Why I shop where I shop for groceries

Part of what made Van’s IGA on 10th Avenue South so appealing for Kelly Parsons was the staff.

“That was a community,” she said. “Those people were so nice.”

Van’s IGA closed its doors in advance of Wal-Mart opening on the east end of Great Falls. Wal-Mart is known for a big selection and low prices, but we asked shoppers at four other grocery stores — Albertsons, 2J’s Fresh Market, Everyday IGA and Smith’s Food and Drug — why they shop where they shop.

Super 1 Foods coming to Great Falls

“I get that it’s hard to compete against Wal-Mart, but I hoped Van’s would go a few more years at least,” Parsons said.

Wal-Mart is the most popular grocery store — the primary spot for one in 10 American shoppers — and also the least popular, according to Consumer Reports’ annual supermarket survey. (The three most popular in the survey were Wegmans, Publix and Trader Joe’s, which have yet to arrive in Montana.)

For Andre Murphy, Wal-Mart is a convenient place to shop because it’s on his way home.

“Some items I can get cheaper on base, but it’s convenient to shop here,” he said.

When the new Wal-Mart opens near Malmstrom, it may be more strategically efficient to shop there instead of at the current Wal-Mart, he said.

For sure the new Wal-Mart will be a convenience for Joan Croft, who buys most of her things at Wal-Mart.

“Mostly, it’s cheaper, and I can get everything I need in one place,” she said. “But it’s a long ways over here.”

Mike Haman shops at Everyday IGA because of its location, which is part of what made Van’s IGA the go-to store for Parsons. Hamon lives only a block away from the Northside Shopping Center.

“What’s on sale isn’t bad, and the meats are good,” he said. “I’m getting to where I don’t want to go to Wal-Mart anymore.”

At 2J’s Fresh Market, Lloyd Miller popped in for a bag of candy. He occasionally shops the Wal-Mart Supercenter, only a half mile down Smelter Avenue from 2J’s, but he likes 2J’s bulk candy.

The “wonderful” bulk spices draw Heidi Gibson to 2J’s.

“The meat/cheese department reminds me of the meat counters in Italy,” she said. “And they sell the locally made compost accelerator called bokashi.”

Ginger Gray of Fairfield shops at 2J’s, too. She favors the store’s flaxseed, vegetables, spices and tea. It’s easy to find what’s she’s looking for in the smaller store.

“I never go to Wal-Mart,” she said. “I hate to walk half a mile to get in, half a mile around the store to get what a need and half a mile to get out,” she said. “I don’t like the attitude either.”

She skips Smith’s because she doesn’t like the principle of store cards; now that Albertsons in Great Falls doesn’t use cards, she shops there.

At the westside Albertsons, Teri Mahaffer said she’s patronized the store since it was Buttrey and in the long-shuttered Westgate Mall.

“It’s easy to get what you need without shopping for miles,” she said. “I get in; I get out.”

David Brown comes to Albertsons and 2J’s for “good deals and local, good food.”

“The meat is not brought in from far away like at Wal-Mart,” he said.

Sandi Wilson went so far as to say she loves Albertsons because of manager Dan Baker.

“The store is always busy, but the employees are always friendly and very helpful,” she said.

Across town at Smith’s, Jessica Fryburger said the case lot sales are a draw to the store for her.

“There aren’t that many people and the checkers are nice,” she said. “Good prices.”

Patty Moye Vandelac goes to Smith’s for the sale prices and Albertsons on 10th Avenue South for produce.

Elmer Richards shops at Smith’s, too, picking up ice cream and cheeses that are hard to find elsewhere.

Smith’s can be a good deal “if you look,” he said. “I can get what I need here.”

Having just graduated from high school, Travis Willmarth said Smith’s deals are a primary factor for him when it comes to shopping.

“They have a lot more for a lesser price,” he said. “It’s near my house instead of across town.”

He grabs Chinese takeout for dinner and fills up his car, too.

Smith’s offers gas points — 10 cents a gallon off for every $100 spent — which helps Christina Shouse. She shops at Smith’s for gas points and convenience as it’s the closest option to her house.

What’s the key factor in where you shop where you shop? Let us know at kinbody@greatfallstribune.com or on Twitter at @GFTrib_KInbody.