Surviving the grocery store Oh, the irony. You’ve tackled the rugged Tahoe landscape, pushed your body to its limits and reached new horizons of adventure. And now you’re stymied by… Safeway? Alas, an occasional challenge in Truckee is dealing with crowds when all you’re trying to do is grab a few items for dinner. Perhaps you’ve seen the lines that go all the way down the aisles and experienced that intoxicating spike in blood pressure. Yes, we could use another grocery store or two, but for now you’ll just have to plan this out as carefully as you would your day on the slopes. And you don’t even need to think about new bindings. First, of course, is the drive-by test. When more cars pace around the parking lot than there are available spaces, there are probably enough people in the aisles to make a good movie set. Abandon ye all hope, or at least come back later.
Here are some more worthwhile tips:
• When it snows, stay home while the masses stock up like Armageddon is upon us. Instead, read TD News. It’s so much more enjoyable. Avoid holiday weekends if possible. This is prime shopping time. If you must, go late at night or early in the morning. • If you can, go midweek. If you are here for the weekend, shop on Friday night, rather than Saturday after you and everyone else have skied. • If you’re driving here from elsewhere, take advantage of all the stores on the way. Whether you’re travelling eastbound or westbound, the I-80 corridor is lined with grocery stores.
When all else fails, you can wait out the crowds by grabbing a bite at The Lodge or Pizza on the Hill. How’s that for a sneaky marketing message? Hey, we have to pay the bills just as much as the grocery store does.
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| Tahoe Donner News | March 2011