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| - Just inside of this 24/hr. haven, one is struck by the presence of local produce: non-GMO onions and zucchini heaped on a table for 99 cents/lb. Farther along, a dearth of organic veggies--the wilted kale and other greens comprising maybe a tenth of the looming northward wall--but the local produce is a wonderful gesture that sticks with the shopper as they traverse the mighty expanse. Expectedly, there are innumerable aisles jammed with a thousand varieties of dish soap, snack cracks, mayonnaise, etc. Many things are typically on sale. Craft beer enthusiasts rejoice: the alcohol section is surprisingly well-curated. At the store's rear, a meat counter promises treats from the entire barnyard: fileted and faceless on gleaming display. Cheerful employees are always back here, sampling IPAs and burgers in summer. There is also a wine expert, hidden among the rows. Sometimes, he too is offering samples for an affordable quarter a cup. Another welcome gesture. There is a mammoth case of frozen vegetarian foodstuffs around the corner, though a head-scratching lack of Field Roast sausages in the dairy case. On weekends, the same squad of familiar cashiers populates the checkout line, so there isn't usually a need to fight with the hideous automated self-check outs that constantly freeze and bark and sometimes tweak out completely, requiring an actual human to be summoned anyway. It is these personal touches which elevate this old bird beyond the competition. Be sure to get a store card in order to rack up the fuel perks: soon enough you'll be buying gas for less than a buck a gallon at the service station conveniently located right at the front of the lot.
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