One staple of the suburbs can't be missed, the supermarket. It's got everything under one roof, and it's usually a big roof. Even a small town such as Acton's has 3!
is a small market, don't expect the major brands there, I've been in convenience stores that are bigger. If you've never been to one before it can be a bit overwhelming, as it's not your typical supermarket, product wise and in layout. Don't expect 300 different types of cereal that have prizes in the box, Organics and small companies rule here. The theme is quality over quantity. Even their frozen food section is small, but they have a good selection of items that are actually good for you. The produce selection is good, however a lot of the items are grown in Canada or Mexico, so for those people that like to buy local, you'll have to check the label to confirm. Yes you'll pay a LITTLE more, but well worth it. Like all Trader Joe's, the checkout area is pretty small as well, but they do encourage people to bring in re-usable bags, collecting names of people that shop using them get their name entered in a drawing for a gift card. It's the earthy crunchy supermarket, in a good way.
on Great Road has a fairly upscale feel to it, It's not uncommon to have a harpist or some other performer on a Sunday afternoon playing while you shop. The prepared food section never disappoints, from wraps to whole chickens. As it's about 1/2 the size of a Demoulas/Market basket, it's not hard to realize, the selection isn’t as vast as some other stores, and they prices are a little higher than some other supermarkets. One unique feature is they sell beer & wine. Good selection of beer, from the usual Bud/Miller to some more obscure versions of Sarnac and Harpoon.
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Roche Brothers is along the lines of Donelan's, with a bit more of a selection, due to the larger square footage. One downside though is the parking lot, specifically getting in and out of. It tends to be a bit busy, due to it's proximity to Route 2.
Stop & Shop is a New England tradition. It's been around for decades. The selection is usually huge, and the quality balances on the "you get what you pay for" scale. Overall, price wise they're the best of the bunch, even if you need their customer savings card. The location is kind of out of the way, at least from my home.
Overall though, either due to price or location, I tend to shop at Market Basket in Westford. Between the prices & selection, it's tough to beat. Donelans & Trader Joes tend to have better produce, so we tend to do our shopping there for our fruits & veggies. Trader Joe’s has those niche items like fancy cheeses and produce. Thankfully we have 3 choices in our little town, and while we don’t shop exclusively at one, each has something unique to offer!