Grocery Outlet

About this location

A few stories people tell about this place

1. In the aisles of Grocery Outlet, where deals are legendary and prices always seem too good to be true, a regular once asked aloud: ‘Who’s buying all these expired cheese samples?’ Suddenly, an elderly neighbor appeared from behind the dairy section with a big smile on her face. ‘Oh,’ she chirped, holding up a suspiciously dated package, ‘I’m making a special recipe that calls for just this kind of vintage flavor!’ The regular laughed, shaking his head in wonderment—maybe some things really do last longer than their sell-by dates after all.

2. In the chilly mornings of San Francisco, a delivery driver asked curiously: ‘Why does Grocery Outlet smell like someone’s grandmother’s kitchen on Christmas?’ ‘I don’t know,’ replied the manager with a smile, ‘but it sure makes people happy.’ A nearby neighbor nodded wisely, muttering, “It must be all those fresh herbs they keep in stock.” The delivery driver shook his head and grinned, knowing there was something magical—and maybe just a touch mysterious—about Grocery Outlet after all.

3. In the checkout line at Grocery Outlet, an elderly lady whispered with a smile: 'I just bought three cans of soup labeled “Chunky Love.”' As she paid for her items, another customer overheard and asked curiously, ‘Chunky Love? What’s that?’ With a twinkle in her eye, the old lady replied, ‘Oh, it’s just my secret recipe—add some love, stir well, and voilà!’ Everyone laughed, realizing that sometimes life’s best ingredients are found not on shelves but in kindness.

4. At night, when the lights dimmed and customers left, a sign in the dairy section started glowing softly. 'Milk for sale' it read, but only those who passed by after closing hours could see it. One night, an exhausted delivery driver parked outside, dozed off, and dreamed he was milking the glowing sign himself. When he woke up, his truck had shifted slightly, leaving fresh footprints on the deli counter. The next morning, everyone laughed, including the neighbor who’d seen him walking through the aisles in his sleep.