What grocery stores are in Fairbanks? (College, North Pole: university, college, art)

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by megensmom

I was just looking at the Safeway grocery store sale paper in Fairbanks. Either they have one heck of a sale going on or things aren't as expensive as I thought they would be.
I see a gallon of milk for $3.99 here a gallon of milk runs from $4.89-$6.00 at the Super Walmart or local grocery store. Bread 2-$4 there bread here $1.19 per loaf.

So are these normal prices for Fairbanks or is this a super sale?

They all have good sales avery now and then. For example, I remember a few years ago when Freds was having a 40% discount sale of most items (not guns) in the sports & outdoors section. I bought a few boxes of ammo, and a Nikon spotting scope that costs over $409.00 at Cabela's. That was a pretty good sale.

Then Safeway was moving from the old store to the new one (Fairbanks), and they had a big soft drink sales. If I well remember, it was buy one package, and get one free. But usually they are very expensive, at least in North Pole.

[Arcticthaw]

They all want you to have their special card. Freds lets you save 10 cents a gallon on fuel for every 100 points you spend on buying other stuff. I don't remember the ratio of points to dollars spent. I am sure Safeway does something similar. We are working on the Super wal-mart and I think the completion date is in April.

[User 2]

You're working on WalMart?

Can't wait to put some more local business out of business and move some more manufacturing jobs offshore, and wait til you get those lower than living wage jobs brought into the neighborhood?....


Jeebus.....

Find an independent or shop at Costco....

You might think you save a few cents at a big box store, but you'll end up paying far more later for the 'privilege' of saving those few pennys today.
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..

[Arcticthaw]

Originally Posted by User 2

You're working on WalMart?

Can't wait to put some more local business out of business and move some more manufacturing jobs offshore, and wait til you get those lower than living wage jobs brought into the neighborhood?....


Jeebus.....

Find an independent or shop at Costco....

You might think you save a few cents at a big box store, but you'll end up paying far more later for the 'privilege' of saving those few pennys today.
.
..

I am really supprised with you. Normally you research your subject before spouting off on it.

It is apparent to me that you have either never visited Fairbanks or at least not in the last 5 years or so. Let me bring you up to date a bit.

The last locally owned grocery store was the Market Basket / Super Values. If you lived in Anchorage for a long time you may remember the one there. Next we lost the Carrs stores when they were sold to Safeway. Technically the North Pole Safeway is a Carrs, but we all know better. That leaves us with Safeway and Fred Meyers. Since Kroger bought out Freds years ago the selection just hasn't been up to par. The new Safeway that just opened and is replaceing the oldest one, which I was in tonight and happend to work on also. The produce shelves are kind of bear in parts and the bananas look like they were either frozen or left somewhere too cold. We do have a Sams's club for those bulk purchases, by the way it is owned by Wal-mart. So adding a third brand of groceries is not nessecarily a bad thing. As for low wages because the Wal-mart monster is comming, well Wal-mart has been here for a few years now. They cater to the military market. Not the quality you find in Wasilla, which by the way has better products than Anchorage.
You mentioned Costco, well there has never been a Costco in Fairbanks.

If you want to support higher wages, then shop at stores that higher union workers, and provide full shifts and benefits. Most grocery stores here seem to limit the number of hours a person works to prevent both full time status and 8 hour work day. This way they can avoid giving benefits.

Finially just because someone pays me to build something, doesn't obligate me to spend my hard earned $ there.

Maybe you should come visit and see what other cool stores and attractions we have. A trip to Chena Hot Springs will do wonders and warm your disposition.

[icarian]

Isn't Costco a "big-box" store? One of the largest of their type and very much global (personally seen in other countries not bordering the USA). And as stated, no such animal in Fairbanks and Wal-Mart is already here.

[Metlakatla]

Honestly, there is little in Wal*Mart that I personally want or need. All that processed food makes me ill simply to look at it.

When I lived in a more remote location, I went for long periods of time without shopping at any store at all. We have an AP here as well as in Ketchikan; at least they're Alaska owned. I really don't give a rat's ass about prices. I get the best seafood in the world for free, the woods are full of berries, I can grow my own culinary herbs and a fairly decent variety of vegetables here.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by User 2

You're working on WalMart?

Can't wait to put some more local business out of business and move some more manufacturing jobs offshore, and wait til you get those lower than living wage jobs brought into the neighborhood?....


Jeebus.....

Find an independent or shop at Costco....

You might think you save a few cents at a big box store, but you'll end up paying far more later for the 'privilege' of saving those few pennys today.
.
..

I know some folks who work two and three jobs in order to take care of their families. Lots of them work at Wall-Mart, Home Depot Lowe's, etc. They do so because it's not easy to land the best jobs in town; for example, at UAF. Some others are older and have already retired, and the extra work keeps them alive and brings them a little money to take care of their needs whatever these may be.

All those big stores in town may not necessarily help the little grocery store around the corner, but these don't exist in Fairbanks. As all of these large stores compete with each other, it's the population at large that benefits, as well as local, State, and Federal governments because of the taxes (property, fuel, alcohol, sports, etc.) collected.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

Honestly, there is little in Wal*Mart that I personally want or need. All that processed food makes me ill simply to look at it.

When I lived in a more remote location, I went for long periods of time without shopping at any store at all. We have an AP here as well as in Ketchikan; at least they're Alaska owned. I really don't give a rat's ass about prices. I get the best seafood in the world for free, the woods are full of berries, I can grow my own culinary herbs and a fairly decent variety of vegetables here.

I am not defending Wall-Mart by any means, but their plan is to open a super grocery store such as Freds and Safeway's produce departments. I am certain that junk food will also be there, but at least we have more produce choices. It's a little difficult for folks in the interior to grow veggies, except for a couple of months each summer (perhaps from June to August). We do travel to Chitina and land a few salmon. I do that every year, and bring home around 5 kings and 30 reds, and then if I am lucky enough my hunting partner (or me) kill a moose in September. We seldom buy meats at the supermarket.

Freds, Sam's, Safeway, all have quite a lot of produce nowadays, something that was not available to "squarebanksans" ten years ago. Freds even has health-food departments for those who want such, and more competition adds more choices to consumers.

[Metlakatla]

but at least we have more produce choices.

Produce choices are important up there, I agree.

I've just been lucky. My family is in the seafood processing business so I get the best of the best...and someone always gives me moose and caribou meat. I know that a lot of things can't be grown in the interior.....I've lived there. A lot of us here use this site to get something better than what the stores have:

Full Circle Farm - Certified Organic Produce - Welcome

[c.adam]

3.50/Gallon for Milk
Beef can be bought both in the big chains, or you can get higher quality beef if you go with Delta Meats down in Delta Junction. it costs more, there is a drive.. but it's better quality, come on.. it's a butcher shop. All sorts of meat, though not as much Lamb there as I'd like. GREAT Sausage and all that goodness you'd want. I think they come into "town" once a week. Use google.

quick rundown:

Two Safeways
Two Fred Meyers (Krogers, which Safeway is NOT)
Bread Store
LuLu's Bagels for Fresh Breads
Delta Meats for your Meat needs (2 hours away in Delta)
Both the Army and the Air Force have Commisaries for you military folks.
There IS a Carrs/Safeway out in North Pole too.
Walmart is Expanding, not that I care for their quality of food goods at all
Sam's Club...
Interior Fish Processors if you want Fish and whatever else they sell.

In the summers you have the FARMERS MARKET!!! You can't beat it!!!