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Do You do the Grocery Store Hop? Tell Us About It and Win

Whole Foods? Papa Joe's? Kroger? Meijer? Tell us which foods you buy at which stores and you could win a $50 grocery store gift card.

 

We're spoiled, Rochester Hills.

For me, it's the Hamburger Cabbage Soup at Busch's, the organic milk at Meijer and corn salsa at Trader Joe's.

Rochester Hills has no shortage of outstanding grocery stores. So many, in fact, that a lot of us pick and choose, hopping from store to store for specific buys.

One Patch reader, my friend Lesli, regularly goes to five grocery stores a week to meet her family's needs.

Her weekly trips include Whole Foods for meat and produce, Kroger for organic goods, Trader Joe's for ready-made meals, Wal-Mart for canned goods and boxed staples and Meijer or Busch's — depending on her time allowance — for the rest.

This doesn't even include her monthly trip to Costco.

What's the motivation?

Of course, some people are bargain shoppers, sniffing out the best deal in town. My dad, for example, will only buy cheese at Kroger because he's convinced no one sells it for less.

Some shoppers are looking for quality. "I buy my meat at Whole Foods because I know how that animal was raised," shopper Lesli Maes said.

Some, like me, get hooked on certain products and go to the places that sell them.

What about you?

The contest

We want to know where you grocery shop and why — and we're willing to reward you for this information. There's a $50 gift card to your favorite store if you're the lucky winner.

To win, post a comment telling us your favorite Rochester/Rochester Hills grocery store buys; we'll pick one winner at random.

Here's how it will work:

  • Post one comment here telling us where you shop and what you love to buy there.
  • Please, only one entry per person.
  • All comments must be posted by noon Friday, Sept. 9, to be counted for the contest.
  • One winner will be selected in a random drawing Friday. That winner will receive an email notification from Patch, which must be responded to within 48 hours to receive the prize.

The contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 and older. And this wouldn't be a contest without a complete list of official Patch contest rules; you can read them here.

Thank you!

In the end, we're hoping to compile a guide to Patch readers' best grocery store finds in Rochester/Rochester Hills — because everyone needs a little meal-shopping inspiration now and then, right?

About this column: What's happening around town? Laura Cassar woke up this morning, stuffed her boys' backpacks, kissed her hunky husband goodbye and asked herself that very question. Here are her best answers. Need more Laura? Follow her on Twitter @AroundTownLaura Related Topics: Around Town
Where do you like to grocery shop and what do you buy there? Tell us in the comments.

Christine Hage

7:05 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Meijers for fruit and vegetables and most staples. Hollywood for meat and 8 O'clock coffee (decaf, large bag). Sam's Club for Manchengo cheese, TP, lemon juice (which I go through by like wildfire), laundry detergent. I hate grocery shopping so I go where I know the layout well and can get in and out quickly. Christine Hage

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Sally Anglim

7:13 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Kroger for Boar's Head Creamy Havarti Cheese - It's a "must have" for everyone in this house for sandwiches and great for a snack with crackers. They notice if it's not this brand.

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Amy Kuskowski

7:21 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Whole foods for meat (when they have organic in stock) and produce. Kroger for pretty much everything else... Sometimes target for toiletries.

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Amanda Kirksey

7:21 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Rochester Farmers Market for organic produce, Whole Foods for almond milk, coconut milk coffee creamer, kombucha and other staples (including detroit's Avalon cherry bars) and believe it or not, AMAZON. I get cases of organic beans, chia seeds and even diapers for super cheap and free shipping!

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Sheila Denstaedt

7:26 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Whole Foods is my favorite store because they have the largest variety of gluten-free foods in the area. My son will only eat their version of gluten-free bread! Oh yeah the staff is amazingly helpful and friendly!

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Amy

7:34 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Favorite all around store is Kroger for the good produce, good prices, and lots of "family size" boxes of the things we love (plus 10 cents off per gallon for gas.) I will go to Whole Foods for un-farmed salmon, 365 brand Pita Chips, fresh pizza dough and yummy ready made desserts. Busch's has terrific customer service and fantastic food for last minute entertaining. My fav is the blue cheese and cranberry cheese ball. Meijers is a go to if my list has hardware and homeware on it as well as food. Sam's club for paper products and Chai tea mix. The farmers market whenever possible for yummy fresh veggies and fruits.

