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Message |
    
taam
Citizen
Username: Taam
Post Number: 37
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, January 28, 2006 - 11:52 am: | 
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i have yet to go to either, just wondering which is better? (i will be going to one of them later today.) |
Shanabana
Citizen
Username: Shanabana
Post Number: 153
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, January 28, 2006 - 12:17 pm: |
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I go to both for the basics. Nither one is particularly enjoyable. That said, they have very good deals, like at least one of the better brands of ice cream is always on sale for 1/2 off or less, if you use the discount card. Gotta get the card. A & P has a liquor store in it, wine and beer, whereas Pathmark is dry. Pathmark is bigger, though there's usually everything in terms of basics at either. At Pathmark sometimes there are long lines because lots of people who get assistance for food and their WIC checks seem to take a long time. On the other hand, A & P is sometimes understaffed, and you can wait there too. Pathmark has a slightly larger selection for fish and cheese. The fried chicken from the deli is also very good. They both have vegetarian stuff, limited organic, and limited "international" fare. |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 2271
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, January 28, 2006 - 2:30 pm: |
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I pretty much agree with Shanabana. I mostly go to A&P for liquor when I can't bear the parking in Maplewood. Cheap prices on wine! Less selection than PM by a lot.
Pathmark early on Sat or Sun (or weekdays I imagine) is a breeze. I use the self checkout or bag your own so little hold up. It can get crowded later as many shoppers seem to go as a large family mass. Absolutely agree on the friend chicken specials! Seafood counter is better than you'd expect, and much cheaper than Kings. 'Course its probably not as select, but when I want salmon I don't necessarily need Black Pearl form Czeckoslovakia or whatever. |
Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 1053
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, January 28, 2006 - 3:00 pm: |
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I have no personal experience with this, but I've heard that evenings are not a great time to be at either of these places on you own... be careful of your personal safety. Apparently there is a lot of street crime around there - just an FYI. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6648
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 28, 2006 - 4:51 pm: |
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Basic rule of thumb: don't buy perishables at A&P and stay out of their parking lot (or far away end of Pathmark's) after dark. |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 3760
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, January 28, 2006 - 11:29 pm: |
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You're better off going to Kings for produce. Are you in Maplewood or South Orange? There is a great Shop-Rite in Livingston. Worth the drive... |
SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 2940
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 12:31 am: |
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We had to buy blueberries today.. husband's brother had a yen for his mom's blueberry muffins - and since she doesn't drive we had to buy blueberries. I won't go to the Pathmark. For many reasons. A&P, $2.99 for 1/2 a pint. Kings, $3.99 for 1/2 a pint. Whole Foods had a 2 for $5 deal on 1/2 pint packages. Whole Foods or Kings is where we shop most of the time. I think they offer a better selection of fresh produce, meats & fish. I'd use Peapod for anything non-perishable |
sac
Supporter
Username: Sac
Post Number: 3070
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 8:06 am: |
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I almost never do my big shopping at either of these stores and I NEVER buy meat at A&P.
Mainly I use them for quick errands if I'm going to be going in that direction for some other reason.
I usually do my big shopping at the Millburn or Springfield ShopRites, with some fill-in at the Springfield FoodTown.
I've been trying to create a peapod.com grocery list that would cover most of my big shopping, but I've been very disappointed in the selection, so I have yet to order from them. They just don't carry a great many of the brands and varieties my family prefers, unfortunately. What I'd really like is an online ShopRite! |
Suzanne Ng
Citizen
Username: Suzanneng
Post Number: 606
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 8:15 am: |
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sac -- there IS an online Shoprite; you just have to go and pick up the groceries. There are several in the surrounding area that offer the pick up/drive up service -- Morris Plains, Clark, Nutley, Chatham
Maybe one of these is near your workplace?
Hoboken, Chatham (pickup/delivery through the Morris Plains store), Clark, Little Falls, Lincoln Park, Nutley, Wayne -- there are others, but these seem to be the closest.
West Orange or Livingston would be a great location... large stores, and they have plenty of parking along the side of the building to offer the pick up service.
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Michael K. Mc Kell
Citizen
Username: Greenerose
Post Number: 830
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 8:15 am: |
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Shop rite rocks.
