced GO) it will be a few bottles from each producer, not huge numbers from just a few.

Severak weeks ago hubby picked up a nice Reisling for $5. (sorry, blanking on winery, but we enjoyed it with some take out Thai...)

[Gail]

Thanks Susan. Need to get over there to check it out!

[Stephanie Wong]

Think of it as a treasure hunt. My sister has been known to open a bottle in the parking lot to check if she go back in for more of the same lot!

[Gail]

Your sister is *very* inventive!
Thanks

[Bruce in SLO]

We frequent the GO in Santa Maria and others when we travel,
Some absolute wine bargains. The Sauvignon Blanc's are among the best buys at $ 4 or less.
Lots of special buys in the Frozen food section too.

[toodie jane]

Bruce--if you are ever up on Highway 49 you must try the Grass Valley GO. It is simply amazing. Wine selection supposedly the largest of any GO. Great selection. BIG store.

If you have any specific rec's on SM GO wines, would love to hear them.