Shopping
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Grocery Stores
Albertsons
(Located on Alma St., just north of East Meadow in south Palo Alto or
on Channing and Embarcadero St. in north Palo Alto.)
Andronico's
(Located next to Nordstrom at the Stanford Shopping Center.)
Andronico's is the size of a large department store (the building used
to be Saks Fifth Avenue) and has every expensive edible imaginables under
its roof. It must be seen to be appreciated. A good place to meet friends
for a casual dinner or lunch.
Country Sun Natural Foods
(440 California Ave., Palo Alto, 324-9190)
Country Sun offers organic and health foods. Take the Marguerite to California
Avenue.
Draeger's
(1010 University St. in downtown Menlo Park.)
Down the street from Trader Joe's is Draeger's, an upscale market with
prepared foods for take-out in the deli section, gourmet food of every
description, an extensive wine selection and a restaurant upstairs. There
is a second Draeger’s in Los Altos (342 First St.)
Farmers’ Markets
Local farmers and cultivators sell their goods. Grab a coffee and stroll
through the colorful displays of seasonal organic vegetables and fruits,
honey, flowers, fresh breads, herbs, seafood, jams and plants.
Saturdays in Palo Alto (Palo Alto Farmers' Market,
8 a.m.-12 p.m.), behind the post office, just off Hamilton. Sundays in
Menlo Park (9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., more expensive than the others though),
in the parking lots between Draeger’s and Trader Joe’s and
between Santa Cruz Ave. and Menlo Ave. A Thursday evening farmer’s
market from 4 to 8 p.m. can be found in Los Altos on State St., between
2nd and 3rd Streets. If you’re really interested in a treat, try
the Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market at the Ferry Building (foot of
Market Street) in San Francisco. Market Days & Hours at the Ferry
Building:
Saturdays - 8:00am-2:00pm
Tuesdays - 10:00am-2:00pm
Thursdays - Noon to Dusk
Sunday Garden Market - 9:00am-3:00pm
JJ&F
(520 College Ave., Palo Alto, 857-0901)
For all you car-less wanderers, this is friendly little market is a close
source of food. It's on the corner of College Avenue (runs parallel to
Stanford Ave.) and El Camino, right across from the Shell station. A
little known, but very useful fact is that they will deliver it to your
door Monday through Saturday (there are minimum purchase requirements
for home delivery).
Milk Pail Market
(2585 California St., Mountain View, 941-2505)
Formerly a drive-through dairy, this market has expanded to carry a fine
assortment of cheeses and breads as well as other produce.
Molly Stone's
This fancy market at the end of California Avenue across from the train
station (accessible by the shuttle bus) is a lovely market with high
quality and high priced produce, gourmet specialties, and natural foods.
It is expensive. MS is a good place to buy spices in bulk or to meet
a friend for lunch on a sunny day—they have outside tables.
Safeway
Safeway has five local locations, but the most convenient one to campus
is the Menlo Park branch on El Camino, past the Stanford Shopping Mall.
It also houses one of the few 24-hour pharmacies in its drug store section.
Consider going at off hours; there are long lines at peak hours (e.g.,
weekend mornings). Both the Safeway and the drug store at this location
are open 24 hours. See lots of fellow med students there on Friday and
Saturday evenings. If you prefer to shop at a more humane hour, the Sharon
Heights location, which is just off Sand Hill Road, is accessible via
the SLAC Marguerite.
Sigona's
(Located next to Max's Opera Café at the Stanford Shopping Center.)
Sigona's offers quality fruits and vegetables, plus some dried fruits,
nuts, grains, and legumes in bulk. For those of you who enjoy fresh produce—and
California is a wonderful place for fresh produce all year long—this
is one of your nearest and best options, especially during the winter
months, when Palo Alto, Los Altos and Menlo Park's farmers' markets close.
