It takes David Captain about six hours to go grocery shopping — and four of those hours are spent riding the bus.
“Sometimes you have to sell convenience for a better price,” said the McCormick sophomore. “That’s the reason why I go through all these hoops to get to Costco.”
The closure of Osco Drug and Osco Liquor, 1630 Sherman Ave., hasn’t fazed some Northwestern students who prefer shopping outside downtown Evanston for cheaper food and specialty items.
Without a car, Captain’s trips to Costco, located in Niles, Ill., are all-day excursions. The warehouse’s low prices make up for the $3 he spends on bus fare and lugging his groceries back to campus in duffel bags, Captain said.
“The $1.50 hot dog is the greatest thing ever,” Captain said.
Like Captain students without cars rely on buses to take them shopping. The free Northwestern Shop-n-Ride shuttle picks students up around campus on Sundays for excursions to Jewel-Osco and Dominick’s.
Every other week, Lars Johnson rides his bike to Dominick’s, 2748 Green Bay Rd., to go shopping. But then it turned cold.
“I could carry about $50 worth of groceries on my bike, but it’s pretty slow riding back, since I have to balance the bags on the handle bars,” said Johnson, a Weinberg senior.
Instead, he now borrows his friend’s car for grocery runs.
Traveling by car is the preferred choice for students who have access to one.
“Most people try to find someone with a car,” Johnson said. “It’s easier to carry more stuff.”
Students with cars will take their friends shopping or just pick up groceries for them to take advantage of cheaper buys.
“We have five roommates, so we just buy stuff to split up and share,” said Weinberg senior Jason Stein, who likes to frequent Sam’s Club. “We have enough garlic to last us about three years.”
Weinberg sophomore Molly Schneider prefers to shop in Glenview for one reason — Trader Joe’s guacamole.
“When you find one thing you like, you have to keep on going back for it,” Schneider said.
Back home, Schneider worked at Trader Joe’s, a specialty grocery store that carries healthier foods. She said she likes the atmosphere.
“There’s a ton of selection,” she said. “The people who work there are really nice and knowledgeable.”
For some, like Schneider, atmosphere makes a difference. When Johnson isn’t biking to Dominick’s, he shops for small items at D&D Finer Foods, located at 825 Noyes St.
“D&D is family-owned and local, so it’s just a more fun place to shop,” Johnson said. “I know where my money is going.”
Whole Foods Market, 1640 Chicago Ave., now is the only supermarket in downtown Evanston.
“I go there because it’s in walking distance,” said Weinberg junior Stacey Ruff. “They have products that other places don’t, like certain types of juices.”
Still, some students wish the Osco could be replaced with another supermarket.
“Whole Foods doesn’t have everything and is too expensive for daily groceries,” said Weinberg sophomore Rebecca Newland.
Reach Kendra Marr at [email protected].
