While driving around my extended neighborhood with my wife doing some exploring, we decided to stop off at Selecto Supermarket in Bristol Boro. This store is a medium sized "ethnic" supermarket that bills itself as having Spanish and African specialties. Truthfully, I do not really know what they mean by "African" because other than Spanish and American products, I didn't really see anything that I would classify as from Africa.
As far as the store itself, it was completely filthy inside and had the faint, but unmistakable smell of urine that was most predominant in the soda aisle. The selection was lacking and probably could have been contained to a store one third smaller, which would undoubtably help the next issue. The prices were ungodly high; an average of fifty percent plus to my finely tuned consumer eye.
Some of the Spanish products were a bit more reasonable, but the American stuff was way way high. My theory (this is only my personal opinion/theory) is that this has something to do with the large amount of "EBT"(food stamp) using clientele as this is an economically depressed section of town. In other words, some people aren't paying with their own money/not using cash and this store appears to take advantage of this. Again, I do not know this for sure but the prices were so ridiculously high and the place was such a complete dive that one only needs to have some idea of supply, demand, and price-points to know something is amiss. I did buy the coconut water I came in there for because I like it so much, but other than that, I couldn't wait to get out. It certainly wasn't the 'find' my wife and I were hoping it could be to find cool/interesting stuff.
The verdict: avoid at all cost. Though I have a feeling that the regulars are already well aware already of this and only go out of lack of choice. I would assume this is why they can get away with charging what they do and keeping the place in a filthy and unsanitary shambles.
Selecto Grocery Store...clean up your act! read more