Muscatine

This is an attempt at a LOCAL topic.

Q: What do you think of each Muscatine Grocery store?

Here's my opinion on local offerings I've bought groceries at in alphabetical order:

ALDI's : I've only visited maybe 3 times. Usually to buy items for a large cookout. Low prices, modest selection, but the cart deposit? It makes me feel like I can't be trusted.

CIRCLE K: see "KUM & GO"

CITGO FAST BREAK: see "KUM & GO"

FAIRWAY: Again, been there maybe 10 times. usually I'm in the area and need to pick up a couple things. I hear their meat department is the best in Muscatine. I got a turkey there last Thanksgiving and found their butchers to be most helpful.

FARM & FLEET: Usually find a great deal on candy.

HY-VEE: It's where I go every week, sometimes several times a week. Yes the prices are higher, but the selection is great. One thing I learned recently, and if you  don't know this, here's a tip; when they have items marked like "10 for $10," you don't need to buy 10 to get the sale price. Buy as little or as many as you want. The biggest complaint I have is that some of their store brands seldom offer low fat or sugar free selections.

HY-VEE DRUGSTORE: I've only shopped there for a few items. Less selection obviously than Hy-Vee, but still convenient and sometimes real bargains.

KUM & GO: Come in with money, go out with a lot less. Convenience has a high price.

MENARDS: Mostly I bought things for sacking on at work, including a HUGE can of hot chocolate mix. Some good deals. Small selection of course, but smart of them to take advantage of impulse buying.

WALGREENS: I think I've only bought chips and soda there. Prices seemed high.

WAL-MART: I once decided to do my usual weekly shopping there. I found that although the grocery section is large, the different brand selections seemed less. I also find it too noisy. "Housewares line 5" every few minutes gets annoying. Also, have you ever stopped and listened to the constant "beep, beep" coming from the cash registers? Do they need it to be at that volume?

WHOLESALE FOOD OUTLET: Been there only twice. Happened to be in the area and stopped in to get just one thing. Walked out empty handed both times. From what I remember, they didn't have what I needed. Also, it seemed a little too dusty in there.

Now you know my opinion, what's yours?

I no longer have a car so I don't get to go wherever I want. But when I could,  I found the meat at Fairway the best but they didn't have everything I wanted. Aldi's was ok but I just didn't go there much. Walmart, forget that. Both HyVee's get most of my money now. I have groceries delivered and go to the hyvee drugstore for things I forgot.

I buy 95% of my groceries at Fareway.  I love their meat counter.  When they have manager specials I buy extra for the freezer.  4% of my shopping is done at Walmart.  I buy cat litter and those types of things once a month at Walmart and if need be I'll pick up milk, bread or something small.  Maybe 1 % of my shopping is at HyVee.  I think their prices are high, they never ask if you would like to drive up any more.  I hate to stand there and listen to the cashier and bagger holding a conversation and never even acknowledge that I am there spending money to pay their wages.    The biggest reason I stopped going to HyVee was I loved to rent movies there, I went  in to rent a movie and they refused to take my check.  I saw a manager and asked him about it and his reply was " having movies to rent is our choice and we will set up the program as we see  fit." So, I thought that's fine and it is my choice not to shop at a place with rude people. 

I have only been in Walgreens once and that was to look for a coin book to put the new dollar coins in.  They did carry them, but of course they had stopped handling them when I wanted one.  Oh well, that's my luck. 

NEDL, we all know you just stroll around downtown and drink your meals at the local pubs anyway! Who you tryin' to fool?