Saved A Lot Lately?

Remember when Save-a-Lot first came to town? I referred to it as the Poor Man’s Store. Those of us brave enough to enter through the front door without wearing a mask got some real bargains. We kept our head down because we didn’t want to run into anyone we knew.  People who were better off shopped at Glen’s. Middle income folks left their money at SuperValu. Seniors did their marketing at the Soo Co-op. It was only us poor folks who ventured down the aisles of Save-a-Lot.     

The shelves were a close match to Mother Hubbard’s cupboard, and we couldn’t find a name brand no matter where we looked. The clerks were helpful and friendly, but we could sense their compassion as we dug in our purse for our last dollar. Placing purchases in box bottoms was further humiliating, but bringing a paper bag from home was even worse. If we made it out the door without being noticed, we breathed a sigh of relief and ran for our car.

My, how things have changed. It probably took two years before the concept of Save-a-Lot caught on with affluent folks. Their stamp of approval must have encouraged management to add a few brand names, order more stock, and offer a better selection of produce. The negative stigma lifted. Now we proudly walk into the store, head held high, and look for our friends and neighbors. If the corporate wizards who decided on a name had called it Spend-a-Lot, they would have made a fortune within the first few weeks.

There is one drawback to this popular supermarket. With all the new items, brand names, and teeming shelves, prices have increased to match the clientele. Most things are still a few cents cheaper than Walmart, but gone are the days when a twenty dollar bill bought two box bottoms of groceries. The shelves groan from the weight of the new merchandise and probably yearn for the early days when their burden was light. Now everything you want can be found stacked, lined, or hung from a hook. You can even buy fancy plastic bags if you don’t want to rummage through cardboard.

What got me thinking about this store was the coffee I’m enjoying this morning. Years ago I was a tea drinker, but somewhere along the way, I discovered coffee. There’s no better way to start my day than with a slice of homemade almond biscotti and a cup of good strong coffee. I’ve tried lots of brands, ground fresh beans, sampled gourmet products, but the best coffee I’ve tasted in a long time is McDaniel’s Special Roast Medium strength straight from the shelf of Save-a-Lot.

Who would have thought?