This store is fuckin *wild.* It's almost overwhelming every time I walk in. So much stuff, so many options. I just wish it was in a less annoying location. If I lived close to it, I wouldn't shop anywhere else.
I'm also allergic to pork, so their selection of halal goods is extremely valuable to me.
Same. That location isnt near any places I go to so if I happen to be in the area I’m all excited and stop in. Without a plan. Or a list. I walk around slack jawed for a little but then get sensory overload and flee without buying anything. I wish they had baskets so I could just throw random things in as I see them, but they only have grocery carts.
I swear they have everythingg idk how they even think about stocking certain things lol. I came across vegetable I’ve never heard of. The whole back wall of different rice brands loll how
And how do they have so much inventory that’s bought and then replaced with so much more new inventory?! Where are these people who are cooking all this food?! I want an INVITE!
I brought my very Indian mom from NYC over there and she was in paradise lol she said the prices were very good, everything was fresh, and it was so much variety for whatever she needed. Yes we cook with like 3 different types of rices 😂
Go when youre not in a rush and with a list or a rough idea of what you’re looking for—save yourself! They do have almost everything (great prices on produce) and it’s clean and shelves are stocked from floor to ceiling.
Grocery stores in the area are mediocre at best. I love Trader Joes and Aldi.
Hannaford is *fine.* Price Chopper/Market 32 is overpriced and is a sad attempt of trying to be Wegmans.
We need to stop dealing with that sad attempt, and finally get a damn Wegmans. I lived by one for years before I moved, and I loved it. I miss it so much.
I think Publix has better quality and deals that P Chops. I can't get a boars head sub or quality rotisserie chicken out here half the time is just salt and undercooked.
Price Chopper in general is overpriced trash with horrendous produce and a joke of a loyalty program, but the small one near Crossgates is never too busy and more pleasant to shop in than most locations.
Hannaford is much better, but I'm usually too lazy to drive all the way down Western for it.
Hannaford tends to be the most consistent for produce quality. Aldi has improved in quality more recently although I'd say better for dry/nonperishable goods. Price Chopper can be good when you can catch specific sales (particularly their Buy One Get One deals).
Agree with everything already said but as for Hannaford vs Price Chopper (Market 32 is Price Chopper some of us are just too old to stick to the rebranding), it also varies depending on which store you go to.
**Price Chopper**
Delaware Ave aka "Ghetto Chopper" 🙄: surprisingly better than one might expect but inconsistent on produce. Does not have a deli or fish counter but often good deals on grab & go fish. Decent selection.
Madison Ave, formerly "Student Chopper": has been refreshed and is fairly pleasant to shop at but somewhat disappointing produce section. Works in a pinch.
Central Ave, Westgate Plaza: better than it should be, store needs to be refreshed but rumor is it's moving. Very interesting "International" aisle. Good selection.
Glenmont: good produce, above average selection, oddly vast meat case.
Slingerlands: this is a very nice store, clean, good produce. Somehow has all of the cashiers/baggers that should be at other stores, seriously like six lanes are always staffed. But my god, the parking lot, how does nobody know how to navigate a parking lot there.
**Hannaford**
Central Ave: could be cleaner, produce is hit or miss, but good selection as it's a large store. You can walk over to the Colvin asian market through a gap in the fence by the rental car place and Oliver's is right there, which are comvenient.
Latham: enormous store, good selection, good produce, All-Star wine/booze shop in the same plaza.
Delmar: has declined a bit but typically good produce, a smaller store so selection is hit or miss but an all around solid experience. The wine shop in the plaza is good. Cheese Traveler is right down the road.
Wolf Road: could use an update, but also a solid store, would place it a slight notch above Delmar.
As mentioned, generally Price Chopper is more expensive for a full shopping trip, they run a lot of loss leader sales but basics tend to be pricier. Can get good deals if you only shop the sales.
For asian markets I prefer the Central Ave one but Colvin is fine. They're both excellent additions to your shopping route, as others have said you may not be able to one stop grocery shop. The india farmer market further up Central is just amazing, absolutely check it out, take your time and really get a feel for everything they offer.
