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Grocery Outlet helps customers bag values
Grocery--Pic 1a
Grocery Outlet Owner Steve Tarr checks a display shortly after the discount grocery store opened for business. - photo by JASON CAMPBELL
Steve and Debbie Tarr think that they’ve found the perfect grocery store for today’s economic climate.

And judging by the history and the success of the parent company that they chose to become a part of, it’s something that appeals far beyond the current economic downturn that leaves customers searching for value any way possible.

Just last week the couple opened the doors to Grocery Outlet – a discount grocery chain that uses buyers to find bargains on everything ranging from frozen foods to deodorant – and have already seen a steady stream of customers flowing through the front doors.

With locations in Stockton, Modesto, and Tracy already serving area residents, the Manteca store – which now occupies the old Big Boy Market on East Yosemite Avenue – gives residents who are conscious about their budget one location closer to home.

But just because it’s a discount market doesn’t mean that the food you’re getting is substandard or something you’d be afraid to have your guests spot in your home.

“We get a lot of brand name things here in the store that we’re able to offer for much less than traditional grocers,” Tarr said. “Whether it’s canned goods or cereal or condiments, we’ve always got a large supply and we’re always going to have competitive prices.”

While the chain has always offered some variety of wine and beer – including Miller Lite and Budweiser as well as Arbor Mist wine – they’ve just recently added a section that focuses on the popular microbrews that are catching on across the country.

Inside of the glass display cooler Sierra Nevada Summerfest Ale – a seasonal beer brewed at the company’s Chico headquarters and considered a high-class offering – awaits customers along with pamphlets that outlines the company’s environmental outlook.

For those who wander a bit deeper into the store, fresh pre-packaged meat for dollars less than what they’ll find at their typical grocery store fill the case, and the aisle dedicated for cleaning products reads like a who’s-who of brands that have been around for almost a century.

“We get customers in here that are looking to save a little bit of money, and they’re blown away at both what they find and how much they’re paying for it,” Little said. “It’s a great combination to see in your new customers, and we just hope that other people get to experience that as well.”

Grocery Outlet is located at 1391 E. Yosemite Ave. inside of the old Big Boy Market, and can be reached at 239-4295. The store is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.