Local grocery store is closing, what should I stock up on?

[Duer 157099]

Only some things are 50% off right now, and they'll only be open for another week or so.

I took the opportunity to get some pantry items, and some things that I normally wouldn't buy but that I've seen in recipes and knew I'd have made the recipe if I had the ingredient.

So, my question is: what items should I focus on? I'm ready to make another trip after I've got a plan.

For example, I've read here about "Better than Bouillon", so I got 4 jars (2 chicken, 1 beef, 1 veggie) -- they were 50% off, so each one was $2.70.

And tuna! Large cans of Bumblebee Solid White in Water, $2.50.

Got some vinegars I didn't have, and some spices that I would use so infrequently that I never bothered to get them. But, for 50% off...

[politicat]

1. Is there anything dry that you use on a regular basis?

I'd buy kosher salt, various flours, hard spices, grains.

[Duer 157099]

4. Kosher salt, didn't think of that

But I'll get some, I use it all the time (even to clean my cast iron pans lol)

I'm trying to focus on things that have a good shelf life, or that rarely or never go on sale, and that Costco doesn't sell.

[japple]

2. Canned tomatoes, jarred pasta sauce, beer & cigarettes.

Hey, just kidding about the cigarettes!

[Duer 157099]

3. LOL, those are probably not half off, either

Some stuff is only 10% off, like the beer and liquor.

I didn't check the canned food isle, but it seemed that most of the food was either 10 or 25% off.

[The empressof all]

5. Get things you will use though

Things like canned corn, applesauce, baking chocolate, coconut. You may even think about things you may not use but would if you had it on hand....canned potatoes (good to throw in last minute soups, french fried onions (for casserole toppings).

[Duer 157099]

8. I did get some baking chocolate today

and a few bags of chocolate chips/chunks, all half price

[japple]

7. Canned black beans, red beans, and don't forget those fancy things

like jars of roasted red peppers, marinated artichoke hearts, olives, pickles.

I used canned black beans and canned corn to make Corn/Black Bean Salsa. Just add chopped fresh jalapeno, onions, lime juice, chopped fresh cilantro. I could eat this almost every day.

[Warpy]

6. The local grocery changed hands recently

I got canned soups, flours (now in my freezer), pasta, and butter (also in the freezer).

As long as I don't have to go out of town again next winter, I'll use 'em all up, too.

[eleny]

9. Powdered and canned milk for baking

[Binka]

10. What Store Is Closing?

I lived in Santa Rosa for 10 years. I miss it sometimes.

[Duer 157099]

12. It's the Albertson's on Commerce

in Rohnert Park, right at the Expressway offramp (across from Safeway).

I understand why it's closing -- the management must have been horrible. Whenever I would go in there, I would wonder why anyone shopped there (oh, and why did I go there then? Well, there's one product that nobody else carries, a certain dish scrubber I've come to rely upon over the years, and it's almost impossible to find -- I've only seen them at Albertson's).

The store always smelled bad, like decaying produce, or worse; and it was dark and just didn't seem like it was kept up.

I hope they put something interesting in it's place -- although, it will probably sit empty.

Isn't it funny how shopping centers just on opposites sides of a boulevard can be so different? There's a Rite-Aid next door and it also always seems to be empty.

But, the Safeway and Longs right across the street are ALWAYS busy. Go figure.

[Gormy Cuss]

13. Hey, that sounds like the recently closed Albertson's in Walnut Creek

I'll bet it was a dreary former Lucky's store. The WC location was. The staff was pleasant and helpful but the store always looked dirty and had an off odor.

I shopped the store closing sale and found a few good deals on expensive items like grenandine and bitters and inedibles like sponges and cleansers.

The WC location is being renovated for its new occupant - Trader Joe's.

[Duer 157099]

14. Oh! How funny you would mention that!

When I was in the closest Trader Joes earlier this week, at checkout the guy asked for my zip code. I thought: hmmm, I wonder if they're considering another location and want to see where most of their customers are coming from...

This town could use a TJs, that would be utterly awesome if they did that. The only other store that would be equally awesome would be a Whole Foods.

[Gormy Cuss]

18. Well, I don't want to make you green with envy but

the new TJ's will be four blocks from Whole Foods in one direction and two blocks from an Andronico's in another --that will be a foodie triangle. I may never enter a Safeway again.

[Binka]

15. I Hated That Store You Are Right It Always Stunk!

How is Sonoma Co these days?

[Duer 157099]

16. It's a nice sunny day today

Sonoma county is great, as you know!

[Binka]

17. I Miss Running In Annadell & The Napa Marathon

The Thirsty Boys & Girls of the Empire Runners just rocked!

[Stinky The Clown]

19. That 'rotting produce' smell .......

... is a serious issue in older buildings or buildings that have been occuied by a restaurant or food store for a long time.

There's actually little or nothing that might be fundamentally wrong with the place. The problem happens when concrete gets wet with food ... mmm .... 'ooze' - this is the natural drippings that any type of food product gives off. It might be as benign as the condensation on the carboard box holding a head of lettuce or the nastier sounding thick liquid from a decaying orange or lemon that rolled off a cart and into some place where it went unoticed.

