My whole neighborhood is corner markets/liquor stores! Within walking distance (a couple of blocks) I have 12 of them plus 2 butcher shops! Expand out to 1/2 a mile and it's amazing so many of these places can stay in business. I only go them in a pinch (namely for smokes or alcohol). For my groceries or household items I go to the grocery store, Target, etc...The ones I do frequent are clean, brightly lit and have a nice selection of stock. - Anika

ALDIs ? - Ben Hanten

The closest store to my house is a Trader Joe's, which I like, but sometimes you just want some Doritos, so for that I go to the Vons. Both are extremely popular, but I'm also a mile away from a college so tons of students, etc. I'd love to be close to a butcher. I also go to farmer's markets for my produce. - Derrick

We get fresh tofu every Thursday from a tiny store run by family friends. It's not in the neighborhood, but everything in town isn't far. There must be at least 4 Mexican super markets too. - Rodfather

In Santa Cruz, I absolutely love New Leaf Market - Rodfather

The reason I ask is because we have nothing like it in our town. We have two huge grocery stores at the northernmost end of town, but nothing downtown and nothing near thousands of people. There's a building open that could work nicely, but I already have an 80-hour a week job.... - Ben Hanten

In Cleveland I had a favorite corner beer and smokes place that also had an impressive wine and snacks section - good for impromptu house parties. In Chicago, I have small groceries, but they mostly contain obscure and/or expensive items. It's nice to have convenient yuppie food like arugula and brie, but the assortment is odd and never seems to have all the items one would need for a complete meal. - Sarah Brinkerhoff