Few things sum up adulthood like going grocery shopping. Upon moving out of your parents’ house (yes, its your parents’ house now), it’s now your responsibility to decide all of your meals.
For students living off campus, buying your own groceries can be liberating, but it’s also a chore. Unless you’re eating out all the time or sustaining your body solely on frozen waffles and Hot Pockets, cooking becomes a key activity in your daily routine. For students living on campus, you learn that the body can’t live on Sodexo alone. Binghamton University attracts students from all over the country, and while you know retail empires like Walmart, you might not be too familiar with all the options the Binghamton area has to offer when it comes to checking off your grocery list.
By and far the most pervasive chain in America, Walmart is the one-stop go-to for anything you might need. If your grocery list is free from “hipster” items and you’re a GMO-tolerant person, Walmart carries all of your staples — from food to clothing to toiletries — all at a price that just beats everywhere else. Because of the low prices, you should buy your pre-packaged delights like Pop Tarts and Dijorno’s here, unless you have a coupon somewhere else. Especially if you like a variety of brand-name items, Walmart has the space and the man power to keep the shelves stocked and the ruthless capitalism to keep the prices low.
Similar in scope and style, but on a smaller scale, Target stores offer everything from clothes and furniture to food and drinks. While less competitive than Walmart price-wise, Target’s clothing selection is by far superior with their in-store brand, Merona, which is growing in size and quality. While you do sacrifice variety at Target, its smaller store layout makes it easier to navigate and shop through. The grocery store is a side-note at Target (it’s on the opposite end from the store’s entrance), but the store as a whole covers all the bases. Target also has a nice selection of dinnerware and cups, as well as small furniture.
The saving grace for students accustomed to a higher quality grocery store, Wegmans is the spiritual experience people keep telling you about. At Wegmans, a lot of care goes into providing customers with high-quality, organic produce at an affordable price. Its unique focus means it carries brands you’re not likely to find anywhere else around Binghamton, so satisfy your obscurity here. For those not keen on cooking, Wegmans also runs a café, which sells fresh and pre-prepared meals that you can heat up at home. The sandwiches rival Subway’s five-dollar foot-long in tastiness. Wegmans also has an excellent beer selection, with an aisle devoted to craft beer and a refrigerated room in the back for your go-to brews. You might need to wait for your parents to come visit and take you here though; Wegmans is not cheap.
Weis stores differ from the others because of their small size. When you visit a Weis, it very much feels like a grocery store that was shrunk down to fun size. A smaller store means less variety, but Weis is the perfect place to go when you need a few things and don’t feel like going grocery shopping. You won’t find Walmart prices, or Wegmans quality, but you will find everything you need in a pinch. The store is laid out intelligently and the even the least capable shopper will be able to find exactly what they need.
Last but not least is the underdog on this list: PriceRite. When you walk into the store, you immediately see its appeal. With a colorful assortment of fruits and vegetables with a surprising variety, PriceRite carries everything from Granny Smiths to tamarinds. PriceRite seems to be the only competition to Wegmans’ produce and is an easy alternative for those who otherwise don’t care about certified organic produce. In design, PriceRite feels very much like a big-box store. In lieu of shelves and racks, you’ll find items stacked in their factory boxes to form aisles, with ceiling banners constantly reminding you of the store’s tagline: “Where quality is cheaper … everyday.” True to its word, PriceRite really does have some good deals and an inventory distinct from everyone else’s. The finishing touch, PriceRite is a bag-it-yourself establishment, with a bagging station after the register to decrease checkout times.
Unless you hunt or grow your own food, grocery shopping is an integral part of your life and your diet. While you can choose any one of these stores and get all that you need, you can also use each of these establishments for their strengths, while avoiding their weaknesses. Either way, when it comes to your grocery list, the choice is yours. Simplicity may be more convenient, but you’ll miss out on some great deals and quality items.
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Walmart
Price: $
Location: Town Square Mall
Bus Access: Yes
Highlights: Staples, Packaged Goods, Misc. Supplies, Variety.
Target
Price: $$
Location: Parkway Plaza
Bus Access: Yes
Highlights: Clothing and Dinnerware, Snacks, Smaller than Walmart
Wegmans
Price: $$$
Locations: 650 Harry L Drive in Johnson City
Bus Access: Yes
Highlights: Great Produce and Organic Foods, Cafe.
Weis
Price: $$
Location: 50 – 60 Pennsylvania Ave., 1290 Front St, 160 Robinson St. and 307 Conklin Ave. in Binghamton
Bus Access: No
Highlights: Quick and Easy, Small Scale Grocer
Price Rite
Price: $$
Location: Parkway Plaza
Bus Access: Yes
Highlights: Great Produce, Good Deals, Fast Checkout