Giant Eagle's Discount 'Good Cents' Store Ready for Customers in Ross Towne Center

"Always fresh, but not real fancy" is the way John Tedesco, Senior Vice President of Merchandising likes to describe to new Good Cents grocery store opening Sunday at 7215 McKnight Road, in Ross Towne Center. The doors open at 7 a.m. and a ribbon cutting is scheduled for 8 a.m., but unlike its next-door competitor, there will be no giveaways to entice customers into the store.

"We've found in the past that customers just want to get inside and shop," he said.

Differences between Giant Eagle and Good Cents

The same company owns giant Eagle and Good Cents, and both sell groceries, but many of the similarities end there. For instance at Good Cents:

• No advantage cards/fuel perks/food perks
• No double coupons (coupons are redeemed at face value)
• No checks accepted (credit/debt/WIC cards and cash are accepted)
• No free grocery bags (bring your own or buy one in the store)
• No baggers, customers must bag themselves
• Few if any specials

Tedesco describes Good Cents as "middle of the road" between a regular grocery store and a discount grocer.

"We're filling a void that exists for a large number of customers who don't want to shop at the typical supermarket and don't want to shop at a discounter," he said. "They want to pay low prices, get great values, but they also want a selection. The want fresh, high quality produce, deli products, and meat. They want to see meat cut in the store. They want variety, and they're going to find it."

Good Cents carries dozens of name brands, but also Giant Eagle's discount store brand, Valu Time.

If you want to save money, buy the store brands," said Tedesco.

The store also features a large produce department, which will carry about a dozen organic items, a deli, and a meat counter. There is no bakery, and a limited selection of prepackaged seafood. 

Tedesco said the aisles are wide to allow the easy movement of pallets stacked with merchandise, which is bought in bulk to keep prices low.

"We're the lowest price in town, across the board," he said. "Customers can come in and experience that for themselves."

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