Best Supermarket on Long Island? (Babylon, Smithtown: buying, restaurants, price)

[TANaples]

It is imported Irish butter. Maybe it is the difference in the cows eating that very green Irish grass. I have been to Ireland and all the butter there is much more golden than ours.

[UpstaterInBklyn]

Originally Posted by Rachael84

What exactly makes Wegmans better than other grocery stores?

Surprising that there is so much discussion here about Wegman's. I didn't think their reputation had spread that far. As a native Upstater, Wegman's is probably the only place I miss.

Rachael, if you go there you'll understand. Wegman's has wide selection and quality choices of every type (gourmet, organic, international and ordinary groceries), excellent in-store bakery, fish market, butcher and deli, amazing service, gorgeous stores, in-store chefs, sit-down cafes, delicious heat-and-eat and semi-prepared fare, and high-quality, high-end unique store-brand products.

They also do a lot of little things that other stores should emulate such as offering three different sizes of shopping carts and designing the checkout lines so that the cashier sits behind the scanner to scan and bag with one motion, greatly speeding up the process. They also provide more checkout lanes by making them slightly narrower, so the lines are never long.

The closest Wegman's to NYC/LI is in Woodbridge NJ. We make the 45-minute trip there once every couple of months or so.

[Rachael84]

Originally Posted by UpstaterInBklyn

Surprising that there is so much discussion here about Wegman's. I didn't think their reputation had spread that far. As a native Upstater, Wegman's is probably the only place I miss.

Rachael, if you go there you'll understand. Wegman's has wide selection and quality choices of every type (gourmet, organic, international and ordinary groceries), excellent in-store bakery, fish market, butcher and deli, amazing service, gorgeous stores, in-store chefs, sit-down cafes, delicious heat-and-eat and semi-prepared fare, and high-quality, high-end unique store-brand products.

They also do a lot of little things that other stores should emulate such as offering three different sizes of shopping carts and designing the checkout lines so that the cashier sits behind the scanner to scan and bag with one motion, greatly speeding up the process. They also provide more checkout lanes by making them slightly narrower, so the lines are never long.

The closest Wegman's to NYC/LI is in Woodbridge NJ. We make the 45-minute trip there once every couple of months or so.

Wow, it's really worth the bridge toll/time to get there? I went to college in Cortland, and those from upstate always talked about how they missed Wegmans. The closest one was in Syracuse, so sometimes they'd all pack into a car and go JUST for the cookies sometimes, lol. Apparently their cookies are amazing.

[longislander329]

greenfield's shop-rite in plainview. period.

[Rachael84]

My husband went to John's farms in Plainview to go shopping a few times. The prices are very cheap, but he said it isn't worth it because of how crowded it is. He said it's probably a fire hazard because of how many people are in the store. We don't go there anymore; it isn't worth the stress.

[HomeFinder15]

For John's Farms, you need to go at off times (usually a weekday at 6:30 pm) and park in the side lot, not front lot. Also, do not take a cart (which costs a quarter to take and you get it back once returned), try to use the basket. Prices for produce and some meats are well worth it!!!!

[Coney]

Originally Posted by Rachael84

My husband went to John's farms in Plainview to go shopping a few times. The prices are very cheap, but he said it isn't worth it because of how crowded it is. He said it's probably a fire hazard because of how many people are in the store. We don't go there anymore; it isn't worth the stress.

That reminds of Cross Island Fruits. I can't take the stress of that place any more because of the crowds and stress.

[Jdawg8181]

Food Stores are food stores. If you aren't buying coldcuts from the deli or the store brand stuff, the food itself is the same.

I find Waldbaum's always has the longest lines...and most of the employees at the location by me (Long Beach) speak spanish. My friend and I asked where the rice was and the lady said "catorce"...lol. Then you go up to the register and they say "veinte dolares"...I wish I was kidding.

[dman72]

In the area I live, Shoprite in Hauppauge has the best prices. Stop and Shop, Waldbaums, and Meat Farms all have varying things that are better or worse between them. Meat Farms for produce and Meat no question. I also like Trader Joes for hippie stuff. King Kullen seems to be the most expensive and I can't explain why. I buy my milk and eggs for the week from Bj's, though.

