Famila is an upscale, very inviting grocery store, but more than just groceries. It has within a…read morenail studio, bakery, coffee shop, bottle redemption center, and several other services likely to appeal to the local shopper. The food aisles are extraordinarily well stocked and faced, and the selections are quite varied. There are products from all over Europe, and even some from Africa, mostly warm-weather produce. Prices are not as high as one might expect for such an upscale store. We will be doing a major grocery shopping trip in a week or so, and plan to come here to enjoy the tremendous selection of available products. I would not hesitate to recommend this store to anyone. It does not disappoint in any way.

Lidl is one of the most successful grocery chains in all of Europe. Successful? How about over…read more10,000 stores? Lidl is a German surname, which is used instead of Schwarz, the corporate name . They really couldn't call it Schwarz, because that word means 'black' in German, and 'black market' broadcasts all sorts of criminal connotations. So Lidl it is, 10,000+ stores later. There is a Lidl in Wildeshausen, Germany, where I did some grocery shopping today. First impressions are that this store is neat, clean, spotless, and antiseptic. The shelves are beautifully faced up, and I noticed busy employees efficiently working to keep things that way. It has the look of a Food4Less, but none of the problems usually noticed in that store. Along the first aisle from the entry, there is a floor-to-ceiling wall of plexiglas drawers containing dozens and dozens of baked goods, from cookies to full loaves of fresh baked bread. A customer can manipulate his choice sideways to a slide using a plastic handle, and it zooms right down into your store-supplied plastic bag. Amazing. The merchandise selection is not necessarily comprehensive at Lidl. For example, instead of 4 or 5 brands of butter, there are just 2. And yet there is a full aisle of soft drinks, and the selection of wine is mind-boggling. Beer, too. (You can tell where I spent some quality time.) Prices and selection for staple foods like coffee are really good. Lidl's business model is incredibly successful, no question. But why over-describe it? Lidl has announced it will land on our shores in 2018. The Germans are coming ! Actually, Aldi has already arrived in Vista, and Chula Vista is opening soon. The grocery store wars are going nuclear, and the customer will reap the beneficial fallout.

This particular Aldi is located contiguous with a Zimmerman, which is a low-end discount store. Not…read morethe best of company, by any means, but the low rent district allows for lower pricing. The store is not impressive. It's a bit drab in decor, but very clean and neat nonetheless. My wife and I did some shopping here, and I found the prices to be quite good. The Specials are terrific. For example, I bought a six-pack of half-liter Maternus pilsner beer for 1.69 Euros. Each Euro is worth $1.09 today, so that is an exceptional bargain. Prices on everyday items are quite good here, as well. The freezer cases were not super well stocked, but I suppose the store manager knows best what sells and what doesn't. The shelves were fairly bursting with inventory, and quite well faced up. Many Trader Joe's branded items were present on the shelves (TJ being a corporate sibling). Plenty of wine, but no Two-Buck Chuck. My main interest was to see this store in advance of seeing the Aldi which is opening in Chula Vista. It will be nice to compare and contrast.