Checkout lines stretched into the aisles of the 99 Cents Only store in Beverly Grove on Monday afternoon. Red and black signs reading “Store Closing Sale” greeted shoppers at the entrance. Store shelves were almost empty and fresh fruit containers were almost empty. It felt like a trip to the supermarket in March 2020.
This month, the discount chain announced plans to close all 371 locations. The closures will leave many who rely on bargain prices looking for alternatives to purchasing food.
Of all the discount chains with a dollar amount in the name, 99 Cents Only Stores was one of the few that offered a wide selection of fresh foods.
At the Beverly Grove store, I found eggplant, tomatillos, bok choy, ground beef and turkey, bags of spinach and radishes. And you could always count on some brand-name finds. On this last visit, there were packets of Buldak Kimchi Spicy Chicken Ramen for $1.49 (at Walmart, a five-pack is $15.95) and jars of Lao Gan Ma Spicy Crispy Chili for $3.49.
Although it has been years since the store capped its prices at 99 cents (the City of Commerce-based chain first raised its prices in 2008), the store was a reliable source for a wide variety of food and household items. at reasonable prices.
Mark J. Miller, CEO of Pic 'N' Save Bargains, expressed interest in purchasing the company earlier this week. If he is successful, he could save 143 stores in Southern California.
With closures looming, I visited four additional discount stores with a $20 budget, to compare prices on staples like milk, bread, eggs, produce, and some common packaged goods.
More variety: Grocery Outlet
A selection of foods purchased at Grocery Outlet including milk, eggs, cheese, fresh fruit, vegetables, dried pasta, pasta sauce and tuna.
(Jenn Harris/Los Angeles Times)
The Grocery Outlet store in Burbank is more like a City Target than a discount chain with a selection of brand name items, home goods and even beer and wine. Stores depend on excess inventory, excess products, packaging changes, and other varying circumstances for inventory and pricing. Stores are managed by independent owner-operators and selection will vary at each location. But you can count on milk, eggs, bread and fresh products.
Here's a breakdown of the $20:
Shopping Notes: At the Burbank store, there was a sizable international foods section and I was able to find rice paper sheets ($1.59) that I normally buy at 99 Ranch Market, Instant Ramen Sriracha Noodle Soup ($1.49), Instant beef pho ($2.99) and a good variety of sauce.
Best Deal: Dollar Tree
Foods purchased at the Dollar Tree store with a budget of $20 include milk, frozen vegetables, dried fruit, wheat bread, pasta sauce, dried pasta, frozen noodles, mayonnaise, a frozen lobster egg roll, cheese, and cold cuts.
(Jenn Harris / Los Angeles Times)
Not everything at Dollar Tree is a dollar, as the name suggests. In 2022, the store changed its base price from $1 to $1.25. And just this week, the company announced it plans to add $7 items to store shelves.
For this shopping trip, I visited the location on La Cienega Boulevard. More than half of the store was dedicated to home goods and party supplies and almost everything is priced at $1.25. I couldn't find eggs or fresh produce, and most of the food was frozen, canned, or dried. What surprised me most was the frozen food aisle, where I found individual egg rolls, frozen beef and broccoli noodles, and a variety of other prepared meals and snacks.
Here's a breakdown of what I bought:
Shopping Notes: Although there wasn't a lot of fresh food, I could have bought more prepared items and stayed within the $20 budget. I tried the lobster egg roll (also sold at Walmart for $1.48), which came with a small packet of sweet and sour sauce. I followed the package instructions and baked the egg roll in the oven. It was no better or worse than an egg roll you might find at a Chinese takeout restaurant with a crispy wonton wrapper. It was heavier and well filled with shredded cabbage and imitation crab, but I couldn't find the lobster. Beef and broccoli are the best buy (despite the unfortunate name “Eat Asian Style!”) with chunks of beef and vegetables throughout.
Budget Basics: Family Dollar
Foods purchased at Family Dollar with a $20 budget include bread, milk, cheese, cold cuts, frozen vegetables, mayonnaise, tuna, dried pasta, pasta sauce, and a frozen chicken sandwich.
(Jenn Harris / Los Angeles Times)
Family Dollar stores are owned by Dollar Tree, a chain based in Chesapeake, Virginia. Earlier this year, the company announced it will close 600 Family Dollar stores this year and an additional 370 stores in the coming years. There are also plans to close 30 Dollar Tree locations after leases expire in the coming years.
The fresh food selection at Slauson Avenue Family Dollar is minimal, and items are mostly confined to a single refrigerator and aisle. But there are canned and dry staples, snacks and frozen foods. This is a good option if you are looking for prepared items or pantry staples.
Here's a breakdown of what I bought:
Shopping Notes: With a lot of prepared frozen foods, I decided to purchase a few items outside of the $20 budget to see if it was worth the splurge. At $1.35, the Fast Bites Cheeseburger is twice the size of a frozen White Castle burger and is substantial enough for lunch. The bread is soft and the meat is pressed and shaped like half of a McRib sandwich. Skip the Lunchables frozen two-pack of pizza and grilled cheese sandwiches ($5.25). Each sandwich is filled with a piece of American cheese, three slices of pepperoni, and about a tablespoon of ketchup. For about half the price, you can buy a loaf of bread, a package of cheese, and make eight fresh grilled cheese sandwiches.
The most similar to the main supermarket chains: Food 4 Less
Food 4 Less grocery products include milk, wheat bread, dried pasta, pasta sauce, eggs, apples, cold cuts, canned tuna, cheese and frozen vegetables.
(Jenn Harris / Los Angeles Times)
There are a total of 101 Food 4 Less stores in California, Illinois and Indiana, with the majority of locations in California. Of all the discount chains I visited, Food 4 Less had the widest selection of fresh, frozen, and packaged foods. Most have a bakery on site. While it wasn't difficult to stick to the $20 budget for basics, most prices for grocery items seemed similar to what you'd find at any major grocery chain.
Shopping Notes: If you follow a plant-based diet, there is plenty to choose from in the freezer aisle with products from Impossible, Beyond Meat, and Gardein. A 15-ounce bag of Gardein plant-based chicken tenders sold for $8.99. I spotted some novelty items in the international foods aisle, including 16-ounce bottles of Kogi BBQ Korean BBQ and Sweet Garlic Teriyaki sauces ($4.79 each) and instant boba kits ($7.99). This is also a good place to buy dried beans and rice, with a good selection of both at competitive prices. I found a 32 ounce bag of black beans for $1.49.
The original: only 99 cents
The parking lot was full at the 99 Cents Only Stores in Santa Monica last week.
(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
On this week's visit, I was surprised by the price tags on some of the grocery items. Large bags of Lays chips were priced at $4.49 each (still $1 less than Target). A single mango was $2.99 (at Vons Market down the street, it was $1.99). There were 28-ounce jars of McCormick Mayonnaise for $6.99. A pound of ground beef was $4.99.
Here's a breakdown of similar items I purchased from the other stores mentioned above:
Buying Notes: While it may no longer be the least expensive option, part of the store's appeal has always been the search for a good surprise deal. I still remember the time I found bottles of Malbec wine for $2.99 (the same bottles were $12 elsewhere) at the 99 Cents Only store in North Hollywood. And the time I was able to buy all the extension cords and household items I needed for a college apartment for $10.