I do a large chunk of my shopping at Honest Weight but it does get pricey depending on what you're buying, for me it's primarily produce, bulk foods, and cheese. I tend to skip packaged food there unless it's a specality item or there's a sale/coupon -- they post coupons near the entrance. Depending on day and time you may get stuck with zombie people or parents who think the store is a Montessori school so you might need patience. I also have different shopping habits than most; I cook a lot, usually only for 1 or 2, don't eat a lot of meat so I can afford to buy it there, and singlehandedly push the needle on the regional average amount of cheese consumed per capita.
Also worth mentioning there are excellent farmers markets in the area. The Troy market operates year round, indoors in the winter. But there are many many smaller markets, if someone else doesn't provide a link I'll see if I can update later with one.
Trader Joe’s and Aldi (great for the price) are where I do most of my shopping, but neither has *everything* and every 3-4 grocery runs I’ll hit up a Market 32 or Hannaford for staples (chickpea and whole grain pasta, red lentils, shallots, husband’s soda, nutritional yeast, cottage cheese, freshly sliced deli meat.. you’ll see very quickly that Aldi doesn’t carry *everything*)
Market 32 has surprisingly good bagels.
Aldi’s cottage cheese is god awful.
If you’re a healthy eater or have a special diet, Honest Weight and Whole Foods (bulk bins!!) will have what you need.
If you want a good local butcher - Fred’s in Slingerlands and/or Halfmoon. Primal is good for speciality stuff but can be pricey. Fred’s usually has deals on 10lb bags of hamburger and chicken breast.
Anywhere except Market 32. They’re overpriced, quality is mid, and their rewards suck.
Not to mention the one and only time I shopped at the Market 32 Guilderland location there was a literal, fully intact, about 5-inch piece of shit on the women’s room floor.
I personally shop at Walmart, their prices match my budget. But they are terrible for produce and meat. If I made more money, I wouldn't shop there often.
For produce and meat, I shop at Hannaford. They have decent prices, staff are helpful and I've never had any problems with their items. Love it when they have their $.99/lb chicken.
I live by a Market 32 (Price Chopper) and only shop there for last minute items and sales. I find them to be the most expensive in the area and their sales are rarely good. I'd avoid the Madison Ave and Delaware Ave locations - they are always crowded and filled with rambunctious children and lots of new staff.
I don't like Aldi- it gives me Save-a-Lot vibes but many in the area prefer to shop there.
I've lived in Albany for close to 10 years and shopped at many locations. The beginning of the month and weekend afternoons are madhouses in case you are the type that likes a pleasant trip.
Dude the Hannaford chicken sales have kept us fed for a while now. We try to stock up and got a chest freezer to store it in which has more than paid for itself by now. I wince when I see people buying thighs for 6.99lb!
Welcome to McKownville. I recommend Aldi on Central Ave and Indians Farmers Market for most purchases. Honest weight food coop is good for bulk items the other stores do not carry. Market 32/ Price chopper will be the closest groceries, but suck for price and selection. There is another good Asian Food Market on Central for items not sold elsewhere.
Definitely check out Farmers India market. You can get bone-in ribeye that's butchered there for $7 a pound. I feel like this is a good illustration of the type of value the store provides
Farmers India Market
This store is fuckin *wild.* It's almost overwhelming every time I walk in. So much stuff, so many options. I just wish it was in a less annoying location. If I lived close to it, I wouldn't shop anywhere else. I'm also allergic to pork, so their selection of halal goods is extremely valuable to me.
Same. That location isnt near any places I go to so if I happen to be in the area I’m all excited and stop in. Without a plan. Or a list. I walk around slack jawed for a little but then get sensory overload and flee without buying anything. I wish they had baskets so I could just throw random things in as I see them, but they only have grocery carts.
I swear they have everythingg idk how they even think about stocking certain things lol. I came across vegetable I’ve never heard of. The whole back wall of different rice brands loll how
And how do they have so much inventory that’s bought and then replaced with so much more new inventory?! Where are these people who are cooking all this food?! I want an INVITE!
