The Great Canadian Grocery Store Thread - Page 4

Loco101 · #61 Posted **Jan 7, 2022, 4:53 AM**

Are there any large grocery stores out there in Canada that are open 24 hours? I know that the pandemic meant pretty much the end to them but just wondering if there are any right now?

SpongeG · #62 Posted **Jan 7, 2022, 5:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by manny_santos

One of the grocery stores I regularly shop at closed on December 31 after at least 3 decades in business. Your Independent Grocer (a Loblaws brand) on North Road in Burquitlam closed. It had been an Extra Foods (also a Loblaw banner) for many years and was only a YIG in the past 10 years or so.

The area around Lougheed Town Centre has lost multiple grocery stores in the past several years. Safeway outside the mall closed in 2018. However Walmart and Save-on-Foods are still within walking distance, and there’s another Safeway just one SkyTrain station away.

There’s a Real Canadian Superstore about 7-10 minutes away driving, but I much preferred the smaller YIG.

there is also HMart and Hannam Supermarket. The city of Lougheed says the new grocery store will open in 2023. Rumour was it would be Whole Foods, but I wonder what brand would open there.

SpongeG · #63 Posted **Jan 7, 2022, 5:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by someone123

Sobeys owns many different brands. You probably have seen a Sobeys-owned store in Vancouver since they own Safeway in Canada. They just didn't put Sobeys signs up here.

They are the "default" old grocery chain in NS, to the point where a lot of people call grocery bags "Sobeys bags".

the only Sobeys I knew of in BC was in Ft St John, there is a large east coast population there, due to the oil industry, but it got shut down when they bought Safeway and it is now a Good Life Fitness.

wikimapia

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For ethnic groceries:

Surrey/Whalley has about 3 Mexican Latin Grocery Stores, all within a few blocks of each other.

Same area also has about 3 African Stores.

A popular Indian grocer is Fruiticana. Mostly in Surrey, but one on Fraser in Vancouver.

There are 3 Korean chains with a few locations, H-Mart, Hannam Supermarket and the newest one Assi, which came up from the states.

Sungiven Foods is from China and expanding with a few stores in the Vancouver area.

foodology.ca

They have copied Trader Joes store interiors and are dupes.

fastly.4sqi.net

foodology.ca

vmcdn.ca

Trader Joes:

dgajsek.com

insider.com

tumblr.com

BlackRedGold · #64 Posted **Feb 19, 2022, 3:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acajack

(Many people in your part of Ottawa rave about the Metro(?) on Beechwood, though I've always wondered what was so special about it. Other than it's an urban supermarket in a nice neighbourhood. Bof.)

When it opened in the early 90's. it was an upscale concept store for Loeb.

softee · #65 Posted **Feb 19, 2022, 4:01 AM**

Lots of choices on the East side of Downtown Toronto.

• Video Link

Al Ski · #66 Posted **Feb 19, 2022, 4:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loco101

Are there any large grocery stores out there in Canada that are open 24 hours? I know that the pandemic meant pretty much the end to them but just wondering if there are any right now?

I remember chains having them then quickly realizing that they weren't viable, way before the pandemic.

casper · #67 Posted **Feb 19, 2022, 7:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Ski

I remember chains having them then quickly realizing that they weren't viable, way before the pandemic.

It mostly been difficulty many grocery stores are having with hiring staff.

Thrifty Foods (Sobey's) on Vancouver Island had some that 24 hours. They have back out of that on all of them. Key reason is staff shortages. We do need to increase immigration and ensure we start to bring in grocery workers as part of our national intake.

urbandreamer · #68 Posted **Feb 20, 2022, 1:25 AM**

A few weeks ago I was obsessed with the idea of moving to Thailand (relatively affordable, nice weather and beautiful women) and randomly found myself driving by a Thai grocery store in midtown Kitchener.

WhipperSnapper · #69 Posted **Feb 20, 2022, 3:54 PM**

Beautiful women; some with indoor and others with outdoor plumbing. Spiders are too big.

itom 987 · #70 Posted **Feb 20, 2022, 5:32 PM**

"Spiders are too big."

Simple solution: Live on the top floors of a skyscraper!

Wigs · #71 Posted **Feb 20, 2022, 10:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

In St. John’s there are three main grocery chains.

Dominion (formerly Ayre’s, now owned by Loblaws - note the logo is just theirs turned around to form a D):

Is this colloquially called "The Rooms : Grocery store annex"

Wigs · #72 Posted **Feb 20, 2022, 10:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by urbandreamer

A few weeks ago I was obsessed with the idea of moving to Thailand (relatively affordable, nice weather and beautiful women) and randomly found myself driving by a Thai grocery store in midtown Kitchener.

have you watched this? makes Bangkok look really modern (in sections).

le calmar · #73 Posted **Feb 20, 2022, 10:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Ski

I remember chains having them then quickly realizing that they weren't viable, way before the pandemic.

