Saving money is always a good thing. When you can do that without compromising on quality and service, it’s a no-brainer. And that’s why the Grocery Outlets in Incline Village and Truckee are favorite places to shop.
People shopping at Grocery Outlet realize their grocery needs are being met and often exceeded because of the variety of goods on the shelves, and they know the experience comes with a side of hospitality that larger stores often do not deliver. But it’s the prices that supply the cha-ching factor that is always welcome and earned this store the nickname of the “bargain market.”
“Typically you save about 40 percent, but it can be up to 70 percent on some stuff,” says owner Shannon Parrish.
She and husband, Ryan, are well versed in how Grocery Outlets work, as they opened the Truckee location in June 2020. Their first GO, as those in the know call it, was in San Luis Obispo in 2014. They have also owned a store in San Diego.
“We grew up in small towns; coming to Truckee was like going back home,” Parrish says.
Just like in Truckee, the duo saw the need in the greater North Lake Tahoe area for affordable groceries. They opened the Grocery Outlet at the site of the former Village Market in Incline Village last November after remodeling the building. People across the state line in Kings Beach are frequent shoppers at the Incline store. Those in Tahoe City have an equal drive time between the Truckee and Incline locations.
Grocery Outlet is so much more than a grocery store. With Incline Village not having any of the big box stores, finding everything in town that one needs can be difficult. GO is helping solve that dilemma by keeping people in town for more than groceries, which in turn helps keep more dollars in the local community.
In summer, with all the flowers out front, Grocery Outlet can feel more like visiting a nursery. Inside is most everything one needs to plant them – potting soil, garden gloves, trowels and other tools. In addition to seasonal items, there are also essentials for the kitchen and bath as well as some office supplies.
“We make it convenient so you don’t have to go down the hill to get something,” Parrish says.
While there are similarities between the more than 400 Grocery Outlet stores around the nation, each is unique.
“We definitely focus on organics, healthy snacks and fresh food because that’s what people want here,” Parrish says.
The store is like most grocery stores in that it has produce, fresh meat, canned goods, a frozen section, dairy goods and most staples. Many brand names people know and want are available.
One thing Grocery Outlet excels at is the variety of gourmet cheeses. Once you see the variety and prices, you will never buy fancy cheeses elsewhere. And the wine deals. Wow! Bottles from California and wineries throughout the world are priced so low it’s affordable to buy a case. But what is even more amazing is twice a year each bottle is 20 percent off those already low prices. This is usually Easter week and the first week of November.
One reason prices are so low on every item compared to larger chain grocery stores is that the inventory is always changing.
“We don't always have every staple item, but once you get used to that, you shop for us first and go pick up other things elsewhere,” Parrish explains. “It saves you a ton of money.”
This means the merchandise is always changing. “It’s like a treasure hunt to see what is new and what you can get your hands on,” Parrish says.
Even so, Parrish adds, “More and more I will ask people how many items on their list were not available here. We get pretty darn close to having everything in stock.”
Parrish has endless stories about how Grocery Outlet has helped people. One customer who had to go vegan and gluten-free for health reasons told Parrish she could only do so because of Grocery Outlet. The discount grocery store allowed her to afford to make the needed dietary changes.
It’s that ability to cater to specific needs that makes the store an integral part of the community. For instance, the Latino clientele has grown significantly since the Truckee store opened four years ago. Parrish has responded by stocking the shelves with more goods that satisfy their culinary choices.
Grocery Outlet and the Parrish family are also community oriented. They participate in rebate programs that give back to Tahoe-Truckee schools and are involved in sports teams. At some point each of the seven Parrish kids has worked at a Grocery Outlet their parents have owned. Today, eldest son Loran Parrish is manager of the Incline Village store. All of this adds up to the welcome feeling of a family-owned corner grocery with the low prices of a nondescript big box store.
(530) 536-3983
11213 Donner Pass Rd
Truckee, CA
(775) 636-7745
770 Mays Blvd
Incline Village, NV
About the Author Kathryn Reed
Kathryn Reed is an award-winning journalist who has been visiting or living at Lake Tahoe since she was a child. She loves the outdoors – whether it's hiking, biking, snowshoeing, skiing or playing tennis. She is the author of Sleeping with Strangers: An Airbnb Host's Life in Lake Tahoe and Mexico; The Dirt Around Lake Tahoe: Must-Do Scenic Hikes; Snowshoeing Around Lake Tahoe: Must-Do Scenic Treks; and Lake Tahoe Trails for All Seasons: Must-Do Hiking and Snowshoe Treks.