Trader Joe's
(720 Menlo Ave. and the San Antonio Shopping Center)
Trader Joe's is not a one-stop shopping store, but it does have the
best prices on wines, beer, cheese, snacks, juices, coffee, and some
frozen
foods. There is an extension selection of prepared foods. Take El Camino
past Safeway and turn left on Menlo Ave, go two blocks, it's on the
right. For those of you without cars and with baskets on your bikes,
take the
very easy bike route from Sand Hill Road, behind the Stanford Shopping
Center. The other one is located at the San Antonio Shopping Center,
behind the Sears; take a car or the Marguerite.
Webb Ranch
(2720 Alpine Rd. 854-6334)
Go to Webb Ranch on Alpine Road, just before 280 for pesticide-free
seasonal vegetables and fruits. The corn here is picked every hour
when in season.
Whole Foods
Located on Emerson St. and Homer in downtown P.A., this is a large
organic/gourmet market. It has an extensive deli and inside tables.!
Meet friends here
for a quick, healthy lunch or dinner.
This list is far from comprehensive, but a good selection.
Ethnic Foods
For those of you who also want ethnic foods, visit Castro Street in Mountain View and the following places as starting points:
Chavez Supermarket
(3282 Middlefield Rd., Menlo Park, 365-6510) Open daily 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
Specializes in Mexican produce.
Countrytime Meat
(625 Donohoe, East Palo Alto, 326-4330). Open daily 9 a.m.-9 p.m. For
Latin American groceries.
Dittmer’s Gourmet Meats & Wurst House
(400 San Antonio Rd., Mt. View, 941-3800). Open M-F 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sa
9 a.m.-5 p.m.
German and Central European specialties.
La Tiendita Market
(2875 Middlefield Rd., Redwood City, near Fiesta Mart). Open daily 9
a.m.-10 p.m.
Mexican and Central American foods.
Peña Meat and Food Market
(3198 Middlefield Rd, Redwood City, 365-9660). Open daily 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
Mexican and Central American foods.
Rose International Market
(1060 Castro Street, Mountain View, 960-1900). Open M-Sa 8 a.m.-9 p.m.,
Su 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Asian foods, especially Japanese.
Nak's Oriental Market
(1151 Chestnut St., Menlo Park, 325-2046). Open M-F 9:30 a.m.-6:30
p.m., Sa 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Middle Eastern food
Valley Produce Market
(3380 Middlefield Rd., Menlo Park, 368-9226). Open daily 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
Retail Chains
K-mart
Located on El Camino Real to the south, just before
the Lawrence Expressway.
Costco
This is a "membership only" warehouse with yearly dues, but
it’s worth it if you’re an active consumer. You have to buy
in massive quantities, so shop with friends. Costco is located in Redwood
City on Middlefield south of Woodside Road. In Mountain View, it is at
Rengstorff and 101. Note: there is also an In and Out Burger and Krispy
Kreme Donuts at this location.
Target
On El Camino Real at Woodside Road, five miles north in Redwood City.
Also one in Mountain View. Take El Camino south and turn left on Showers
Blvd., one signal south of San Antonio.
Wal-Mart
Next to Target in Mountain View. Take El Camino south and turn left on
Showers Blvd., one signal south of San Antonio.
Fancier Retail Spots
Stanford Shopping Center is a nice place to walk around on a sunny day
or to grab a coffee with a friend. Take note of the amazing, seasonal
flowers. You can easily walk or bike there or take the Marguerite. It
houses a Macy*s, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Banana Republic, Eddie
Bauer, Victoria’s Secret, J. Crew, Fresh Choice, Max’s Opera
Café, Sigona’s Produce Market (Note--there’s also
a Sigona’s across from Costco in Redwood City), Coach, and more.
There are also seasonal jazz concerts on Thursday evenings during warm
weather.