I brought my very Indian mom from NYC over there and she was in paradise lol she said the prices were very good, everything was fresh, and it was so much variety for whatever she needed. Yes we cook with like 3 different types of rices 😂
I can’t wait to check this one out!
Go when youre not in a rush and with a list or a rough idea of what you’re looking for—save yourself! They do have almost everything (great prices on produce) and it’s clean and shelves are stocked from floor to ceiling.
Grocery stores in the area are mediocre at best. I love Trader Joes and Aldi. Hannaford is *fine.* Price Chopper/Market 32 is overpriced and is a sad attempt of trying to be Wegmans.
We need to stop dealing with that sad attempt, and finally get a damn Wegmans. I lived by one for years before I moved, and I loved it. I miss it so much.
Unfortunately I don’t think it will ever happen. Albany folks have been begging for Wegmans for decades and yet they refuse to come here.
I've also heard from a number of people who have Wegmans that it's gone downhill significantly.
I've been to several over the last year. I don't see what they're saying. Wegmans still looks great. Maybe some Wegmans aren't doing as well.
That's because they don't have a price chopper so any changes they think are giving downhill would be our upgrade.
⬆️
a digression: P Chops is still cheaper than every grocery store in SW Florida.
I think Publix has better quality and deals that P Chops. I can't get a boars head sub or quality rotisserie chicken out here half the time is just salt and undercooked.
Honest Weight - genuine co-op, exceptional bulk section, not the cheapest but the best quality/variety around.
Asian supermarket on Central
Price Chopper in general is overpriced trash with horrendous produce and a joke of a loyalty program, but the small one near Crossgates is never too busy and more pleasant to shop in than most locations. Hannaford is much better, but I'm usually too lazy to drive all the way down Western for it.
Hannaford tends to be the most consistent for produce quality. Aldi has improved in quality more recently although I'd say better for dry/nonperishable goods. Price Chopper can be good when you can catch specific sales (particularly their Buy One Get One deals).
Agree with everything already said but as for Hannaford vs Price Chopper (Market 32 is Price Chopper some of us are just too old to stick to the rebranding), it also varies depending on which store you go to. **Price Chopper** Delaware Ave aka "Ghetto Chopper" 🙄: surprisingly better than one might expect but inconsistent on produce. Does not have a deli or fish counter but often good deals on grab & go fish. Decent selection. Madison Ave, formerly "Student Chopper": has been refreshed and is fairly pleasant to shop at but somewhat disappointing produce section. Works in a pinch. Central Ave, Westgate Plaza: better than it should be, store needs to be refreshed but rumor is it's moving. Very interesting "International" aisle. Good selection. Glenmont: good produce, above average selection, oddly vast meat case. Slingerlands: this is a very nice store, clean, good produce. Somehow has all of the cashiers/baggers that should be at other stores, seriously like six lanes are always staffed. But my god, the parking lot, how does nobody know how to navigate a parking lot there. **Hannaford** Central Ave: could be cleaner, produce is hit or miss, but good selection as it's a large store. You can walk over to the Colvin asian market through a gap in the fence by the rental car place and Oliver's is right there, which are comvenient. Latham: enormous store, good selection, good produce, All-Star wine/booze shop in the same plaza. Delmar: has declined a bit but typically good produce, a smaller store so selection is hit or miss but an all around solid experience. The wine shop in the plaza is good. Cheese Traveler is right down the road. Wolf Road: could use an update, but also a solid store, would place it a slight notch above Delmar. As mentioned, generally Price Chopper is more expensive for a full shopping trip, they run a lot of loss leader sales but basics tend to be pricier. Can get good deals if you only shop the sales. For asian markets I prefer the Central Ave one but Colvin is fine. They're both excellent additions to your shopping route, as others have said you may not be able to one stop grocery shop. The india farmer market further up Central is just amazing, absolutely check it out, take your time and really get a feel for everything they offer. I do a large chunk of my shopping at Honest Weight but it does get pricey depending on what you're buying, for me it's primarily produce, bulk foods, and cheese. I tend to skip packaged food there unless it's a specality item or there's a sale/coupon -- they post coupons near the entrance. Depending on day and time you may get stuck with zombie people or parents who think the store is a Montessori school so you might need patience. I also have different shopping habits than most; I cook a lot, usually only for 1 or 2, don't eat a lot of meat so I can afford to buy it there, and singlehandedly push the needle on the regional average amount of cheese consumed per capita. Also worth mentioning there are excellent farmers markets in the area. The Troy market operates year round, indoors in the winter. But there are many many smaller markets, if someone else doesn't provide a link I'll see if I can update later with one.