Michael K. Mc Kell
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sac
Supporter
Username: Sac
Post Number: 3071
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 8:23 am: |
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Not very close ... I work in Springfield. As long as I have to go and pick it up, I would just as soon browse the aisles for my selections. I wouldn't mind being able to submit an order online for one of my local ShopRites online, especially if I could then do a quick aisle browse on the same visit for a few last minute additions/substitutions, but having to go that distance to pick up an order doesn't do it for me. |
amandacat
Citizen
Username: Amandacat
Post Number: 984
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 9:24 am: |
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I did the Shoprite pick up service once (in Morris Plains, before it was available in Chatham) and -- aside from the drive -- found in very convenient. My only real gripe is that the pick up service fee, $10, is more than Peapod charges to deliver. |
amandacat
Citizen
Username: Amandacat
Post Number: 985
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 9:27 am: |
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Oh, and as to the original question, Pathmark works fine for me for most basics, but I'd NEVER buy meat at the A&P -- that place totally skeeves me out! I'll buy packaged goods there, though, and of course wine -- I think of it as a really big convenience store. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 6956
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 10:24 am: |
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I haven't used either in years -- not since the car jacking in the shared parking lot. A&P became even less of a choice when they had that mislabeling scandal awhile back (Valley Street A&P was specifically mentioned). There are other far better choices in the area. |
Kibbegirl
Citizen
Username: Kibbegirl
Post Number: 340
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 11:56 am: |
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Basically use both A&P and Pathmark as bodegas. I usually "shop" at BJ's or Costco and do in-between pick-ups at the stores above. There's a great Shop-Rite in W. Orange. Also, in Millburn, there's an older Shop-Rite off of Main Street that has great prices and produce. The Shop-Rite in Union isn't bad either, a bit old and crusty like the one in Millburn, but the produce is great. |
eliz
Supporter
Username: Eliz
Post Number: 1305
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 12:15 pm: |
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I think A&P is just gross - it basically always smells like sour milk or rotten meat. I will stop in for the occasional(desperate) bottle of wine but even for that I would rather stock up at Wine Library - better prices.
Pathmark is not that bad if you use the self check out. It's noticeably cleaner than it was when we moved here 5 years ago but I'm very annoyed that they took away the great music and every few minutes some man bleats out the specials on the loudspeaker - like nails on a chalkboard. I buy mostly non perishables, diet soda, and other stuff that Whole Foods doesn't stock. Their fried chicken though is worth a trip on it's own. Way better than Popeyes or KFC and cheaper.
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Dave G
Citizen
Username: D_arthur
Post Number: 37
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 1:06 pm: |
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Whichever poster said to treat them both as convenience stores was dead on. Both are somewhat limited in their selection. You'll also grow old on the deli/appetizing line at A&P. I actually had to wait while the clerk went on a 15 minute break!
The shoprite in livingston is worth a few extra minute drive. The one in west orange/essex green is nice as well. |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 3764
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 5:31 pm: |
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My friend told me Kings recently started to deliver! We do most of our 'big' shoping in Costco or BJ's. Also order a lot of things from http://marketday.com/ (the school my nephews go to use it as a fundraiser).
We like Black Bear Cold Cuts (Shop-Rite). I like Kings produce, but it drives everyone nuts I spend more then they think I should. My family tends to our shop at the Shop-Rites in Livingston or West Orange, Pathmark in Livingston and I think Parsippany.
I'm the only one who will venture into the South Orange Pathmark when I'm really desperate. Or when I want some fried chicken from the deli! |
taam
Citizen
Username: Taam
Post Number: 41
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 7:35 pm: |
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this is all such great advice. thank you everyone! - i wound up going to the millburn shop-rite & it was great. - thanks! i do have to try that fried chix at pathmark though!!! |
slipknot (slippy)
Citizen
Username: Zotts
Post Number: 230
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 9:03 pm: |
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Since we are on gracery stores, anyone know what is happening at the Stop and Shop on Vaux Hall and Stuyvesant? It seems to have suddely closed. |
Scully
Citizen
Username: Scully
Post Number: 130
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 7:56 am: |
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I've been told by a co-worker who lives
in Union that it's being expanded.
Suppoesedly they're making it MUCH bigger
and putting parking underneath (!)
It's supposed to reopen around September. |
Ink
Citizen
Username: Pageturner
Post Number: 85
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 10:52 am: |
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Slightly off topic, but the older gentleman who used to work at the Shoprite Liquors on Voss, now works at the Shop-Rite Supermarket in Livingston. He gave me a big hello and asked how my child was (we used to go to the Voss store to develop our film). He told me he see his old South Orange customers in the Livingston store all the time. If you see him, say hi! (And I give a thumbs up for the Livingston store - their fruit and vegetable section is terrific.) |
slipknot (slippy)
Citizen
Username: Zotts
Post Number: 235
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 3:45 pm: |
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And what is going where the Liquor store was? |
Shanabana
Citizen
Username: Shanabana
Post Number: 166
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 10:01 pm: |
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Back to earlier points: If you're a good shopper, checking dates and buying what's fresh, not necessarily what you planned to buy in advance, you CAN buy good meat and find fine fruit and veggies at A&P.
Also, I go there at night all the time. In fact, I like Pathmark after 9:30, when the isles are empty. |
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