Grocery Stores near Bloomingdale, NY

“This is the cleanest and most organized Dollar General in Northern New York. Most would agree that the Bloomingdale store beats Lake Placid, while the Saranac Lake store is the worst I've seen. It's always dirty, crowded, and not accessible for handicapped or disabled customers. This older store was the original location of Saranac Lake's first Kinney Drugs. The only thing that made Kinney Drugs unique was the fact that it was a pharmacy as well as a small grocery store that sold alcohol, cigarettes, and lottery tickets along with all your health needs, as well as frozen processed foods and expensive toilet paper and laundry soap—all while still offering single cans and 40 oz bottles of beer of all kinds. But there was no denying that locals had a favorite: Genesee in the red and white can. And it was employee-owned, not owned by a corporation or a large group of shareholders. It was owned by its employees, and it was the only other pharmacy besides a mom-and-pop shop that everyone grew up getting their prescriptions from—a family that was respected and loved. They ran that pharmacy, knew every customer personally, and were helpful and very invested in the town itself. They treated low-income people no differently from middle-class or business owners; everyone was the same because everyone got sick, some more than others. This was a family-run pharmacy. Entire families had all their prescriptions filled there. I believe that as it passed from one generation to the next, they remained active in the community, raising their children in the same town. They believed in the old ways of helping and caring for each other. It was always nice to be remembered and not have to rehash your entire medical history because this pharmacy kept track of their customers and believed in ways to improve the health of the entire community—not just by giving prescriptions but also by suggesting eating tips, exercise routines, or referring them to doctors so they could get better.

Kinney Drugs, on the other hand, provided prescription drugs to people who were also buying things that contributed to their health issues, making their conditions worse and requiring more prescriptions. Kinney Drugs also greatly profited from the sale of alcohol, cigarettes, tobacco, the lottery, and later on, scratch-off tickets, which not only became an addiction but an obsession. It was a job for some people—they did nothing but scratch off tickets all day. I was once told by a man obsessed with scratch-offs that, to avoid feeling ashamed of his habit of 50 to 60 tickets a day, he would go to Stewart's Gas Station, which was off Broadway and within walking distance of the lower-income district, where old homes rented rooms or entire top floors. These people never seemed to shop at places where they could buy healthy groceries for their families—instead, they wasted their money at Stewart's, where they could get Hot Pockets, Velveeta Shells and Cheese, half-gallon ice cream containers... I didn't mention a single vegetable or healthy dinner option, did I?

The problem was that both places were more expensive than going to the only two grocery stores we had. Residents survive on minimal income, unable to afford middle-class lifestyles, often resorting to shoplifting. Local grocery options are limited to A&P and Grand Union. I think the dollar store movement was so necessary in our town because the only other thriving establishments were bars. During the 1980 Winter Olympics, Saranac Lake had more bars per capita than anywhere else in the world. Try processing that, and it becomes easier to understand the town's economic struggles—high poverty, the inability to afford to live and keep your family healthy in the same town.”

“Wanted eggs for breakfast, and they had eggs. Some of the packaging was pretty beat up, as were the eggs inside. It didn't take too long to find an intact dozen.”

“They carry the brand Pacifica, which is one of my favorite natural beauty brands— things that you can typically only order through the brands website are in store here ☺”

“It makes me sad that their salmiakki is german and not true finnish style little diamond shaped bits of hard candy that looks and tastes like asphalt. (EDIT: THEY GOT THE GOOD STUDF NOW

Other than that if you want the good ol eastern european stuff you come here. Personally I like to bite a chunk of black headcheese and eat it like an apple.”

“We picked up lunch last week while hiking at the Paul Smiths VIC, very friendly staff and an excellent sandwich to go. The sandwich was surprising great and the recommendation by Paul Smiths students to stop in proved to be spot on.”

“When grocery shopping is on my to-do list,
Price Chopper's the store that I simply can't miss.
The aisles are well-stocked and organized neat,
With everything fresh from produce to meat.

The sales and the savings just can't be denied,
Their weekly ads leave me satisfied.
AdvantEdge rewards make my wallet feel light,
While earning me points with each shopping delight.

The deli department serves sandwiches grand,
Fresh sliced cold cuts from their skilled working hand.
The bakery section smells heavenly sweet,
With cookies and cakes that are quite the treat.

The staff here are friendly and quick to assist,
No question too small - they're hard to resist.
The checkout is speedy, the baggers are kind,
Great customer service is what you will find.

From pharmacy needs to floral displays,
They brighten up all of my shopping days.
The store stays clean and the prices stay low,
It's everything a great grocery should know.

Five stars for Price Chopper, my go-to store,
Where quality shopping gives me so much more.
A neighborhood gem that serves with great care,
The best grocery experience anywhere!”

“The place to go if you need basic essentials and aren’t too picky about specific brands. Pretty decent overall. Yes, the selection is somewhat limited, but they still carry a good variety of products and most everyday household items. If you’re expecting something like Trader Joe’s, you may want to look elsewhere.”

“My review is based on the hospitality I've received at this establishment. I broke my phone when in the area for an appointment, and I'm not familiar with Saranac Lake and the manager was kind enough to write down instructions and repeated them several times to a flustered and panicked woman. Thank you!!”