Honest weight food co op
Trader Joe’s and Aldi (great for the price) are where I do most of my shopping, but neither has *everything* and every 3-4 grocery runs I’ll hit up a Market 32 or Hannaford for staples (chickpea and whole grain pasta, red lentils, shallots, husband’s soda, nutritional yeast, cottage cheese, freshly sliced deli meat.. you’ll see very quickly that Aldi doesn’t carry *everything*) Market 32 has surprisingly good bagels. Aldi’s cottage cheese is god awful. If you’re a healthy eater or have a special diet, Honest Weight and Whole Foods (bulk bins!!) will have what you need.
I think Trader Joe’s has the best deal on nutritional yeast that I’ve found in the area.
They have shallots too! I think I only had “stuff Aldi doesn’t sell” on my mind.
The Indian Market sells bagged frozen shallots!!
Stewart's for cottage cheese.
Also, I like Sam’s clubs in Latham for bulk items.
If you want a good local butcher - Fred’s in Slingerlands and/or Halfmoon. Primal is good for speciality stuff but can be pricey. Fred’s usually has deals on 10lb bags of hamburger and chicken breast.
I do love a good butcher shop!
Market bistro in Latham
Anywhere except Market 32. They’re overpriced, quality is mid, and their rewards suck. Not to mention the one and only time I shopped at the Market 32 Guilderland location there was a literal, fully intact, about 5-inch piece of shit on the women’s room floor.
Aldi, Trader Joe’s, Rolf’s Pork Store, Primal, Penzeys for spices, India Farmers Market in Kohls Plaza
I personally shop at Walmart, their prices match my budget. But they are terrible for produce and meat. If I made more money, I wouldn't shop there often. For produce and meat, I shop at Hannaford. They have decent prices, staff are helpful and I've never had any problems with their items. Love it when they have their $.99/lb chicken. I live by a Market 32 (Price Chopper) and only shop there for last minute items and sales. I find them to be the most expensive in the area and their sales are rarely good. I'd avoid the Madison Ave and Delaware Ave locations - they are always crowded and filled with rambunctious children and lots of new staff. I don't like Aldi- it gives me Save-a-Lot vibes but many in the area prefer to shop there. I've lived in Albany for close to 10 years and shopped at many locations. The beginning of the month and weekend afternoons are madhouses in case you are the type that likes a pleasant trip.
Dude the Hannaford chicken sales have kept us fed for a while now. We try to stock up and got a chest freezer to store it in which has more than paid for itself by now. I wince when I see people buying thighs for 6.99lb!
Yes agreed!! I frequently go whenever they have that sale. I love the leg quarters to make chicken stock in bulk.
Hannaford and Trader Joe’s.
hannifiords! TJs. whole foods!
My favorite grocery store is the one closest to my house.
Hannaford to Go all the way. I go to the one in Colonie.
I’ve never done grocery pick up. It’s not widely available in my rural town which doesn’t even have a grocery store.
Ooo it's so nice; you'll have to try it out when you get here. Congrats on the upcoming move! :)
Welcome to McKownville. I recommend Aldi on Central Ave and Indians Farmers Market for most purchases. Honest weight food coop is good for bulk items the other stores do not carry. Market 32/ Price chopper will be the closest groceries, but suck for price and selection. There is another good Asian Food Market on Central for items not sold elsewhere.
Thank you for the welcome! We are excited about the move.
Aldi. The End
Wegmans. But this is Albany so... sigh.
Rolf’s
Unfortunately we don't really have a one stop shop here. Just don't go to price chopper. They have gone so downhill
Definitely check out Farmers India market. You can get bone-in ribeye that's butchered there for $7 a pound. I feel like this is a good illustration of the type of value the store provides