[LilTownBlues]

Originally Posted by puritymadesimple

Only because even chains vary in inventory and prices. thanks

Actually, I think the store units within most chains have become generic copycats of each other. For example, if Corn oil is on sale and booked for end #1 then that's what you see in every store. Doesn't matter if you're in an Italian neighborhood where the majority of consumers might prefer Olive Oil. The chain booked corn oil, the corn oil company paid for the display, and the buyer says corn oil goes on end #1 period, no discussion allowed.

Originally Posted by Crookhaven

I wish we had Stew Leonards.

Interesting outfit, but frankly I think they are overpriced on non sale items and after a few times of walking the maze it becomes rather tiring. They do have an excellent selection of goods and I do give them credit for creating a new concept that can almost be called "amusement park supermarket". People keep coming back for more, and even Fairway has copied the "maze" concept in other locations.

Originally Posted by RoleModel

Stop & Shop is probably the best chain on LI, considering Pathmark is now owned by A&P, which defines "running the business into the ground" as an art. Most of S&S's stores are usually clean and while their prices aren't the best, they're pretty good all around. Almost any of S&S's stores that have been renovated in the past few years are pretty good.

Shoprite would be the best if they had more locations on LI. They have the best sales period and they don't gouge you for non-sale items like Pathmark and Waldbaums. I'm pissed that the plans for a SR in East Patchogue fell through.

As for other supermarkets, gotta give props to Fairway. It's the closest you'll probably ever get to Wegmans on Long Island.

Pathmark and Waldbaums = same company (along with a number of chains not in LI). S&S is clean but as you say they are generally overpriced. They also are very much caught in the middle on LI, they do not have the store space to completely execute their concept the way they do in New England and they continue to have some difficulty adapting to the "cherry picking" market that is LI.

Shoprite is a buyers cooperative (like Key Food, C-Town, etc)made up of mini chains. In other words one owner may own 5 or 6 stores. Other stores will be owned by someone else and will be run differently. The Plainview stores are owned by Greenfield's. Greenfield is an "old time" operator who knows how to service the community and has wonderful stores with loyal customers as a result.

The Wegman's loyalties I don't quite get. I've only been in a few over the years and although they are clean stores, I find them very similar to S&S's that are up in New England. Humongous stores trying to be all things to all people. Maybe if I shopped regularly in one I would feel different about them.

At the end of the day here is my LI grocery business rundown -
- Waldbaums, Pathmark, S&S, King Kullen
These are the "big boys" on LI that are the look alike, feel alike centrally controlled chains. Be a "cherry picker" look for sale prices, not much else that they offer that's worth going out of your way for. This group continues to lose business, not that long ago you would have added a few other names to the list which are now gone. IMO they're all the same none is superior to the other overall. It's just whichever one you are most comfortable with.
- Greenfields, Guinta's, IGA, Guiseppe's, Best Yet
"old style" operations that try to cater to their customers much more than the big chains. Can be a bit more expensive as a result, but they are stealing customers from the big boys. Greenfield is the class act of this group, take a ride to Plainview it's worth the trip.
- Fairway, John's Farms, Trader Joes, Pat's Meats, Guiseppe (fits in here too)
Gourmet/Quasi Gourmet group that provides good pricing and a strong selection of items that you will not find in the "big boys". Selection and quality are stealing customers from the big boys. Where the "big boys" fail this group excels and is continuing to grow. Fairway wins in this category since they really had the head start in it, but Guiseppe or John's may catch them soon.
- BJ's, Costco
Not supermarkets, but they are the bulk monsters. Pricing consistently good for brand name products. Got the attention of the "big boys" who took their eye off the ball opening the door for the gourmet group. Another no winner situation, go wherever you are more comfortable.
- Walmart, Target
Also not a supermarket, but they are just starting to get into the game in the region and when they do they beat the "big boys" in pricing and make 1 stop shopping very easy. They will grow very rapidly in the next few years on LI. The Walmart may very well take over the world.

One other group on LI that I forgot is the ethnic group -
V&T Supermarket Hempstead - Chinese/Asian: Many Americans might not find it to their liking (can seem a bit less that sparkling clean) but it is an excellent store for Asian selection and ingredients. Live fish tanks are a highlight
H & Y Supermarket Plainview - Asian/Korean:Not too disimilar than V&T but more Korean and a bit cleaner.
Compare Farmingdale - Hispanic: Good selection of hipanic foods/ingredients. Top notch seafood counter.
Patel Brothers Hicksville - Indian: a National chain specializing in Indian foods and ingredients.