Usually by name (T&T, No Frills, Food Basics) with no article, but every once in a while “the Korean grocery store”.
“Shaw’s”, “Mac’s”, or just “the store”.
“The grocery store” if it’s a boring trip for ordinary commodities, where any store is pretty much the same as any other, but the store’s proper name if it’s an upscale or specialty place with unique products.
I’m in the Philly suburbs and usually I say “the grocery”, “the grocery store”, “the supermarket”, or the name (“Acme”, “Wegmans”, or whatever).
“Supermarket” or “Grocery Store” or name of store (which is pretty much always Publix in my area, now that so many Winn Dixies have closed)
I chose DEPENDS, because I usually use a silly word, especially if I’m IMing with the hub. For example - supermarchet, hypermarchet, stupidmarket, bloopermarket, etc.
I just call it the store and that’s it.
When King of the Hill was still on, we used to refer to a huge, one-stop shopping places-- discount places, that combine a department store with a supermarket (Walmart, Meijer, etc.) as “Mega-lo-Mart.”
Mostly “grocery store,” so I voted that. But I have been known to use “store” and “supermarket” on occasion.
Usually, the store name (or a nickname) : “I’m going to Woolies”, “I’m going to Pick 'n Pay”, “I’m going to Spar”…
but otherwise, if going to multiple stores or a mall, it’d be “I’m going to the shops” (not “going shopping”)
Either the supermarket, or the store’s proper name. This will occasionally have a “The” in front of it, depending on what seems to make sense: “I’m going to Coles” or “I’m going to the IGA”.
However, I picked “supermarket.”
Other. “I’m going to the shop.”
Sometimes “the shops”. Plural even if there’s only one.
Although I favor one particular store, there are 3 chains that I patronize. Sometimes I’ll include the location of the store if I’m going to a particular area running multiple errands, so it might be “McKay’s in Leonardtown” or “Food Lion in Charlotte Hall.” That way, if my spousal unit needs me to pick up something for him, he’ll know whether to ask or not. If I’m going to Charlotte Hall, a stop at Lowe’s is not at all along my way…
Agreed, might be the prevailing term in Oz.
Downastore
Can’t help it, I’m from Pittsburgh.
I usually just say the grocery store, unless I’m specifically going to Costco for a big stocking up trip, then I say “I’m going to Costco”.
Giant Iggle n’nat, huh?
That’s why I stick to the bodegas.
If I am going to Stop and Shop I say the grocery store; however if I am going to BJ’s I say BJ’s. Since I am telling this to the dog it really does not matter. Unless he has made the connection that trips to Stop and Shop result in a fresh beef hot dog and trips to BJ’s an occasional huge box of Milk Bones.
Either by name or “the grocery.”