Grocery Shopping (Fresno, Bakersfield, Oxnard: prices, Whole Foods, discount)

[UB50]

Originally Posted by KnoxTown

Anyone know of good markets in the Los Feliz area?

Ahem... Over the I-5, in Glendale -- Golden Farms (or maybe it's Golden Valley Farms) on San Fernando Road -- huge selection of produce, meats, liquor, bakery and imported foods. (It's primarily an Armenian grocery, but it's the biggest one around.) The owner of this store also owns Gefer Farms Produce Club also on San Fernando Road in Burbank. (It's not really a club. It's a supermarket that sells very few canned goods -- mostly just fresh produce, meats, fish, baked goods. If you want to buy canned soup, this is not the place to go.)

HK Market on Pacific & Glenoaks (primarily Korean -- good produce, fish, meats).

Paradise Bakery/Deli on Glenoaks -- Deli meats & cheeses, huge bakery.

The regular stuff: Vons, Ralphs, Trader Joes, Whole Foods Market, Jons -- those are all in Glendale.

[UB50]

Originally Posted by junkman18

I never liked Vallarta Supermarket much. It seems like the area where their store is at is always dirty and the parking lot is just as dirty. And illegals hanging around the area looking for a hand out.

I think it depends on the Vallarta. There is one on Sepulveda (Granada Hills?) that is yucky. The one on Sherman Way and Vineland near the Burbank Airport is new, huge, clean. It's a really nice store.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by UB50

I think it depends on the Vallarta. There is one on Sepulveda (Granada Hills?) that is yucky. The one on Sherman Way and Vineland near the Burbank Airport is new, huge, clean. It's a really nice store.

I think you are right. My 85 year old mom shops the Vallarta in Canoga Park. The meat selection is pretty awesome.

[KnoxTown]

Originally Posted by UB50

Ahem... Over the I-5, in Glendale -- Golden Farms (or maybe it's Golden Valley Farms) on San Fernando Road -- huge selection of produce, meats, liquor, bakery and imported foods. (It's primarily an Armenian grocery, but it's the biggest one around.) The owner of this store also owns Gefer Farms Produce Club also on San Fernando Road in Burbank. (It's not really a club. It's a supermarket that sells very few canned goods -- mostly just fresh produce, meats, fish, baked goods. If you want to buy canned soup, this is not the place to go.)

HK Market on Pacific & Glenoaks (primarily Korean -- good produce, fish, meats).

Paradise Bakery/Deli on Glenoaks -- Deli meats & cheeses, huge bakery.

The regular stuff: Vons, Ralphs, Trader Joes, Whole Foods Market, Jons -- those are all in Glendale.

Wow, thanks alot!

[katenik]

Originally Posted by jdavid93225

The L.A. area is a huge place. There are lots of places throughout L.A. to shop for groceries. How about we put the area ahead of the names of the stores?

Example:

San Fernando Valley - Vallarta Supermarket and other stores that cater to the hispanic culture. For some reason, these stores seem to have better prices on many items than the big chain stores.

is this only in the valley? i've never heard of this grocery company, but isn't there a gas station of the same or similar name that seems to be creeping up all over the place?

[Winston Smith]

Originally Posted by Charles

Online is OK but it is tough to do comparison shopping. I always compare price per ounce and factor in the discounts and specials a particular chain may offer.

Shopping online, it is tough to do comparison shopping on the per-ounce level, that's quite true, especially since all but one of the major chains are behind the times in this very awesome service.

However, you'll forgive me if I don't see the benefit in driving up gallons of gas to save a few cents on ounces. Chances are I may be saving on ounces anyway because I'm often given extras for using the online shopping service. Things like, "order before Sunday and the delivery is FREE!"

Thanks, but to be able to spend a quick 20 minutes at the computer and drive nowhere to get my month's grocery shopping done and transported home -- often for free, I care less about price comparison per ounce of a penny or two this or that way.

[junkman18]

Originally Posted by cre8

Shopping online, it is tough to do comparison shopping on the per-ounce level, that's quite true, especially since all but one of the major chains are behind the times in this very awesome service.

However, you'll forgive me if I don't see the benefit in driving up gallons of gas to save a few cents on ounces. Chances are I may be saving on ounces anyway because I'm often given extras for using the online shopping service. Things like, "order before Sunday and the delivery is FREE!"

Thanks, but to be able to spend a quick 20 minutes at the computer and drive nowhere to get my month's grocery shopping done and transported home -- often for free, I care less about price comparison per ounce of a penny or two this or that way.

Can you send a link for grocery shopping on line. I have never done IT before. It may be a good way to go..

[jdavid93225]

Originally Posted by katenik

is this only in the valley? i've never heard of this grocery company, but isn't there a gas station of the same or similar name that seems to be creeping up all over the place?

They are definitely in the valley, but have stores in other locations, too, according to their website. In L.A. County, they are also in East L.A. and Baldwin Park, as well as Valencia and the Antelope Valley. Outside of L.A. County, they also have stores in Oxnard, Victorville, Bakersfield, Delano, and Fresno.

As for the gas station, I believe you are thinking of Valero. This seems to be the new name for Ultramar gas stations, which were part of an acquisition in 2001. Here are some links about the company:

About Valero (http://www.valero.com/AboutUs/ - broken link)
History (http://www.valero.com/AboutUs/History.htm - broken link)

[cynwldkat]

The online shopping does sound like a good idea....but then I'd never leave the house!!

[Paula Lynn]

Let's say you shop at Albertson's on-line. Besides the shipping fee, are you paying the same price as you would if you go to Albertson's personally?