Grocery Hunting

 Is it worth driving twety-five miles to  a grocery store?For some  this is an extravagance even wth falling gas prices.Yet suppose the store offers a lot more than what your local one has? What to do?

I've run into this problem here in New Jersey.. It seems  that the groceries outside the city here in Bergen County are a lot smaller than what's in the central and southern parts of the state. I recently went to the Kenilworth Acme , almost exactly twenty-two miles south of where I live. I was in the area not for shopping  but for dropping off gadgets and clothes at the GreenDrop down that way. It was hot and I was thirsty so I'd thought I'd jsut go in for some kind of drink. I had no idea that Acme was that huge. There's a UPS Store right as you walk in and the front of the Acme hosts a good sized  Starbucks. It was mind blowing. The produce department was the size of a farmer's market with a lot more choices than my local Acme.The vegan section was impressive. My store only has one or two flavors of the Field Roast vegan hot dogs. Here they have seven !!!!There are even bratwursts. too.Their shelves also held several different kind of vegan coldcuts as well. Is it worth traveling down here for my next barbecue? Yes! All Acmes card holders  recieve the same discounts no matter what the location. I have yet to explore their bakery and fozen food section. (although I may want to hold off on that until winter and colder weather..)

Similar groceries like the Acme and Shop Rite in Clark have also impressed me. The Clark Acme is big as well and has a good choice of fresh meat, veggies and fruits. The same with the Shop-Rite there. That one has an excellent deli counter where you can buy delicious heroes (better than Jersey Mike's at times) for a lot less. They also have a Dunkin Donuts in store too. I wouldn't make Clark a weekly trip. I usually go to the Target there which also had a good selection of different foods  as well. This is few and far between .It's the same with the Keyport Stop & Shop. I now sometimes go to  one by me.. It;s quick and convenient. Yet again its' Mnmouth COunty cousin is bigger and offers a wider variety. I usually stop in  for my lunch before I hit the beach.It's easier getting an already made sandwich  and soda there than it is stopping at any of the fast food places along the beach route. If they do offer some non perishable that I'm looking for,I'll buy it roo. Yet I'll hold off at driving an hour south for groceries.]

You can drive twenty miles from home for a food shopping. If the grocery has much more that your local one, then go. It'll be worth the trip.