markets/grocery stores in west philly (buying food in bulk)

[jayceekay]

i stumbled upon this site: Cook for Good - Save money. Eat well. Do good., and aside from the horrible layout and colors, actually seems pretty informative. since i'm both broke and in the possession of a lot of cookware, i want to slowly try to stop going to the fresh grocer (because they're expensive), start buying more things in bulk, and spend less money on eating out. even if i don't follow that site to a tee, and even if i didn't cook 100% of my food intake in my own kitchen, i still wanted to make an effort to at least save a little more money.

i was hoping this thread could become something of a comprehensive compilation of the names and locations of different food stores/markets in west philly, along with what type of items one could expect to find at each (and a mention if a store dominates some category in a very specific way). i want to know any store people visit and what's good about it, because i literally visit only the fresh grocer whenever i buy groceries. i specifically was hoping to learn about more 'ethnic' food stores, because my nepali friend brags about how he gets good rice in bulk at cheaper than anything i could find at fresh grocer.

eventually i hope this list can grow large enough that it's a help to others as well, and i'd probably want to create a google map out of everything just to it's saved somewhere useful.

edit (12/16/09):

the list:

bj's wholesale club - 23rd and oregon - bulk stuff

indo-pak grocery store - 42nd and walnut

indo-pak grocery store - 42nd and chestnut - bulk rice

reading terminal market - 12th and market - relatively cheap and local food

whole foods - 20th and callowhill - bulk bins

produce truck - 44th and sansom

shop rite - 52nd and jefferson

mariposa co-op - 47th and baltimore - good for bulk orders if you can get in

clark park (saturdays/googleable for more specific times) - okay priced local foods

[onlyone]

There's a BJ's in southwest Philly on Oregon Ave that's excellent for bulk stuff (you either need a car or a bike/trailer to get there in all likelihood).

There's an Indo-Pak grocery store on Walnut around 42nd(?).

There's Reading Terminal Market at 12th and Market. You can take the subway and even get to the market via an underground connection from the subway if it's raining. RTM is probably your best bet for relatively cheap and local food.

There are all sorts of local farmer's markets, but they're usually on the more expensive super-organic local artisanal produce side of things.

There are CSAs in the summer.

[phillysw]

Buying beans, grains, flour, and rice in the bulk bins at Whole Foods will save you some cash.

CSAs really aren't meant to save you money--they're meant to support the farmer. In fact, you'll probably lose money. I signed up for the Keystone CSA last summer and found much of the produce to be sub-par.

[eldondre]

there's an aldo at 46thand market?

[lewblum]

There's an Indo-Pak grocery store on Walnut around 42nd(?).

Yes, 42nd and Walnut.
There's another one at 42nd and Chestnut, which carries bulk rice (42nd and Walnut may as well).

I've been frequenting these places more lately for Indo/Pak ingredients and nan/flatbread.
That stuff is by no means cheap.

I'm sure the bulk rice is cheap though cuz I see people getting into cabs with it.



As for produce, the truck at 44th and Sansom is far and away your cheapest option.



Shop Rite at 52nd and Jefferson is where I do my big trips.
They're one of the least expensive chains and they have moderately priced ethnic foods and spices. The bulks spices are particularly cheap.

[lewblum]

there's an aldo at 46thand market?

yes, there's an aldi there.
i've never been, but they're apparently cheap.

their parent company owns TJ's

[monkeyajb]

Mariposa co-op at 47th and Baltimore is another nice option, especially if bulk orders are your goal. Members can bulk order from many different suppliers at very good prices. Memebrship may be currently capped -- there is a capacity problem -- but worth trying still.

[fiveomar]

I second Aldi's quality of food (see ingredients) and low prices.

[jayceekay]

thanks guys! this is good stuff. i edited the first post to include everything in a list incase someone else is looking for the same info. also added clark park in there since i have made a couple trips there in the past.

shortly after i made this post i figured i'd try searching google maps for "groceries 19104"... woops, it gives pretty decent results. i think it's mostly because google is now including user made entries into search results as the circle dots without letters, so a lot of the smaller establishments which probably have no store managed content online can be found. anyways, not all of those places are probably worth going to for one reason or another, so if anyone has any other sweet tips, they're welcome ;o

[fiveomar]

thanks guys! this is good stuff. i edited the first post to include everything in a list incase someone else is looking for the same info. also added clark park in there since i have made a couple trips there in the past.

I think you forgot Aldi...probably the best quality food you can get for the best price. The quality is on par with Trader Joe's as they are the same company. You can tell by looking at the ingredients of many of their items (no preservatives, no high fructose corn syrup).

[seand]

there's an aldo at 46thand market?

Yep right under the El across from the Provident Life building which may or may not become Police HQ. Or is that dead? I can't believe there has not been more coverage of that projects stimulus funding status.

[onlyone]

Yep right under the El across from the Provident Life building which may or may not become Police HQ. Or is that dead? I can't believe there has not been more coverage of that projects stimulus funding status.

Are they moving police hq? Where from?

[lewblum]

Are they moving police hq? Where from?

from the roundhouse in chinatown.

[MycroftChris]

Aldi's, BJ's, Trader Hoe's, and for certain items the Fresh Grocer @ 40th.

I never heard about the old Provident Bldg becoming PPD HQ but I think that would be a good idea

[MayfairMeat]

FreshGrocer at 56th.

Ok so it's ghetto outside and the neighborhood sucks, but trust me they have exactly everything that's at the 40th location, exactly the same, same prices. The new EL stop there is nice and Market Street is slowly recovering now that the construction is over. Market Street though needs a massive resurfacing job now, which will never happen, but that's life.

Easier to get in and out of the one at 40th. The store manager is always walking the floors and they do their best to keep it from getting Jerry Springer up in there [which really never happens].

When I lived at 13th/Chestnut I would purposely go to the West Philly store rather than the 40th St location. Easier to get in and out (I would take the El), and it's way cleaner and nicer indoors than even the South Street SuperCruise.


Oh and if they have it... their Snow Pea Salad they sell by the pint over at the deli is the BOMB. I can eat 2 pints of that a day and never get tired of it. Only veggie thing I like that isn't pasta.

[lewblum]

i'll 2nd that. 56th st FG is much better than 40th.
same stuff, if not more.
better layout. ample parking.
and I imagine the prepared foods (platters) are good judging by the long line.

why do you assume market st will never be resurfaced?
i imagine the city will get it done in the spring/summer.


no mention of supreme in the master list?

[phillysw]

Yep right under the El across from the Provident Life building which may or may not become Police HQ. Or is that dead? I can't believe there has not been more coverage of that projects stimulus funding status.

I, for one, would LOVE to see that happen. Especially with the new West Philly HS going in at 49th and Chestnut, it could really add some life and foot traffic to the Chestnut/Market corridors out here in Walnut Hill.

[Bob_Head]

For those willing to travel further west, Produce Junction on Bryn Mawr, just north of Wynnefield has great produce and flowers at excellent prices. For the trasportationally challenged, Giordano's Produce is right next to the 10 Trolley loop. The selection and prices aren't as good as Produce Junction, but it's still pretty good.

[jayceekay]

hey mods or anyone that might know, is there a way i can still edit the first post to add to the list?

[ShoshTrvls]

There's also a Save-A-Lot on 48th north of Haverford Ave.