Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Why I shop at 99 Cents Only Stores

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Note: This post is not sponsored, paid or, or in any way supported by anyone or anything other than my own opinions and my own pocketbook. I am a very happy and frequent customer of the 99 Cents Only Stores.

There's a chain of dollar stores in California and other southwestern states called 99 Cents Only Stores. There's one very close to my house. And I buy a lot of my groceries there, including excellent fresh produce.

Buy produce at a dollar store? Yes. The 99 Cents Only Stores stock produce that is high-quality, fresh, and sometimes even organic. They have brand-name groceries, too. And each item costs...99 cents.

You never know what you'll find and you can't count on buying the same thing two days in a row. But if you're an opportunistic food shopper, you can do very well at the 99 Cents Only Stores. I've found that the best time to go is around 10am - they've put out the day's stock but it isn't heavily picked over yet.

Here's what I bought on one trip this week - I think you'll be impressed. Next time you see a 99 Cents Only Store, stop in and see what's they've got.


Persian cucumbers (2 packages)
Sliced Baby Bella mushrooms (4 packages)
Sicilian sea salt - coarse and fine
Organic spinach - 1 pound for 99 cents! (2 packages)
Precooked brown rice (4 packages)
Brown sugar (3 packages)
White and orange cauliflower

Coconut milk (4 cans)
2-pound bags of all-purpose flour - this mill usually sells wholesale (I looked them up) (3 packages)
Cactus tortillas - I love these for quesadillas (2 packages)

Beautiful heads of crunchy romaine (2 packages)
Limes (1 bag)
Three kinds of melon
Whole wheat pasta (4 bags)

24 comments:

Ericka @Nibbles and Feasts said...

It's my favorite place to get cactus tortillas!

Kat said...

I LOVE the 99 cent stores...especially the larger ones...so much good stuff!

Dorothy at ShockinglyDelicious said...

Love all your purchases! The only one I would look twice at is the coconut milk. Sometimes you get a can that is water, coconut extract and thickener, and they call it coconut milk. Not sure about the brand you have there. Other than that, your choices look like exactly what would land in my cart!

Erika Kerekes said...

@Dorothy hmm, that's the brand I often buy in regular grocery stores...let me check...well, the first ingredient is "coconut milk extract 27.27%" so you may be right there.

Valentina said...

I AM impressed! I have gotten those Tortillas De Napol a few times. Delicious and gluten-free!

Christina | Christina's Cucina said...

Totally agree, Erika-but I like finding the surprises too. I once walked into a 99c only store to kill some time, but as soon as I entered, the first thing I saw was HEINZ beans from the UK! I immediately did a u-turn and walked back out to get a shopping cart and bought over 50 cans (I have lots of friends and relatives that like them too!) I also found DeCecco tomatoes there once, and cleaned them out :)

HK said...

Yes!! I'm a HUGE fan of doing my grocery shopping at 99 Cents Only stores, and was SO thrilled when one finally opened up near me last month (before that, the closest one was 50 miles away). I'm always amazed at how fresh the produce is-- often times even fresher than at the grocery store, where things can cost 2-3 times as much! What a great haul you've got pictured :-)

Anonymous said...

oooohhhh! I'm a huge 99 Cent Only Store fan...I've never seen the Tortillas De Napol at ours...I'll keep an eye out!

Libbety said...

Great store! I go there for basic spices. They are so cheap and just as good of quality as the more expensive brands. Things like hot pepper flakes, cumin, nutmeg, onion powder etc...

BonnieBanters said...

Well, Erika, you've surprised me! I guess you could call me an opportunist shopper. I familiarize myself with a store and it's products, plan before I go and keep an open eye for new products or seasonal. I always have my "main store". In other words, I keep different lists for different stores. I don't have this store near me, but similar ones.

Erika Kerekes said...

@Bonnie - surprised you how? Do I not seem like the kind of woman who would buy her groceries at the dollar store? :)

Stacy said...

Wow! Well done! You found some great bargains. I love the 99 Cent stores but the one near my home in Houston (where I spend the summer) never has such nice produce. I have scored several cans of palmito and wonderful Italian tomatoes there though so it is always worth a quick browse.

