Brentwood Press - Index

Brentwood Press - OakleyPress_07.04.08 - Index

JULY 4, 2008 COMMUNITY THEPRESS.NET | 5A
Savvy shoppers turn to discount stores
by Ruth Roberts
Staff Writer
With gasoline and milk prices hovering
around $5 a gallon this summer,
pain at the pump and agony at the grocery
store are forcing many consumers
to rethink how and where they do their
shopping.
And while that’s good news for
venues here in East County such as the
Dollar Tree and Grocery Outlet, it’s
also bodes well for the growing number
of discount divas who are learning how
to spot a deal when they see one.
Teresa Flores is one of those customers,
a newbie to the Dollar Tree in
Brentwood, who says the surprising selection
and quality of merchandise has
convinced her to rethink her previous
shopping strategies.
“I come in here mostly for offi ce
supplies and things, but now I’m looking
around at everything,” said Flores.
“If I’m going to save thirty dollars
here on stuff, then that’s thirty bucks I
can put in my gas tank. It just makes
sense.”
And that’s the kind of logic propelling
business at the Dollar Tree while
other mainstream retailers continue to
struggle with their cash-fl ow crunch,
says Shelle Davis, spokesperson for the
Dollar Tree.
Photo courtesy of George Mederios
Lori and George Mederios, local owner/operators of the Grocery Outlet in
Antioch, say the shaky economy has caused an increase in new customers
these days.
“We’ve always been able to offer
value to our customers, so we haven’t
changed anything about how we do
business. But more and more people are
reworking their focus and concentrating
on what they need and where they
can get it for the best price,” said Davis.
“We’re just very relevant for the times
we’re living in.”
Brittney Lozano has understood
that relevance for years. The 30-something
savvy shopper has been fre-
see Discount page 12A
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Bargains abound in East County if
you know where to look. Here’s a
glimpse of some of the better deals
found right in your own backyard:
The Dollar Tree Stores
In Brentwood:
50 Sand Creek Road
925-516-5629
In Antioch:
2710 Delta Fair Blvd.
925-757-6997
The Grocery Outlet
1818 A St., Antioch
925-706-9521
Wonder Hostess Bakery
2749 Lone Tree Way, Antioch
925-706-7093
Goodwill Industries Thrift Stores
In Oakley:
2047 Main St. (Raley’s Shopping Center)
925-679-2824
www.goodwill.org
In Antioch:
2701 W. 10th St.
925-706-9024
Ninety Nine Cents Plus Store
3100 Main St., Oakley
925-625-2945
98 Plus Store
7830 Brentwood Blvd.
(Centromart Center), Brentwood
925-634-8508
Salvation Army
20 W. 10th St., Antioch
925-754-2946
License #0543556