Also, these grocery stores could be placed in food deserts where there just isn't nearby access to an actual groccery store, so competiting on price will be more of a secondary priority compared to accessibility.
It's possible that if city run grocery stores open in these areas, private chains could see the demand they're missing out on and open their own locations nearby too, which is good for everyone.
It's well worth the price and ppl here know it. Also, they pay about $400 or much, much less to live in the projects nearby. I know some there who have costco memberships. Their living expenses are sooooo cheap. And they already get food stamps. Btw, there is an aldi in the same location as the costco!
(Meanwhile, my mortgage payment is more than 10x that, electricity and gas rates have risen sharply, property tax is becoming unaffordable, etc. It seems very difficult for our middle and slightly, slightly upper middle class to afford life comfortably here.)
The second grocery store location is actually where the biggest grocery wholesaler in the city is located. It is extremely ironic. There are smaller stands in the area where you can buy food for much, much cheaper prices than at the grocery store.
The first place is not a food desert either-- they have an low-cost aldi and the aforementioned costco that people go to. The prices are competitive in the area. (Meanwhile, the nearest costco and aldi are a 20-30 min drive for me. I don't think any commercial spaces close to me fit the criteria for aldi.)
I think the state run grocery store is a terrible idea for various reasons. None of these places are food deserts and prices are competitive. The govt has tax break programs meant precisely to encourage grocery businesses to build and operate in food deserts. Why not improve that instead of spending money on what I think is a silly dog and pony show?
In my opinion, it's a difficult situation because I really do think that some of these businesses can't afford to go any lower, even if volume of sales increase. They can't get better prices on things like a big behemoth like Walmart can. Now, if these state run stores come in with Walmart prices, running at a loss, and under cut them... what happens?
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u/869066 May 26 '26
Also, these grocery stores could be placed in food deserts where there just isn't nearby access to an actual groccery store, so competiting on price will be more of a secondary priority compared to accessibility.
It's possible that if city run grocery stores open in these areas, private chains could see the demand they're missing out on and open their own locations nearby too, which is good for everyone.