I’ve never found OSJL to be any sort of replacement for a supermarket. I’ve shopped in them in MA and NJ, and have found interesting offbeat stuff, but other than the cherry juice they no longer carry, and the zillion flavors of jams from some monastery, nothing I could rely on.
Reliability is the keystone for (at least my local) GO. Always fresh organic produce, dairy, meat, eggs. Shelf goods vary but always a good selection of pasta, rice, canned beans, tomatoes, fish. Fresh bread and tortillas.
Previously we had a Bargain Bank which was much as you describe. Weird stuff but not possible to fill a market basket. At GO, you can find everything you need for family meals daily.
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Yes, definitely not a replacement for a supermarket, but there are certain items that my local OSJL almost always has, so I know to look there for specific items when I need it.
To make a few: any Bob Mills grains, flours & foods, pasta, sugar, jams, tomato sauce, canned sardines. That seem to get a pretty vast array of cookies and snacks too, that I like picking thru. Would love if they could carry produce, but don’t see that happening any time.
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When Trader Joe’s started in California in the seventies they were like this. My parents became instant addicts - they went to the one in Eagle Rock. The amazing thing they had (for me) was all these super cheap foreign beers, before every corner store had foreign beers. You could get a six-pack of Tsing Tao in glass bottles for 95 cents IIRC (it might actually have been even less but I know it was less than a dollar) - a 12 oz can of Bud would have gone for 45 cents at that time.
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I do like grocery out date for their wine . After eating a two plus year old can of sardines that didn’t turn out well . I always will check the date . I did recently purchase green and blacks chocolate bars for 99 cents. Usually 4.99. Great deal .
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there is an active Grocery Outlet thread on the SF Bay Area Board and they are going public with a Wall Street IPO
That’s a great deal, and the G&B tend to be fresh. Other chocolates sometimes are funky, so I never get anything unless it’s at least 3 months from expiration.
A key skill i learned from years of Gross-Out Roulette is to detect the taste of rancidity, something I wish they taught in home-ec class.
Sadly, I have the opposite dilemma! Everything is expensive and in the less expensive places the produce is awful!! Maybe I need to move?
Haha, I think I’m an unwitting participant in that game too! It’s tough with expiration dates being all over the place – some that are just jokes, while some you may really want to note that “freshness” date for. Somethings I still wonder – like my buttermilk that is 6 months past it’s date, but I swear it tastes and looks the same. But then what does it taste and look like when it’s truly bad?!
For me, it’s a rare OSJL trip that tallies under $100. I love the quart jars of Belveder Polish Family Salad, which knock wood, is regularly stocked. It’s a vinegar slaw of cabbage, carrot, bell pepper, onion, and charlock (in the mustard family). I doubt I could make it for less than the $2 they charge. I mix it with a little mayo as an alternative to tartar sauce and coleslaw when having seafood. Straight from the jar on hot dogs. And I got my favorite nonstick cast iron skillet and nonstick baking pans there. The only perishables in the OSJLs near me are Portuguese sweet bread loaves and rolls…
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Ah- that explains it! I spoted an OSJL in Ct. when I was up that way two years ago. I remembered the name from food forum mentions. I had no idea what their business model was but had formed an impression that it was primarily food oriented. I think this location must have been one of the quieter locations. It had the feel of a very old and dated Big Lots. The food section covered 3 rather short aisles. I did manage to find some good deals! I’m always up for a good treasure hunt!
What is OSJL? 
Ocean State Job Lots. I already had to backtrack to find out. 
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I’m sorry it’s ruined your life, but thank you for posting because you inspired me to finally visit the Grocery Outlet near me. It was a quick stop but I found some great deals, $1.99 for a pound of quinoa and $1.49 per dozen large eggs is even cheaper than Trader Joe’s. I often struggle with the shopping experience at TJ and cash flow is low in the summer so I’ll definitely be back to GO for bargain hunting.
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Not sure about other cities and states but our new stuff arrives each Tuesday. They tend to have drastic final markdowns on Thursdays
when remainders Of stock get extinguished.
My general understanding is that about 1/2 of stuff is the same thru all stores and the other 1/2 is up to individual stores ordering according to their particular customers
needs and wants.
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OSJL has an excellent cracker department.
Yes! Especially if you have guests and need the “fancier than saltines” crackers. Lots of good options at the branches I’ve visited.
Aren’t just about any crackers fancier than saltines?
At least that’s a wide berth to maneuver.
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Should I have set Cheez it’s or Wheat Thins instead? 
I’m thinking anything the “grown ups” put out with cheese and fruit. I always find lovely crackers for pate there.
There is no substitute for saltines when making chocolate toffee bark though.
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Their $2 pints of ice cream have ruined my efforts to lose a few inches this summer 
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