Save-A-Lot

Easy to park location. Clean, great prices. Good bargains if you know what you’re looking for. Not the biggest or best produce section. Can be a great deal on meats.

Ran into this grocery store after dropping off my son for his half hour piano lesson up the street. I needed something for dinner and I always like checking out a new supermarket. I also had a craving for a bag of pork rinds and I knew there was a good chance I’d find them here with some many diverse cultures in the neighborhood. I had asked the piano teacher about the store and she gave me the raised eyebrow and said something to the effect that she doesn’t venture over that side of the street… the «street» being Killingly street. I took that with a grain of salt since my favorite bread bakery, Buono’s is just a block away from here. I was a rebel with a cause headin’ to the wrong side of the tracks with my two year old in tow. Check it.
So — my 2 year old daughter with me… of course, she wanted to walk. Perfect for a quick in ‘n out trip. Not so much. But — No charge for shopping carts here (a relief since I am always scrambling to find a quarter when shopping at Aldi’s) This joint accepts credit cards and checks (except AmEx) — as I was informed by a gentleman resetting some door alarm as I walked in. He turned out to be the store manager. He thanked me for coming in after I asked him about the accepted payment methods. I did need to pay for a bag. Told me to let him know if I needed anything. He was doing his own shopping before leaving for the night. No buddy, Thank YOU! Impromptu pleasantries exchanged always make me happy.
My girlfriend and I grabbed a hand — basket (light shopping) and began the adventure.
They have a limited, but good — looking section of produce here. You are not going to find the Leeks you need for Julia Childs’ potato soup recipe, but a solid selection of taters, onions, peppers, tomatoes and some fruit. The meat case also had limited offeringss but all meat groups were covered — beef, pork and chicken. No off-​odors and neatly packaged and displayed. Grabbed a 2lb. package of ⁸⁰⁄₂₀ for $ 3.39/lb. packed by the same company that does the meat at Stop and Shop. Some neat ethnic offerings here too that I loved — checked out some ham hocks and ox tails that looked fresh.
Prices were great on some items (brand name cereals at $ 2/​box and Little Debbie’s were 50c less than at the store). Found my pork rinds and other snacks for around $ 2/​bag. (For the record, I am a pork rind purist and I go with the original flavor vs. the hot n’ spicy)
The rest of the store is displayed out of cut boxes (like Aldi and Price Rite and for those who go way back, Heartland). Super bright lighting and spotless floors. The store is totally small enough for a quick stop in for bread and a few other essentials. S. (my daughter) had a great time walking through the aisles and everyone (staff and customers alike) were super nice.
It actually was refreshing to go into a grocery store that was not a MEGA or SUPER something. This grocery gem is in a strip mall right of the Killingly Street exit on Route 6 next to the one of the biggest dollar stores I have ever seen and some indescript discount department store. (Two more potential adventures).
It is easy-​off, easy — on access to get to the store and I would stop here again. I think that it would be ideal for folks coming home from work off 295 heading home to PVD. Parking is easy.
When I returned home with the kids and the groceries, my husband asked «oh, where did you go to get groceries?». Me: «That market right off the Killingly exit…» Him: «in the GHETTO?». Within my own four walls, I have opportunity to educate on new adventures in new neighborhoods.
My point — just because a place may not look like someplace you might normally check out in a neighborhood that may not look exactly like yours, it is not GHETTO. Walk in and take a walk around. You might be pleasantly surprise to find a pretty cool place that you’d like to come back to explore further. Like this place. Or you go in… see it’s sketchy and run for the freaking hills — hauling your two year old on your hip like your pants are on fire. (not this place)
Clean, shopping values served up with a smile. I like.