# SoCal, West Coast Dopers: What Do You Call A Supermarket/Grocery Store? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 26, 2023, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socal-west-coast-dopers-what-do-you-call-a-supermarket-grocery-store/989143 "2023-08-26T16:10:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socal-west-coast-dopers-what-do-you-call-a-supermarket-grocery-store/989143/21 "2023-08-26T20:33:26Z")
West Coat person here. If I am going to the nearest store I may just say that I am going to the store. If I am going to a larger store I will call it by name, Safeway, Freddies (for Fred Meyer a Kroger outlet). Costco. The only time I have refered it to as a market my parents were playing with my toes and the little one went wee, wee, all the way home ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socal-west-coast-dopers-what-do-you-call-a-supermarket-grocery-store/989143/22 "2023-08-26T21:14:29Z")
It wasn’t broken down by region, but there was a poll in the Polls Only thread. > [@Polls only: No discussion](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-only-no-discussion/953642/3655): > > I get groceries at the: [poll](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-only-no-discussion/953642/3655) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2023, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socal-west-coast-dopers-what-do-you-call-a-supermarket-grocery-store/989143/23 "2023-08-26T22:02:23Z")
I’m a SoCal native (born nearly 72 yrs ago), and I sometimes call it the market. But I also call it “the store” or “the grocery.” “The store” is probablly the most common. If I mean a farmer’s market, I will say a farmer’s market. Or the Asian market, or the Middle Eastern market, or the Italian market, or or or… ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socal-west-coast-dopers-what-do-you-call-a-supermarket-grocery-store/989143/24 "2023-08-27T04:30:27Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Calling a SM a “market” sounds like NYC naming. Were the show writers transplants from NYC? I live in NYC and I’ve only heard “I’m going to the market” to specifically refer to going to Westside Market. Any other store would be referred to by the store name. (Just saying “the store” would be too confusing because there are way too many places that could be.) “I’m going to Trader Joe’s” or “I’m going to Fairway.” Actually now that I think about it, I may have also heard “the market” to refer to Fairway as well since its full name is Fairway Market. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socal-west-coast-dopers-what-do-you-call-a-supermarket-grocery-store/989143/25 "2023-08-27T04:30:46Z")
Lifelong California native here. Grew up in southern California, live in northern California now. It’s always been “going to the store” for me and everybody else I know. Unless it’s the specific store, like Lucky or Safeway. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socal-west-coast-dopers-what-do-you-call-a-supermarket-grocery-store/989143/26 "2023-08-27T05:46:31Z")
I hadn’t given this any thought before! “I’m going to the store” means I’m going to the Albertson’s a few blocks away. For any other store, I say the name, and if I’m planning to trek alllll the way up to the newer, slightly better stocked Albertson’s two miles away, it’s “I’m going to the bougie Albertson’s.” ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socal-west-coast-dopers-what-do-you-call-a-supermarket-grocery-store/989143/27 "2023-08-27T14:18:11Z")
I’m in California and the only time I hear the word “market” without a qualifier like “farmer’s” is when it is used in a business sense at work (ie: noun _When does this product go to market?_ verb _How do I market this?_) _The_ Market is the stock exchange. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socal-west-coast-dopers-what-do-you-call-a-supermarket-grocery-store/989143/28 "2023-08-27T15:20:39Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Actually now that I think about it, I may have also heard “the market” to refer to Fairway as well since its full name is Fairway Market. Heh, my roommate just got back this morning and said she “picked up some things from the market.” (meaning Fairway) Maybe it is a NYC thing the writers used. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socal-west-coast-dopers-what-do-you-call-a-supermarket-grocery-store/989143/29 "2023-08-27T16:42:15Z")
Am I the only person who says “I’m going to the grocery?” That’s the terminology I’ve used my whole life, living in NC and NYC. Not store, not grocery store, just grocery. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socal-west-coast-dopers-what-do-you-call-a-supermarket-grocery-store/989143/30 "2023-08-27T17:10:06Z")
