-t just now and other recent conversations have made me wonder - where do people shop for groceries? We usually go to Kroger (and by usually I mean once a week), which is based in our city and is the biggest local chain. We occasionally do selected shopping at Whole Foods (I prefer to buy meat there, for example, but we probably only go there once a month now that it's across town). I go to Trader Joe's a couple of times a year but could not do my weekly shopping there because I feel like they don't have what I'd need.

I am trying to break my habit of going to Publix (the biggee here) just about every day to get what I need. I have tried going to Costco occasionally, but the parking lot is often enough to get me to change my mind. Lately I have been going to a local farm market for everything possible prior to going to Publix or the fish market for anything else on my list. That is working out much better. And they give me a nickel for bringing my own bag. [link]

We drive to Oakley to shop at Meijer, because we like it better than Kroger (and we have to get Slinky's prescription kitty food at a PetSmart store, and there's one down the street from the Meijer, so we can get it done in one trip). And we make a Trader Joe's run once or twice a month.

Having husband who works from home means he can shop during the day when lines are are shorter. We usually go to Ralph's, with Costco and Trader Joe's runs about once a month.

Is Ralph's a big west coast chain? I have never seen one (I do know Publix!).

Teppy, what do you like about Meijer?

I do a lot of shopping--for produce and almost all the meat we consume--at the weekly farmer's market. MOM's or Whole Foods to fill in for what I can't buy at the market. I haven't really been to TJ's since I left my job last year. The commute used to take me near one.

I go to the nearest Kroger-affiliate, Smith's, because it was built two blocks from our first apartment, which we lived in for 20 years, and I'm on first-name basis with the pharmacists. There's a WinCo two blocks from my new place, but I'll continue to use the current pharmacy even though it will be out of my way. I do occasionally go to WalMart, because it carries varieties that the other stores don't have. I'll go on occasional excursions to the hoity-toity grocery store to see what the rich folks eat. The only Trader Joe's is 40 miles away.

I shop at Tops (http://www.topsmarkets.com/) or Shurfine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shurfine) even though I live in the land of Wegman's because Wegman's has basically pulled out of the city and there are no convenient stores for people who take the bus. I would have to take a 2 hour bus ride each way to shop at Wegman's, even though there is one a 10 minute drive from my house. Part of it is the bus system, and part of it is the desire to have big super stores rather than small stores.

The Shurfine is pretty tiny, but is the only independent grocery store in the area.

I also go to the Public Market, which is easily accessible by bus (and not applicable to me, but has a program so people can double their foodstamp dollars buying Fresh Produce at the market!)

Teppy, what do you like about Meijer?

I think the prices are better, and since it's a superstore like Target or Wal-Mart, we can get socks and shower curtains and whatnot (mostly whatnot) when we get our groceries.

I guess it's like Food N Stuff from Parks and Rec.

If I need one thing, Breaux Mart (local chain near house). If that one thing is ice cream, Fresh Market. If I need many different things, Rouses (local chain slightly farther from house, slightly fancier). If I need a lot of a few things, Costco. If I need veggies, the farmer's market (which is conveniently near Costco).

A TJ's opened last week in the suburbs. It remains to be seen how it will factor into the rotation, but I suspect I won't get out there too much.