I love to eat, and have the weight problem to show for it.
So what is the best place in Delaware to get your groceries? Anyone that lives in the city knows that limited options are available … sure we have four grocery stores. Buehlers and three different – yet the same – Krogers.
If you spread out into the county and head towards Powell and Lewis Center a few more come into the equation with Giant Eagle and Wal-Mart Super Center. Then a little further south on Sawmill brings Andersons, Whole Foods, and several boutique stores into the equation.
So what is the best of these grocery stores? Well it depends a bit on what you are looking for.
- Buehlers – The “community” market offers a great selection and you’ll usually pay a little more than at the “big box” grocers. Usually, I’m okay with that. The produce and bakery at Buehler has no competitor.
- Kroger – With three locations in Delaware and another being built in Sunbury, Kroger is the “king” of Delaware grocery stores and with the Kroger Distribution Center on U.S. 36/37 east of town, it deserves to be. Kroger lacks some of the speciality foods that others offer and isn’t always the cheapest. But it is probably the most consistent place to get groceries. I am comfortable in buying anything – except fresh fish – from the store on Houk Road on Delaware’s west side — or any of the others.
- Wal-Mart Supercenter – There is one in Lewis Center on U.S. 23 and for those on the west side of the county on Coleman’s Crossing in Marysville. The epitome of “big box” grocery store, you can save some money if you shop wisely. Goes against my entire buy local philosophy, so I try to avoid as much as possible.
- Giant Eagle – Stepped up in the market after the demise of Big Bear, Giant Eagle has become a bigger player with a location in Powell and Lewis Center. The stores are always cleain and offer a large wine selection (the Powell location also has a State Liquor store).
- Andersons – With its basis as a farmer’s market in Perrysburg, Ohio, it should not surprise that Anderson’s General Store has some of the best produce on the market. Has tendency to be a specialty market and of the grocery stores it has by far the best meat counter.
- Whole Foods – The newest player in the central Ohio game, this is a very specialized store that focuses on organic and other goods. It would be second to Andersons in its meat market — however that market is second to no one in quantity. The store offers a huge wine selection and an amazing pre-made food bar.
So where do you do your grocery shopping?
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Photograph of pasta is by Nathalie Dulex and steaks is by Koos Schwaneberg and both are used via license of Stock.xchng.
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This is a huge topic of interest for me, because while I feel that we’re fortunate to have options here in town, I would really like to see something like Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s a bit closer…at least within the county somewhere.
I live in older, NW Delaware, and I split my regular grocery shopping between Buehler’s (mostly produce) and the Kroger (other things) at Houk Rd (more selection), but on my trips down to Columbus I stock up on a lot of things at Trader Joe’s (not on the list above) at Sawmill and 161. I find that for the times that life gets a bit hectic, the unique, tasty, yet healthy foods that TJ’s offers are second to none. I try to cook fresh as much as possible, but when I can’t – this stuff is great. I really like Whole Foods too, but it’s a bit pricey for a lot of things. Much of it is worth the cost though – if you can swing it.
So, the bottom line is Buehler’s, Kroger, and Trader Joe’s. Great topic, Toby.
Hi Toby! Interesting grocery store reviews you’ve written there. Here’s my 2 cents, since you asked… If I’m shopping in Delaware, nothing compares to Buehler’s. Their deli department, bakery, and produce is great, and they have a really nice department in the back with lots of organic choices, which I like. Not to mention that I can always stray down the aisles to Ace Hardware and make a significant dent in my budget with Yankee candles and all the nice country decor they have down that way.
But if I’m doing a big shopping trip, I choose a store you haven’t mentioned… the Meijer on 23 in Lewis Center. The prices are great, we can get all our errands out of the way at once, and they have a huge selection. We’ve been pleased with the produce there, too.
FYI, if you’re interested in saving money on groceries, check out http://www.thegrocerygame.com. We follow that program and save oodles. (We made our major monthly shopping trip tonight and paid $131 for groceries that would have cost $215.)
Thanks for the interesting post!
Wowsa! Chris and Stephanie both brought up a couple of good ones that I had omitted from the list.
I had totally just missed the Meijer. Don’t know how, it was there and gone and I was on my way to Giant Eagle.
I will admit to having thought of Trader Joe’s but I put it into a “specialty” store category rather than a grocery store. Though they do have a very good collection of food. Lots of good – and unique – beers and wines also.
Living on the south side of Delaware on 23 Ryan and I frequent the Kroger for our everyday shopping needs. However, we enjoy a trip down the road to Giant Eagle for large orders. We enjoy the produce selection at Giant Eagle, but the Kroger American cheese is better.
One of our other favorite options when we are cooking for a crowd is GFS on 161. It’s a good alternative to the bigger box stores, and has some really great bulk veggies, cheese, and deli meats, PLUS you don’t have to be a member like at Costco and Sam’s club.
I will be heading to the Kroger on 23 for dinner supplies this afternoon. We are having french onion soup and pork chops.
Great post Toby!
well tob you did it again. great job! i love giant eagle for savings, kroger for convienence (however i curse the store everytime i go in because of the way they changed it around…dont like the layout and we know that i do truly love grocery shopping!) buehlers for the addicting donuts and cake. but shopping at whole foods is a treat for me. i don’t get all organic but i love the salad bar and just all the choices you have. i wonder if we could come up with a whole kroguelers eagle store. everything and savings in one! ha ha
I second the vote for Meijer’s. Although I can’t bring myself to purchase meat there, they have the best produce and organics selection in the area at the best price. I went to Anderson’s for the first time a couple weeks ago and although the meat counter is excellent, I would still shop Meijer’s produce over theirs.
Thanks for posting the grocerygame tip, Stephanie. Looks like a great tool!
I have just recently moved back to Ohio from Florida. I live in Delaware now, but lived in Upper Arlington/Cols are and shopped alot at the Fresh Market. I shop at Krogers and Buehler’s currently- but I love Whole Foods, Andersons and Trader Joes (shopped there all the time when I lived in California. I have to say Buehlers would be my Delaware favorite. There meat market is great and their Bakery is unbelieveable. I enjoy grocery shopping at stores with somethng different to offer – in that case Andersons and Whole Foods would be my choice.
Jami – Have to agree that the Anderson in Columbus is dissapointing. I love the one in Perrysburg though.
Linda – Thanks for stopping by! I love when we are able to see a different perspective.
I have been searching Google and Yahoo and kept seeing coming across your posts so I thought I would drop by and check your site out. Thanks for the useful and informative stuff you have here… I’ll be back!
low and behold, this is very outdated as there is now a Meijer on Rt. 36/37, a new Kroger on Rd. 36/37and St. route 3 and soon to come a pack your own grocery chain, I think Savalot. Been living in the Sunbury Delaware rural area for going on 30 years and still believe you can’t beat Buehlers for produce..not much on bakery personally but if I were, I know I would be satisfied due to the huge selection (except watch the labels…some have hundreds of ingredients that I have no idea whether they are good or bad. Recently, Buehlers has been supporting local farmers and at rock bottom prices…to wonderful to be true. Nice wine selection but unless you are desparate, don’t expect to find reasonably priced meat unless there is a special sale on things like whole pork and beef loins.
The restaurant serves their store goods but the service is impossibly slow..I shop while my hub sips his coffee and he calls me when the food is out..
I’m a loyal fan of Buehlers and hope that the over saturation that is occurring in the area does not put them out of business. All you Buehler fans should take this into consideration.
Thanks for stopping by Judy, I wrote this in January of 2008. Might be time ot update.