Depends on context. If I’m talking to a family member for whom I might reasonably pick something up, it’s “Aldi” (or whatever other store). Which specific store it is is relevant, because one gets different things from different stores (mostly only a non-Aldi store if it’s for something that Aldi doesn’t carry, because Aldi is both cheaper and conveniently located). On the other hand, sitting in the break room at work, I’m more likely to say “Hey, I ran into one of our students yesterday at the grocery store”. Here, the generic term is more useful, because the folks I’m talking to likely have different store preferences than my family, but they still go to some grocery store or other. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socal-west-coast-dopers-what-do-you-call-a-supermarket-grocery-store/989143/31 "2023-08-27T18:17:43Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > Am I the only person who says “I’m going to the grocery?” No, that’s what I’d say and I go to a lot. Groceries visited in the last month: H-Mart; Shop & Save; Fresh Farm; Tony’s; Jewel (Albertsons); Mariano’s (Kroger); Seafood City; Aldi; Caputo’s; Jerry’s; Trader Joe’s; Deli4U. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socal-west-coast-dopers-what-do-you-call-a-supermarket-grocery-store/989143/32 "2023-08-27T18:37:05Z")
“Going to the store” means Stater Bros. or Vons. Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, Target or any other grocery store gets identified by name. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socal-west-coast-dopers-what-do-you-call-a-supermarket-grocery-store/989143/33 "2023-08-27T19:03:46Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > “Store,” “grocery store,” or the specific chain name is how we would say it, IME. “Market” would specifically be a farmer’s market, most likely. This goes for me too. Usually I would say “the grocery store” and sometimes just “the store”. I’m not a native but I’ve lived in California (Bay Area) for 25 years. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socal-west-coast-dopers-what-do-you-call-a-supermarket-grocery-store/989143/34 "2023-08-27T22:20:15Z")
I just finished a Jonathan Carroll novel set in Los Angeles and published in 1996. Several times one character or another mentions going to get groceries, and every time referred to it as “the market.” ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socal-west-coast-dopers-what-do-you-call-a-supermarket-grocery-store/989143/35 "2023-08-27T22:27:06Z")
Idjit authors; total suspension of disbelief FAIL!!! Too many NYC people in that biz. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2023, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socal-west-coast-dopers-what-do-you-call-a-supermarket-grocery-store/989143/36 "2023-08-27T23:04:10Z")
Yeah, Carroll did grow up in NYC. ---
**Author:** ![Westkoastlove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f19dbf/32.png) [@Westkoastlove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Westkoastlove)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socal-west-coast-dopers-what-do-you-call-a-supermarket-grocery-store/989143/37 "2025-10-02T06:38:43Z")
Born and raised in Los Angeles and OC. I have always called it a supermarket as well as everyone I grew up with or ever none. “The store” is so general, that could be any place. And saying “the grocery” is like if you live in a small town and going to the corner grocery. That’s my 3 cents. ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2025, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socal-west-coast-dopers-what-do-you-call-a-supermarket-grocery-store/989143/38 "2025-10-02T12:22:04Z")
Northern California (East Bay) here. It has changed for me since childhood. My family almost always shopped at the same supermarket so it was just “the store.” But now my partner and I get different things at different places so we tend to be specific. “I’m going to Berkeley Bowl, you want anything?” or “I’m making a Costco run, anything you can think of?” or “We’re out of toasted almond slivers and sunflower seeds so I’m walking over to Trader Joe’s this morning, wanna come?” Parenthetically, Trader Joe’s has not carried their usual bags of sunflower seed kernels for some time now, apparently some problem with supplies from the Ukraine. It’s been rare that global conflict touches our lives, but I expect we’ll be feeling the impacts of political dick size wars more and more these days. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/socal-west-coast-dopers-what-do-you-call-a-supermarket-grocery-store/989143.md?page=1)