Over time, all these benign spills build up to a cumulative effect. Food 'ooze' is generally quite acidic. Concrete is deteriorated by acid. The ooze breaks the surface of the concrete and the organic material finds its way into the interior of the concrete. In a place where food is routinely handled, that concrete never quite dries out and the smell is the result. Even with a perfectly clean surface and with a perfectly safe food handling environment, the smell remains.

Places with wood floors are similarly prone, but the wood tends to mitigate things just a bit. Places with concrete floors (like grocery store back rooms) are the worst.

It is not unlike curtains that have hung for years in a house that has smokers. Even after the dry cleaner has his way with them, the curtains still have a smoke smell.

[Shakespeare]

20. That's literally just up the street from me.

We had no idea it was closing until we got a flyer in our mailbox announcing the liquidation sale. I haven't been in there yet, not sure I'll go. When they closed Ralphs on Stony Point a couple of months ago, it depressed me going in there (partly because it's just a sad sight, and partly because that was my last bit of Los Angeles--where Ralphs rules--I was hanging onto up here).

I hated going into that Albertsons, and wouldn't unless they had a REALLY good sale in there. It smells like rotten fish (a good friend of mine has a seafood wholesale business down in Rockport Texas, and they take in seafood right on the harbor there--it's the SAME smell as shrimp castoffs that've spent all day in the hot Texas sun...yuck). The other Albertsons up at Fountaingrove (just a couple of blocks from my office) is VERY nice, however.

By the way, I believe Safeway across from the Albertsons that's closing is up for a major remodel soon. They just finished sprucing up the one on Marlowe, and the one on Commerce is the last of the local Safeways that hasn't been upgraded yet.

[Duer 157099]

21. Well now several of you have confirmed that the store reeked

Glad to know it wasn't my imagination. I can't figure out why any people shopped there! The prices weren't even that good -- in fact, their non-cardmember prices were *really* high -- and since I came from So. Cal. where our Albertsons boasted that they didn't have membership cards, I refused to get one up here where they do use them. It was just a principle thing I guess, because I did get the Safeway card (but then, they never prided themselves on not having them).

The Safeway is OK, I don't think they need an overhaul yet, but who knows what motivates such things. I actually like Raley's better, and only go to Safeway for some specific sales.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

11. Anything canned, for sure........

I'd just buy, buy, buy, and figure out later what to do with everything.

This, to me, is canned good heaven. The tuna, for instance, sounds like a GREAT deal, so I'd buy all of it.

I'm so jealous....................

[joneschick]

22. if they have the mushroom and/or lobster Better than Bouillion

grab 'em. I love the mushroom for my cream of mushroom and wild rice soup.

[Duer 157099]

23. Nope, only chicken, veg and beef

I actually used the veggie one last night, added some to some tomato paste along with some basil and garlic, and used it as pizza sauce.

[blue neen]

24. Baking soda.

You can use it for everything! How about vanilla and molasses? Those have pretty long shelf lives and will definitely get used up.

Kitty litter if you have pets AND to soak up grease spots in the garage and driveway.

[Duer 157099]

28. Yep, got a few boxes of baking soda, and molasses too n/t

[Mojorabbit]

25. A local winn dixie closed here last month

I bought everything that I use anyway from canned goods to personal care and cleaning supplies. Not too often one finds deals like that. I bought cases of powdered sauce and gravy mixes. I also bought some products that I always wanted to try but were too expensive normally. Husband calls my pantry the convenience store now.

[Duer 157099]

26. Oboy, today was a score day for sure

Now the store has most things at 75% and even 90% off!! OMG, I went absolutely bananas.

Just looked at the receipt, and I got over $300 worth of groceries for just under $80!!

Vitamins were 90% off!! I stocked up on so many things.

In another thread we were discussing those Manzetti's antipasto - jars of marinated mixes, got the 4 remaining jars, for $1.64 each (two mediterraneans, 1 italian, 1 mixed olives)

Canned meats, they still had lots of canned meats left on the shelf, at 75% off! I got some of those cans of roast beef because I've found they're good for making taco meat, mix with ground beef.

And now even the wine is 75% off, and liquor 50% off -- but I had to leave and didn't even get to that area.

The shelves will be completely empty by tomorrow, I'm sure.

LOL, and all I went there for today was some olive oil (none left, not a drop) and those antipastos.

Now my shelves are truly jammed packed, pantry, cupboards, everything. I'm ready for our earthquake (just kidding, don't you dare)

Only food I'll be having to buy this summer will be fresh fruits/veggies and meats/chicken and dairy products.

[Shakespeare]

27. Do they still have much on the shelves?

Trying to decide if it might be worth my while to stop by after work! :-)

[Duer 157099]

29. I'd say it could be worthwhile

give it a shot.

[Duer 157099]

30. BTW, the store doesn't smell anymore either

[Shakespeare]

31. Really??

eewww....that sort of reinforces my suspicion that the cleanliness of the seafood counter was rather suspect.

I'll stop by tonight!

[Duer 157099]

32. Yeah, I think I have to go back again today too

Those jars of Vlasic Stackers for 99 cents is just too tempting...

There's not much left, but you might find that what is left is some of what you want.