We get so use to our own ways and culture that we often don’t realize that going abroad can be challenging even if we speak the language perfectly. This guide shows you some of the most common store chains on the West Coast, from grocery stores, pharmacies, and electronic stores. While some of the chains operate nationwide, others only operate stores in a few states. Here you will find information on what super market will carry which products.
Shopping on the West Coast: Grocery Stores
If you are visiting for a longer vacation, you will need to know where to shop for food. Here is a list of the grocery stores you can find on the West Coast.
-Vons/Safeway: This is a typical grocery store chain, where you can find everything from fresh to frozen produce, alcohol, milk, pet food and a few cleaning products.
- Ralph’s: Is another grocery store chain, a little more expensive than the first mentioned, with the same kind of products.
- Albertson: offers lower prices on certain produces and serve the same as the 2 previously mentioned.
- Henry’s and Trader Joe’s are grocery stores, with just groceries, and focus on the fresh and organic produce. You find a larger choice of fresh veggies and fruits and a smaller frozen section. They are considered the “healthy” stores, but also offer great prices.
- Whole Foods is the top of the chain grocery stores: it is the leader in “natural and fresh produce”. You can find international and specialty products and the best produces. It is the Gourmet of the grocery stores, however, it is also the most expensive grocery store.
Shopping on the West Coast: General Stores
- Wal-mart and Target are the two largest general store chains that you will find all over the US. They are kind of the equivalent of a European super market. You can find everything for your home, clothes, personal care, electronics, food… Wal-mart tends to have lower prices, but some people refuse to shop there due to the bad press they chain received for their employment rules. Target stores don’t always have a food section, only the super Target Stores offer this option.
- Kmart is another general store chain where you can find what the other general stores offer, but with less choices and quality.
- Sears is the first American general store chain, the oldest one ever created. Although it should be called a department store, it is another American store that can be compared to the European super market, carrying fewer choices that the 2 first mentioned.
Shopping on the West Coast: Pharmacy
It is hard in a new country to know where to go for medicines and to know what to take. Yes, even the vocabulary might raise some suspicion. In the US, people often refer to medicine as drugs and call a pharmacy a drug store. All the stores mentioned here have pharmacists available to answer your questions and direct you to the right product. Unlike most of European countries, in the USA you can buy most medicines, which are not personal prescriptions, over the counter.
CVS, Walgreen and Rite Aid are the most popular ones with the most locations. You can find everything for your personal care as well as snacks and cleaning products there. They usually also offer a small convenience section with the most use grocery items (milk, eggs, butter…) and alcohol, but note that in some states, you can only buy liquor in liquor stores. In California you can find every liquor, beer, wine in most stores. However in Texas, only licensed liquor stores can sell hard liquor.
Shopping on the West Coast: Convenient Stores
Sometimes if you just want a snack, a drink, candies, or the typical grocery items like milk you can find them at convenient stores. They usually have a larger selection of candies and cigarettes then grocery stores do. 7 Eleven and Circle K are 2 good examples. Sometimes, they also have a gas station.
Shopping on the West Coast: Electronics Stores
When traveling you might not want to shop for electronics, however, it could happen that your portable DVD player breaks or the camera you want to buy is much cheaper in the US… In case you need electronics for any particular reason, the two best American stores for this are Best Buy and Fry’s. Best Buy is a nationwide chain and offers everything, from computers to TV, appliances to DVDs. Fry’s also offers these products, but with a wider selection of technical products as well. You can also find a good selection of electronics in Target and Wal-mart and other general stores.
Shopping on the West Coast: Pet Stores
In case you travel with you pet, it is useful to know where you can find everything you might need to keep your beloved pet happy during the vacation. Pet People, Pet Smart and Petco are American stores dedicated to the care of pets, from pet food to flea treatment and beds.
Other Chain Stores on the West Coast:
- For Office Supplies: Staples, Office Depot. You can find everything you need for office supplies, from paper to ink for your printer, envelopes and markers.
- For home and garden maintenance: Home Depot and Lowe’s have everything to fix and built.
- Department Stores
Large Department Stores which carry clothing as well as appliances for kitchen, bed and bath rooms and a beauty department: Macy’s and JC Penney
Large Department stores without the appliances section: Nordstrom, Bloomingdale, (up scale and higher prices, offer all designer brands) and Kohl’s and Ross (cheap clothing)
- For books and magazines, Borders and Barnes & Nobles have every type of books, and can help you find what you need. From dictionary to international authors, to cook books, they offer a large selection of books.
Shopping on the West Coast: Notes:
- Costco requires a membership card to shop there.
- When you pay at the register, you don’t need to put your items in bags, they have employees that will do that for you.
- Don’t try to find the scale to weigh your fruits and veggies; they do it for you when you pay.
- You don’t need money to get a cart.
- You are required to be 18 years old to buy cigarettes and 21 to buy alcohol, and you have to present your ID. You can buy cigarettes at the grocery stores, you just need to ask for them at the cashier.
- When you pay with your credit or debit card, they ask you “ Cash Back?” It is a way for you to get cash without going to the ATM. You are just charged the amount you ask (up to $200 in most stores) in addition to your purchase.
You are all set to shop in the USA. All American stores are different from your country’s stores, but you can still find the common items! Enjoy your trip to the US.
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