The first time I pushed a cart past a pallet of dented soup cans in rural Ohio, I expected leftovers and found a full week of meals instead. Salvage grocers sell overstock, scuffed boxes, and close-dated food for a fraction of big-store prices.
For families watching every dollar, a small bill can suddenly fill a whole bag. Here are the stores worth the drive, with the practical details parents need before loading up the kids.
1. Mr. Mac’s Discount Grocery Outlet
Liquidation lots from manufacturers and big grocery chains land on North Main Street in New Carlisle, and the family that runs Mr. Mac’s turns them into a weekly treasure hunt. Most products are national brands, sold as a mix of in-date and past-date items.
The inventory rolls over constantly, so the shelves rarely look the same twice…