Looks like the pandemic killed the concept of Walmarts open 24 hrs in the US too. I am sure some are still 24/7, but it used to be the case all over, even in places like Ogdensburg.

SteelTown · #74 Posted **Feb 21, 2022, 7:07 PM**

In Hamilton, the main grocery store is Fortinos. It was an independent store until Loblaws bought Fortinos in the late '80s. Part of the deal was that Fortinos would own the Hamilton area with no Lobalws presence and have stores outside of Toronto such as Burlington and Oakville.

The flagship store is the Fortinos by Limeridge Mall. Over the years, Fortinos has gone more extensive, which almost half the store is now serving prepared meals with fresh bakery and beverages. I love Forinos' pizzas.

https://www.yelp.ca/biz_photos/fortinos-oakville-2?start=0

https://www.yelp.ca/biz_photos/fortinos-oakville-2?start=0

Bakery during COVID-era.

https://www.yelp.ca/biz_photos/fortinos-oakville-2?start=0

http://www.turnerfleischer.com/project/fortinos-combined-portfolio-page?ci=9&cn=

https://www.yelp.ca/biz_photos/fortinos-oakville-2?start=0

harls · #75 Posted **Feb 21, 2022, 8:01 PM**

Did Frito-Lay and Galen have a fight?

https://www.thestar.com/business/2022/02...rito-lay-in-food-fight-with-loblaws.html

Wigs · #76 Posted **Feb 21, 2022, 8:26 PM**

Fortinos is indeed one of the nicest grocery stores in Anglo Canada.

Prices seem higher than typical grocery stores in Niagara, however. I guess dedicating almost 1/2 the store to prepared foods comes at a cost...to the consumer

Kilgore Trout · #77 Posted **Feb 21, 2022, 10:35 PM**

Fortinos looks nice. It reminds me of Wegmans which was a highlight of the day I spent in Syracuse (and no, that's not me being shady towards Syracuse).

Kilgore Trout · #78 Posted **Feb 21, 2022, 10:36 PM**

T&T is finally expanding to Montreal and will open the largest store in Canada, nearly 70,000 square feet, at the end of the year. It will be located in Ville-Saint-Laurent just off the Metropolitan expressway.

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/th...in-saint-laurent-montreal-804519323.html

Quote:

T&T Supermarkets announced today that the very first T&T store in Quebec will be located in the borough of Saint-Laurent, at 300 Sainte-Croix Avenue. This brand new T&T store, at the size of more than 6,500 square meter, will become the chain's largest store in the country and will create more than 300 jobs locally. The grand opening is schedule to commence by the end of this year 2022.

le calmar · #79 Posted **Feb 21, 2022, 10:55 PM**

About time! Most of the alternatives were lacking imo. There is even one named “C&T” in Brossard. Here in Ottawa I am waiting on the new Kowloon Market location that will eventually open in Kanata. Kowloon Market is the largest Asian grocery store in Chinatown.

Kilgore Trout · #80 Posted **Feb 21, 2022, 11:12 PM**

The alternatives really aren't so bad, and they'll likely remain cheaper than T&T, which is actually pretty expensive. But nowhere has T&T's seafood selection, especially when it comes to live fish, so I am looking forward to that.

This is basically the Chinese supermarket game in Montreal:

- G&D and Vinh Hing: The only two supermarkets remaining in Chinatown. Dingy and kinda gross but they get the job done.

- Kim Phat: Locations in Côte des Neiges, Brossard, St-Michel and Ville-Saint-Laurent. Now owned by Metro, headed on a similar path as T&T with own-brand products and a more corporate feel. More of a Southeast Asian focus than T&T.

- Marché Hawaï: Also more SEA in focus. Used to have two location, now there's just one in St-Michel, but it's big and very nice.

- Newon: A mainland Chinese newcomer. There's a big location downtown in the Faubourg and an even bigger one that just opened in the Triangle. No complaints, it usually has what I need, especially if it's from the mainland and not HK or SEA.

- Fu Tai/Sheng Tai/Lian Tai: Mini-chain with locations in Côte des Neiges, the West Island and Ville Saint-Laurent (respectively). Great prices, good selection, one of my favourites.

- C&T: Two locations, one in Brossard, one in Ville Saint-Laurent. Mainland Chinese. Not bad, not great.

- Marché Oriental: Vietnamese-Chinese supermarket near the Jean-Talon Market, pretty good for veg and meat even if it's small. Anchors a cluster of Viet-Chinese and Thai-Chinese shops nearby.

- Millenium: Brand new mainland Chinese supermarket in Greenfield Park. Not a bad selection, very spacious, but weirdly expensive compared to its competitors.

Interestingly, many of the Asian supermarkets in Montreal have a large selection of Latin American products as well, and they seem to attract a lot of African and Haitian customers too. I suppose there's some overlap in ingredients and everyone appreciates good value.