jmcquown wrote:
>
>Not all dollar stores are the same. I buy milk and eggs at Family
>Dollar on a regular basis. It's less expensive and I don't have to
>drive 20 miles to the grocery store for basic stuff. Toilet paper,
>paper plates, paper towels. Also laundry and dishwasher detergent.
>
>That's where I buy canned butter beans (laughing) - call them limas, I
>don't care. I buy dried pasta, dried beans, lentils... They also
>sell sour cream, cream cheese, small blocks of cheese (cheddar, monterey
>jack/colby blends) and bags of shredded cheeses. Okay, we're not
>talking "gourmet" cheeses but if you want to make simple mac & cheese or
>a dip, they've got the cheese.

There are three different dollar stores in this small town; a 99¢
Store, a Dollar General, and a Dollar Store... all are somehow
surviving. None sell refrigerated perishables, we have two large
convenience stores that mainly sell gasolene but also sell groceries
and a lot of dairy. I don't buy much from those $1 stores, I
occasionally buy paper goods/office supplies, and once a year I buy my
desk calender for a buck. And they are also good for inexpensive
holiday decorations. But most of the items they sell are dreck, don't
buy their tools or electrical supplies. The 99¢ Store is privately
owned and was here first, I usually peruse their aisles as they have
the best location any store could want, it's right next to the only
liquor store for ten miles... I buy my bird suet blocks there, two for
99¢ for exactly the same suet that sells for $1.49 for one everywhere
else. And now our only supermarket (was an old Grand Union) was taken
over by Tops (a New England chain), has been totally rehabed, it's
like brand new and is now very nice to shop... still for most things
they can't come close to Walmart prices... really just comes in handy
for fill-ins and are good for their sale items... handy as it's the
only supermarket for 15 miles. Yesterday I made the trek to Walmart
and BJs, dropped more than $800 and seemed like I bought nothing much,
prices are getting astronomical.
http://www.topsmarkets.com/?S=