Where to Shop in Denver - Ethnic Markets Edition
We were able to net a 26% savings by shopping these two stores in Denver. Following the stores information is a price-breakdown for comparison to Safeway and King Soopers stores in Denver.
Store #1:
Little Saigon Supermarket
375 S. Federal Blvd.
Denver, Co
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What to Purchase: Rice, Noodles, Condiments, Spices. Also check their produce and meat departments for great deals. This week the major chains (King Soopers and Safeway) are really pushing and promoting their sales on Fresh Strawberries. The ads say “Strawberry Fest” and they’re adverted price is 2 pounds for $5.00. Little Saigon Supermarket’s price on Strawberries week of April 13, 2008: 1 POUND FRESH STRAWBERRIES for .99. Yes that’s right, 99 CENTS.
Review: Their prices on SOME items are up to 30% cheaper than the major grocery chains. They’ve got a huge selection of ramen noodle for 33 cents a package - also their meat and produce departments have an open-market feel. Where else can you buy a sack of chicken feet? I took advantage of an excellent deal on zucchini: 79 cents a pound! Here in Denver, King Soopers / Safeway are currently advertising their sale on zucchini for $1.00 / pound. Also I really love their prices and selection of spice condiments (hot sauces) and packaged spice mixes (lucky Soup Mix 69 cents). Here is where you can also purchase a 25 pound sack of 2008 New Crop rice for about $14.00.
Just south of the Far East Center, check out 88 Asian Market. I have also found great deals here, and they carry a good selection of 2008 Rice Crop - furthermore, they also have a used cooking utensils section. Salvaged restaurant items are available such as steamer trays, woks, large cooking pots, tea sets and plates.
Store #2:
Avanza Supermarket
1320 South Federal
Denver, Co
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They are having a monthly drawing to win $250 store credit. After your visit to Avanza Market, keep your receipt and log into www.storefeedback.com and complete their online survey to be entered to win.
What to Purchase: Here at Avanza, I was able to buy a dozen large, HOMEMADE TODAY flour tortillas for $1.69. King Soopers price on a dozen tortillas? $2.19 ($2.00 on sale) - Safeway? $2.79. Watch out though, their milk is priced at $4.17 a gallon, not a good deal at all when King Soopers / Safeway regularly sell milk for as low as $2.77 / gallon. There are excellent deals to be found on their regular prices for Vegetable oil, pinto beans, lentils, tomato sauce, wraps and pasta.
Review: We really enjoyed shopping at Avanza. We don’t speak spanish, and the store’s patrons were mostly spanish-speaking hispanics who live in the neighborhood. It didn’t bother us at all though. The store had an open-market atmosphere with Mexican music, pinatas and baskets of wares hanging, and lots of friendly chatter in the aisles. We are definitely going to return to Avanza to do our shopping for specific items. Oh, and at Avanza you can purchase some pretty interesting things in the meat department such as pork belly!
For our item PRICE BOOK breakdown, we noted prices on the following purchases:
Strawberries, Mushrooms, Dry Beans, Tortillas, Wraps, Pasta, Rice and Zuchinni. We priced these items at New Saigon Supermarket S. Federal Far East Center, Avanza Supermarket at South Federal, King Soopers 14th & Krameria, Safeway 14th & Krameria. See the results here.
