Save a Lot

This seems to be the only large grocery store in Estes. The prices are 10 to 25% higher than I usually spend. There are better cost savings of you have their savings card. Savings cards for City Market and Kroger work, though.

Shopping here on a recommendation from a friend, I was amazed at the prices since at most other grocery stores the prices are outrageous. I found the produce to be fresh and all other items to be well stocked. Each department had its own little treasures that I found to be irresistible to pass up. The store was clean, the staff was friendly, and check out was fast. Definitely a store to visit.

I must say it, the name drew me in. From the outside I wasn’t quite sure what I would find (there’s a big box store out East called Big Lots which I’ve been known to scour from time to time).
Upon walking in I couldn’t help but let out a squeal of approval (my friend I was with found this very amusing). There were packs of fresh tortillas for $ 1.99, and overflowing tables of poblano peppers and jalapenos. I also found cotija cheese at a super reasonable price (there were also choices on the % fat which I thought was great).
When I arrived to the pastry section I truly felt like I was back in Puerto Vallarta. So many delectable baked goods for under $ 1 a piece (I must have bought near a dozen as I was hosting friends for an excursion the following day). At this point my kind friend went to the front of the store to get us a cart as she realized this was no «in and out» shopping trip.
I really just had the best time walking around to see what I recognized as well as what was new.
Near the register I found my Dad’s favorite childhood candies (looks like I don’t need to travel abroad for these anymore) as well as pinatas (starting at just $ 6.99 — such a great deal when compared to party stores).
I didn’t encounter much staff while in the store, though the cashier we interacted with was friendly and on top of things.
I cannot wait to go back to this store for produce, mexican specialties, and general perusing.

I still prefer King Soopers for day today shopping and Sprout’s for produce but definitely worth a visit if you love peppers. They also have a variety of produce items you won’t find in other sores around here. Quality is OK and you can find bargains.

Save-​A-​Hoe
Well, that’s what you might as well do! You ain’t getting any bargain while shopping here.
I must admit. I’ve been here two or three times to grab some groceries and even tried to find over the counter meds since the fam was sick and this is one of the closest places to me that MAY have that sorta thing (wrong). Not big deal on the drugs, but as far being a grocer, they aren’t very good at it.
My main gripe is the produce. Where do they get them from? Being priced SLIGHTLY under your normal Albertsons or Soopers, you’d think the quality should be somewhat up to par with the big guys. Boy was I wrong! Most everything I purchased reached their expiration within two days of walking out the market door. Cucumbers were slimey after 2 days, cilantro turned brown, tomatoes were mush… you get the picture. Sure, that’s what veggies do BUT after 2 to 3 days after you bought the darn things? I may as well have spend the extra five or ten cents for fresher produce AND they give me free plastic bags to take them home in. Yes, I am a green advocate and charging per bag is all good with me… but the fact that their selections seem like they already received them @ a discounted rate and only gave us a few pennies off of the price hardly seems worthy of charging me some more for a plastic bag. Maybe thats just me!
Anyway, their packaged goods are just dandy though they may also be a little dated on items that don’t sell too often. I grabbed some spices and some where already compressed and chunky. They also don’t have a large array of item to choose from, but I’m sure it gets the job done for those non-​picky buyers. They also sell pan dulce for 70 cents a pop. Man, that’s crazy to me since I’m use to getting 4 for a dollar back home in Cali. Ya’ll know what’s up!!! LOL! My most recent visit was the last draw and I now refuse to come back. I’ll spend my money elsewhere because I hate throwing away food that I JUST bought and thats exactly what I was doing with the items I got here. SMH. Sorry to say it! =(

Another discount grocer is now open at the former Smartco/​Albertsons building in Longmont. Stopped in here to check it out and was disappointed to see it was not worth my time. Prices are barely below other places and some items are the same or higher. The quality of some things looked worse. The floor area has now been cut in half so there is hardly any room inside. Didn’t buy anything on my visit and wonder if this place will survive. For all the hype about it, pretty disappointing in my opinion.