A local grocery store, offering deep discounts on dented food cans and boxes, has opened in a former Walgreens store.
McGaryโs Discount Groceries moved into the 13,900-square-foot space at the corner of Oracle and Grant roads July 1.
โThe main reason I chose this spot is I wanted to be in a location near our clientele, because a lot of them donโt have transportation,โ said Melissa McGary, co-owner along with her husband, Ty. โUp in the Oro Valley and Marana area the need isnโt really there because people there prefer Trader Joeโs or Sprouts.โ
The store is stocked with nonperishable food, cleaning supplies, health and beauty products, and pet food.
There is no fresh produce or meats, but frozen burgers, hot dogs and chicken are available, as well as frozen, canned or dried produce, McGary said.
The inventory comes from brokers who buy closeout brands, dinged cans and past โbest-byโ dates items from the chain stores.
โThere is a learning curve,โ McGary said. โConsumers need to understand that just because itโs past the โbest-byโ date doesnโt mean itโs going to kill you.โ
Even the Food and Drug Administration says consumers often misunderstand date labels on packaged foods, accounting for an estimated 20% of consumer food waste.
With the exception of infant formula, the FDA says food date labels tend to refer to when a product will be at its best flavor and quality. If an item is past its โbest if used byโ date, the FDA says to examine it for noticeable changes in color, consistency or texture.
McGaryโs originally opened as a weekend booth at the Tanque Verde Swap Meet 12 years ago and customers often asked if they could open a location in the city.
โI guess you could say it was by popular demand,โ McGary said of opening a brick-and-mortar store at Fort Lowell Road and Stone Avenue eight years ago.
As inventory grew, the McGaryโs started looking for a bigger store in a more central location.
The closed Walgreens, at 2411 N. Oracle Road, was a perfect fit, said commercial broker Kevin Volk, with Volk Co., who negotiated the lease, along with colleague Brenna Lacey.
The property had been vacant for about three years.
โWe kept pitching it to different groups,โ Volk said. โItโs a great building on a good corner with a lot of visibility.โ
He said McGaryโs relocation and expansion comes at a time when consumers are looking for deals on food products, as well as items with a long shelf life.
โI donโt think packaged products have ever been as hot as they are now,โ Volk said.
McGaryโs is open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays, beginning July 12, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The couple will also continue to man their booth at the swap meet on weekends.
The store has five employees and accepts food stamps, cash, credit and debit.
It does not carry alcohol or tobacco products.
โThatโs not an essential, and we donโt want to deal with that,โ McGary said. โWeโve had people come in and ask if we sell beer and we say โNoโ and they turn around and leave.
โWe just wave bye-bye.โ