Lentil Breakdown said...

When I find shiitake mushrooms there, I do the happy dance!

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

You will love that Lehi flour. The mill is close to my house and they do a wonderful job...

BonnieBanters said...

Hey Erika, Not really...but I appreciate you like the game of value! Why watch a good $ fly out the window if you know you could do better...right?

MMK said...

I shop at the 99 cent only store probably 4 times a week. Their produce is outstanding and I can't believe so many of my friends still snub their noses at it. My husband and I juice every day for two meals so we go through tons of produce. I'd be very poor if I had to pay the prices charged at the regular market. Good job!!

Anonymous said...

I know this blog is fairly old, but I was researching produce at the 99 cent stores and found this. I, too, was excited with my recent haul from a brand new 99 cent store that opened down the street from my workplace. My expectations weren't that high going in, but when I came out with a bag full of great looking, fresh produce for my family for > $20 - I was thrilled. When I got home and began cutting up the mini bell peppers I had scored, however, I was horrified to find little black bugs crawling inside of one of them! Needless to say, I threw the half dozen bell peppers away. I followed through with cooking the spinach, but my family said it tasted funny. I plan to go again, but was wondering if anyone here has had less-than-desirable experiences with 99-cent priced produce.

Erika Kerekes said...

@Anon - I sometimes find bugs in produce from Whole Foods, Costco and my local grocery store, too. Bugs live on farms. It happens. Doesn't wig me out too much - I wash the bugs away, cut away the rotten parts if there are any, and on with it. Yes, sometimes things at the 99 Cents Only store are a little less fresh and a little more wilted than what I'd find elsewhere. That's why I'm picky when I shop there - I only buy the stuff that looks really good. Don't give up!

Meryl said...

Yep I was doubtful at first but now I'm a convert. I buy green snap peas to eat in the shell and baby bells multicolored and snack on them almost every day. That leaves me eating salad throughout the day couldn't be healthier. Then I buy organic greens that cost 3 or $5 per bag at Jimbo's or sprouts. Onions tofu good quality produce fresh and crisp. I'm saving us third under the price at a supermarket or health food store. You can also get ointments Ibuprofen and Tylenol substitute Robitussin and other major brand things for $0.99 it's such a good value.

Meryl said...

At first I was dubious and doubtful until I actually went to the store and saw it for myself. We do have several 99 Cent stores in my area so I found that I could buy sugar snap peas and baby sweet peppers multicolored for $0.99, organic lettuces of different varieties or bags of green 99 cents. I also find that there are over the counter drug store items for 99 cents such as Tylenol ibuprofen Robitussin generics or typically unknown in California. Bought California grown red bing cherries for $0.99 a pound that were scrumptious, boxes of strawberries for $0.99. They had watermelons for $0.99. I mean really why would you pay so much more? As the author calls herself if you're an opportunistic Shopper this is where you want to shop.

Unknown said...

I love a bargain, so I always go to the 99 cent store first to see what I can find. It feels so good to walk out with several bags of bargains for $20 or less. Like everyone says, it's hit and miss. But when it's a hit, you can find amazing deals. I have run into a few items that end up being sub par. I don't think I have ever cut open a watermelon from there and been pleased. But you save so much in the long run, I don't mind tossing an item here and there if it's not good.bag of 6 red and orange bell peppers for a buck? Artisan lettuce? Many recognizable, quality brands for a fraction of the price? There are some great finds. If snobs want to pay higher prices on the same items when they don't need to.....it's their loss.

Erika Kerekes said...

@Unknown I couldn't agree more!

Jacky Hissem said...

10 years ago I started going to the 99 cent store to get produce for my tortoise. She eats a lot! At that time I went to a store once a week when I traveled for work. I retired 7 years ago and luckily a store opened 10 miles from my home. I quickly got over "tortoise" food and buy produce for myself. I was at a store today (nicer than mine) and really stocked up. So much of it was organic and grown in California where I live. Basically, I purchase produce, but sometimes other items.

Erika Kerekes said...

@Jacky what a lucky tortoise! :)

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