Downtown Palo Alto has upscale shops and numerous coffee houses and places to eat. The Marguerite will take you there. Downtown also has the Stanford Medical Bookstore, a Walgreen’s, Long’s, Restoration Hardware, a bike shop, etc. Of particular note are Pluto’s Restaurant, with salads and, and a really large Borders Bookstore.
Downtown Menlo Park also has many upscale shops, but there are also a few excellent used clothing stores with good merchandise at reasonable prices. Find Noah’s and Posh Bagels, many restaurants, Peet's Coffee, the Runner’s High (a good, expensive running shop), and Trader Joe’s. Get a deli sandwich at Draeger’s upscale grocery store (on University St., perpendicular to Santa Cruz Ave.) Peet’s Coffee is on the corner of Santa Cruz and University.
Midtown is another section of Palo Alto worth a visit. Located on Middlefield
Rd., just south of Oregon Expressway, this area is local, unique and
practically retail-chain-free. Here you’ll find Palo Alto Café,
Nature’s Alley (a plant store), Mike’s Café, Karate
classes, two dry cleaners, a hardware store, Long’s, and a Starbucks.
Malls
Town and Country Shopping Center
On El Camino and Embarcadero, across the street from Stanford University.
Besides housing a busy Jamba Juice, this complex offers Scott’s
Seafood, The Cheese House (great sandwiches), the closest Hobee’s
Restaurant, The Cook Book Restaurant, Peet’s Coffee (for those
who like it strong), Cold Stone Creamery (build your own ice cream),
and Maido (Japanese stationery store).
San Antonio Shopping Center
Located on El Camino and San Antonio Rd. in Mt. View. Target, Wal-Mart,
Sears, Ross, Tower Records, Trader Joe’s, Mervyn’s, RiteAid,
Albertsons, 24-hour Fitness and Safeway are all in the same shopping
center. By bus, catch the 22 heading south along El Camino.
Hillsdale Shopping Center
Take 101 north and head west on Hillsdale Blvd. in San Mateo. Many of
the same stores as the Stanford Shopping Center except no Bloomingdale’s,
but with the addition of a California Pizza Kitchen.
Outlet Stores
There is a huge outlet mall, about 1.25 hours away in Gilroy. Take 101
South to Gilroy and exit at Leavesley Rd. Avoid driving there at rush
hour. Many name-brand stores including Guess, Ann Taylor, J. Crew, Kenneth
Cole, Polo, Birkenstock’s, etc. Running a close second are the
Napa Premium Outlets to the north. Take 101 North to Decoto Rd. and cross
the Dumbarton Bridge to 880 North (towards Oakland), then get onto 80
East and cross the Carquinez bridge near Vallejo. Stay on highway 80
and exit at American Canyon Road. Turn left at the stop sign at the end
of the off-ramp and continue to Highway 29. Turn right and stay on 29
to the First Street exit. Turn left at the light, cross the highway,
and then turn left at the signal past the car wash. The outlets will
be on your right after you pass the playing fields. The Milpitas Great
Mall is a smaller outlet center about 30 minutes away. Take 101 South
to 237 East. It has some name brand stores, including Esprit, Guess,
and the Gap.
There’s also a new IKEA store (not exactly an outlet, but a category all its own)—just cross 101 on University--you can’t miss it.
Electronics
Fry’s
(360 Portage Ave., 496-6000)
Great prices and a huge selection. Take El Camino south; just past Oregon
Expressway/Page Mill, when you see the Footlocker, turn left. There's
also always Target and Wal-Mart. Also, take University Ave. east across
101; head right at your first light to get to the Good Guys. There’s
a Best Buy in San Carlos and in East Palo Alto.
Car Dealerships
Stevens Creek Blvd. off 280 South is home to Auto Mall Road, with many car dealers. A bit closer are the dealerships along El Camino towards the South, especially in the Sunnyvale area. There are also dealerships north on El Camino in Menlo Park and Redwood City (collectively called the Boardwalk Auto Center), as well as several on El Camino in Menlo Park.
