Grocery Outlet Brings Bargain Prices to Palo Alto + Giveaway!

Grocery Outlet is open in Palo Alto, bringing discount grocery prices to a locale bereft of lower cost shopping options. Berkeley-based Grocery Outlet is unlike most other grocery stores, which makes shopping there a bit of a true bargain hunt, but with items 40-70% below average market prices, the hunt is part of the fun. We’ve got two $25 gift cards to give away to share the Grocery Outlet excitement, too! 

I was invited to the grand opening of the Alma Street location and was happily surprised by the variety of products and brands, including everything from gardening tools to craft beers. I was given a $50 gift card to shop and got a surprising amount of items for that price. I bought three gardening tools, two games worth of snacks for my son’s baseball team including Annie’s Homegrown snack packs, two boxes of crackers, Nutella, Justin’s Organic peanut butter with honey, Jif peanut butter, avocados, chips, graham crackers, and a ton of Easter candy. Every single thing I bought was a name brand that I would have bought at any other store. Plus, I lied. All of that cost $47. I still have money left over.

This location is not without its controversy as a small NIMBY group tried to block a discount store from Palo Alto, which is both laughable and sad. They have parking (more is under the store), they have fresh food, they have organic food, they have quality wine, beer and cheese, and what not everyone is Palo Alto may want to acknowledge, they have prices that are needed by the community. The store was packed on Saturday, and not by a bunch of lookiloos. The people there had carts filled. This is a positive addition to Palo Alto.

Five Ways to Save, Recommended by Grocery Outlet:

1. Shop there first. Have a long shopping list? Take it to Grocery Outlet first to get as much of your shopping complete as possible, then if other items remain, go to another grocery store to finish your list. This is unconventional and not everyone has time for two stores, but this way you won’t be at a more expensive market wondering if you could have got it for less at Grocery Outlet.

2. When you find something you like, stock up. Often deals are one-time only and if you don’t buy now, it may not be there later. Grocery Outlet buys surplus or manufacturing overruns from major brands, which doesn’t usually translate into a steady supply of a particular branded product.

3. Shop regularly. With inventory changing frequently, the store is always new.

4. Sign up for email notifications and Facebook. Special deals or in-store offers are announced online first. Don’t miss out!

5. Look for what you’re not looking for. Use your list, but be flexible if you see something you can use at a great bargain. This week when I went in, even though it wasn’t on my list, I was pleasantly surprised with all of the ingredients for guacamole at an excellent price.

Want to try Grocery Outlet? We’re giving away two $25 gift cards!

Leave a comment on this post or our Facebook page by 11:59 p.m. April 14 letting us know one item you’d like to buy at Grocery Outlet and we’ll randomly select two winners for the cards. You’ll get them just in time to help a bunny out by stocking up on brand name Easter candy!

Disclosure: I was provided with a $50 gift card to shop at the event. As always, all opinions are my own.