PRINTFrom Farmer Jack to Hy-Vee: the path to grocery enlightenment
Catherine Szalkowski
March 12, 2009 | 12:00 a.m. CST
Having lived so many places, I’ve slowly been getting used to the process of finding new grocery stores. I initially look for proximity; if it’s close, it’s good enough. But inevitably I’ll need some obscure ingredient that can’t be found at my convenient new spot. And then I’m forced to venture out into the crazy world of retail.
When I first got here, I refused to shop at Walmart and thought that Hy-Vee and Schnucks were two of the strangest grocery store names ever, right up there with Piggly Wiggly. I grew up with stores such as Farmer Jack and Shopping Center Market mere miles from my house and wasn’t prepared for the oddities that awaited me. Hello, D’Agostino.
I’m still a big fan of convenience, and I’ve grown accustomed to the funny monikers, but I’ve recently become more aware of price and quality. Although I had planned to never shop at Walmart, there are times when the rollback prices and large-scale convenience the megastore offers can’t be beaten. And there are other times when I simply can’t pass up the more expensive (and tasty) local products at Clovers, or the Garden Fresh Gourmet salsa at Hy-Vee. It’s pretty tasty.
The grocery game can be difficult to navigate solo, not to mention time-consuming, so we’ve done our best to give you an insider’s look into Columbia’s grocery spots (Feature). Whether you want to compare products or atmosphere, our comprehensive store listing should be all that you need.
After all, an informed shopper is a smart shopper. So shop smart, Columbia.
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