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Liz

7:37 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Trader Joes without a doubt. Prices are low. They have fun items that are healthy. My favorite is their package rice that is frozen. It comes in a box with 3 pkg. Just throw in the micro,rice in 3 minutes,fluffy and good to go!! It comes in Brown and white and organic.

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Judy

7:47 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

i love Papa Joes! The free bread coupon gets me in there each week and there produce and meats are excellent quality and very fresh. The remainder of my shopping is at Kroger. I love their discount gas promotion and I know where everything is in the store.

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Beth Radtke Vieregge

7:50 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Target for pantry items, Costco for paper products and Whole Foods for meats and Wallaby yogurt. My family won't eat any other brand!! Door-To-Door Organics delivers most of my produce, but I fill in with Whole Foods.

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Karen Moore

7:57 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Papa Joe's a few times a week for fresh meat, fish, fruit and veggies.
Rochester Farmer's Market for eggs, flowers, gnocchi and all the amazing produce. Not to mention it's a fun outing for the kids to go hunt down Pineapple Pete.
Hollywood for milk (use my recycling points for free milk) and boxed and can goods.
Target for my TP, paper towel, etc as well as a basket of things not on the list.

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Yvonne

8:28 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Meijer for fruits and vegetables, Trader Joe's for garlic hummus, Trader Joe's for plantain chip snacks, and Trader Joe's for wine. Kroger for everything else.

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Shannon Schafer

9:03 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Meijer for fruits & veggies (sometimes I will go to Papa Joe's or Nino's). Kroger or Meijer for meats, love the frozen brown rice packs, the Chai mix & the hummus from Trader Joe's. The rest comes from Meijer, Walmart or Kroger...depending on which store I am closer to. Love Meijer's 10 for $10 with the 11th item free!

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Janet

9:18 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Papa Joe's for produce and free bread (flax seed is my daughters' favorite), Trader Joe's for nuts, dried fruit, and frozen quiche (love the Mexicaine!), and Meijer for everything else.

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Kate

9:26 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Papa Joe's for produce, lunchmeat (much fresher Boar's Head than Kroger), and free bread. Trader Joe's for frozen 3 packs of brown or jasmine rice, and reduced sodium roasted red pepper and tomato soup. Costco for frozen individually wrapped chicken breasts, water, frozen edamame, and paper products. Kroger for everything else because convenient and familiar with the layout. I also love the taste and price of certain Kroger brand things, such as their milk and lowfat cottage cheese.

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Laura Cassar

5:03 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011

I love that red pepper/tomato soup from Trader Joe's!!

Amanda Kirksey

9:58 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

I LOVE seeing so many healthy eaters!

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Jo Nielson

10:03 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Papa Joe's is the best for produce, bread and sometimes milk is cheaper than it is at Meijer! Hollywood Market/Nino's are the best for meat. Meijer is good for the basics and their Mac-N-Cheese is a must-have in our house. Kroger has the best pizza cheese. Whole Foods is the best place to get specialty flours and milk.

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chris murray

10:11 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Trader Joe's for their Alfredo Sauce and basil pesto along with a pretzel stick when I go there. Costo for their apple muffins. Vince and Joe's for their produce and ground buffalo.

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Dorothy J. Schroeder

10:14 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Whole Foods is my favorite store for fresh fish, excellent Greek yogurt and organic produce. Hollywood Market is best for the deli counter and homemade bread.

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christine

11:12 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Farmer's market for eggs, produce, jam & other fresh items. Papa Joe's for meat, deli, cheese, produce, milk & wine. Nino's for produce (especially what you can't find at other places). Trader Joe's for frozen foods, pita chips, cliff bars, yogurt & OJ. Target for non-food items & some non-perishable items. Meijer for wine & things when I am in a hurry (it is the closest). Red Wagon for beer & liquor. I go to Busch's when Papa Joe's & Nino's are closed. I'm used to a 24/hr Hy-Vee (wish they had them in MI) the stores here close so early to me!

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Ana

11:34 am on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

I love papa joes for there fruits, vegetables,cormuet coffe, and free fresh baked bread ,The produce stays fresh never waste any.hollywood for the meat,kroger & meijer for dairy products and frozen food

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Theresa Meegan

12:07 pm on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Papa Joe's for the best fruit and vegetables as well as great selection of fish, and love the free weekly bread. Kroger's for the only milk in town that my husband likes. Busch's for most staples, especially on Tuesday for the 10% senior discount. Costco for wine and other great deals.

