Dunes West and the Grocery Store Dilemma

Publix, and Teeter, and Lowe's, Oh My!

Who knew when I moved into Dunes West over ten years ago that today I would be choosing my grocery store by a very refined analysis using many charts, timelines, and calculations. I remember how everyone was talking about “The Teeter” when we first moved to DW because it had opened recently and before that the only nearby grocery store was Publix at the Shoppes at Park West. Today we have four grocery stores within 7 miles and no more than 18 minutes away! Now the biggest problem is no longer that the store doesn’t have what I need, it’s that dinner won’t be ready until 8:30 because I took to long going to three different stores because I couldn’t choose between them!

I am not sure about you, but since my husband and I both work, what to make for dinner is often the last thing we think about until we are driving home. At that point, it becomes a litany of arguments about what to make, who will make it, and who will go to the grocery store. When the dust has settled, and I am making a grocery list (you see what I did there?), I then have to pull out my IPad, that barely has enough data to handle the hundreds of spreadsheets and formulas it takes to tally up the pros and cons of Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods and now the newly opened Publix at Point Hope Commons on Clements Ferry. In an effort to help you avoid this energy-sapping process, I will offer my two cents on what I think each store has to offer.  

Publix ranks number one in my small survey and has two locations near Dunes West, the one in Park West and the new one at Point Hope. The consensus in my neighborhood is that Publix offers good quality on most items, especially produce, and has reasonable prices in comparison to the other stores. Many people also highly recommend their bakery. Harris Teeter, which came in second, is well-liked for their meat and fish department. The majority of the people I spoke with find their prices competitive, but there were a few that felt they were too expensive. My personal opinion on "The Teeter" is that the fresh foods sometimes aren’t so fresh, but they always take care of me when this happens, therefore I’ve been happy with their service. A pet peeve I have with them is that they seem to discontinue my favorite items pretty regularly, and I do not love their private brands, which are sometimes the only options for an item. Lowes, it turns out, according to my sample group, isn’t considered an actual option for groceries. No one in my survey chose Lowes as their regular stomping grounds. However, it is still well-liked and would be more frequented if their prices were more reasonable. Everyone likes their convenience to DW, especially the ease of getting in and out of their parking lot onto 41, and many like the different pre-made meals. I love the idea of the Beer Den and being able to take home a growler of a craft beer, which I prefer to a standard domestic beer.  

When it comes down to it, everyone had a specific, personal opinion for their fave nearby grocery store. My reasons happen to be convenience first and foremost, the need of a specific item second and the trump all is my level of frustration by the amount of info I have to input into my abacus to identify which store I need to go to. Inevitably this means I’m going to Lowes so I can drink a beer, but will leave empty-handed. We then head over to another nearby favorite, Swig & Swine, problem solved!

I would love to get a larger survey group, so if you have a favorite store for a good reason, please comment below. My spreadsheets need some tweaking! If you want to help me out on any future surveys I may conduct, send me your contact info and let me know. More importantly, if you are in need of a home much closer to a grocery store so you can stay happily married and well-fed, message me about one of the many neighborhoods near the groceryopolis here at the far end of highway 41. Click HERE to see homes for sale in Dunes West and contact me for all your real estate needs. 

Julie Fanelli
Real Estate/Leasing/Property Management
Julie.Fanelli@AgentOwnedRealty.com
843-513-8319