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Anita

12:43 pm on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

We shop at Kroger for milk and staple items, Meijer is great for produce and those must need packaged products and frozen foods, TJs for meat and unique frozen goodies, Sam's club for butter and ciabatta rolls, Costco for organic half and half and Papa Joe's for thier lunch meat! Too bad they can't all be in ONE place! It's still a pleasure to visit all of these stores since there is something interesting at each and every one!

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LindaKS

12:48 pm on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

I shop Papa Joe's for the best bread, fruit, vegetables and meats, but for everyday canned goods and staples, Kroger has good prices. I also pop into B & G Prime Meats on Woodward for special cuts.

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Lindsay Snabes

3:16 pm on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

I make the weekly trip to Meijer for just about everything, including produce, meat, Folger's Simply Smooth Decaf, canned Spanish rice and the Herdez green salsa, as their prices are pretty good, but then I will run into Busch's in a pinch because they are close in proximity and they pre-slice the deli meat - it's FAST! Once in awhile we stop in to Papa Joe's for a good fresh loaf of free bread (with purchase).

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Gretchen Denton

5:24 pm on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Hollywood Market is THE place for buying meat week in and week out. I usually buy the meat that is on special that week and like that I can buy exactly the amount I want for two people or for more when we have guests. Prices for meat are excellent and service is delightful. All summer I go to the Farmer's Market in Rochester or in Pontiac for everything that is fresh and hand made hand soap.

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Beverly

6:41 pm on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Krogers for anything that is on sale...trader joes for turkey lunch meat (no nitrate), eggs, milk, bananas, wasabi trail mix, strawberry frozen fruit pops, green paper products, charles shaw wine, spices...walmart for yogurt...sam's club bakery

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Sue Kline

9:19 pm on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

I love Meijer. It isn't glamorous but it has great fruits and vegetables, funky international cuisine ingredients and great prices....and then I can on the other side of the store and buy deodorant and pencils. How great is that? And, I like to know I am supporting a Michigan company.

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Lynne Dieterle

9:46 pm on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Hollywood for meat, Meijer for most everything else...occasional trip to Trader Joe's for their granola which is delicious and very reasonably priced.

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shannon

10:09 pm on Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Trader Joes for milk, eggs, yogurt and snack food for the kids. Hollywood for their fresh fantastic meat. Whole Foods for nutritional suppliments, produce and a quick lunch to go. Kroger for household cleaners, and quick trips for things needed. Costco once a month for paper products, snack for kids, and party food! Foglers Farm in the late summer early fall for YummY Corn on the cob and delicious tomatoes.

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Heather

8:46 am on Thursday, September 8, 2011

Whole Foods for speciality items (mostly allergy friendly foods) and coffee. Meijer for the bulk of it. Kroger when we need odds and ends.

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Donna

9:02 am on Thursday, September 8, 2011

Whole Foods for produce and meat. Busch's for the basics (convenient). Meijer for boxed / canned goods. Costco for paper and cleaning products, among other things.

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Rochester Hills Mom

9:40 am on Thursday, September 8, 2011

I shop Kroger for my dry goods staples and Whole Foods for fresh produce and meats. Costco for bulk items-especially during the school year!

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Susan Fredericks

7:08 pm on Thursday, September 8, 2011

Meijers is best for wine selection and prices. Kroger milk tastes the best and is usually priced better than anywhere else. Rite Aid, CVS and Walgreens have great loss leaders and great weekly specials together with coupons you can get great deals.

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Michelle H

10:57 pm on Thursday, September 8, 2011

I do most of my shopping at Kroger. It's convenient. I am familiar with the store and I accumulate points which go towards gas savings. I shop Busch's and Sam's club for meat. Butchers at Busch's very helpful. Sam's club for paper products and an occasional Meijer's run. Don't like Meijer's milk

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Sherry

8:47 am on Friday, September 9, 2011

Trader Joe's for organic milk (my kids complain about others) and awesome pre-made food that is not junk; Busch's b/c they are so nice and it is a good store with good food; Whole Foods for a lot of produce; Meijer for variety and one-stop shopping; Target for things in a box; oh, and Costco for meat and school snack/lunch supplies. We are very, very lucky to be so close to many great stores!!!

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Sherry

8:48 am on Friday, September 9, 2011

I can't believe no one mentioned Nino Salvaggio!!! now that is a great, great store...

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Laura Cassar

1:18 pm on Friday, September 9, 2011

We have our winner! Check your email!

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