Aldi is an option, but you're in Big Y territory now. There's also plenty of local shops

There's nothing that is an exact equivalent imo-- I'm further east than you, but definitely still in western Mass and my personal tendency is to use alldi for everything I can use it for, and big y for everything else.

Honestly, when I was younger, I remember liking stop& shop a lot, but now I feel like only things I don't use are on sale.

That's what I'd thought, any favorite farm shops or general stores?

Not there. Big E's in Easthampton used to be the go-to.

Shockingly I've still never been to an Aldi, I guess today's the day!

Enjoy! I would mention as well, if you're a prepared foods person, big y is the best Ive found.

It’s Big Y for you, my neighbor. On the plus side they have a great fish counter (the Pittsfield one anyway). And plenty of local produce.

For farm shops I always liked Whitney's, though it certainly isn't cheap. A lot of general stores in this area have been closing down lately unfortunately. There are a lot of good farm stands scattered around in the fall though, my personal favorite is one not too far from the airport.

I make the trip to MB in Athol when I know it’s gonna be a big trip. Other than that, unfortunately you’re going to the big question why

Sometimes I venture down to the Lee one just to feel Fancy™️

Guido's for fresh stuff, any season. Bring that big Eastern Mass wallet.

Harry's is probably cheaper than Big Y/S&S.

As a central MA to western MA transplant the answer is Big Y. They are nice and clean stores and have good quality but nowhere near MB’s prices. Wish MB would come out this way.

Big Y is ass. Find a Shop Rite if you can.

We drive to the market basket in Athol couple of time a month.

Past that Aldi and BJ's.
Big Y or Stop and Shop only in emergencies.

Haha. Lee does feels fancy.

As a city to metrowest transplant can someone explain the MB obsession? The stores are tight packed, crowded as hell, they have 35 people pushing palettes and restocking shelves while everyone is shopping, and they don’t have scanners or self checkout so it takes 20-30 minutes just to get out of there. We tried to avoid them for so long but lately they are the only place that has any produce out here.

Big Y is good ,although pricy,there is also Guido's in Pittsfield ,I don't know the prices though.

Sure can! In my experience, MB is the cheapest non-bulk-focused non-specialty grocery store around (phrased as such because I know Aldi also has excellent prices but they have a slightly different customer base), and their selection of "ethnic" or "international" foods is unparalleled. I cook a lot of Asian dishes, and MB is the only Big Chain I can reliably find things like kaffir lime leaves, galangal, lemongrass, fresh turmeric, multiple varieties of kimchi/tofu, etc etc. The same holds true for other cuisines -- the Gloucester MB has a huge Portuguese section, whereas the Chelsea MB has a fantastic Dominican section.

It really hinges on which one and what time you try to shop. The Somerville one is by far the worst in the chain, due to its size and the sheer number of folks that jam themselves into there every day. The NH ones are gigantic and also sell alcohol. It's definitely not for everyone, but it's worth it if you know what you're doing and what you're going for.

Guidos is $$$. A beautiful store, and their prepared food section A+, but it’s pretty expensive.

As we head into the growing season, try to find some local farm stands. The one's around me last year had squash @ 5 for a dollar, peppers, onions, and beets out the wazoo. I found one farm stand selling meat from one of their cows, $2.00/lb ground beef, and 2lb bone in ribeye steaks for $7-8 total!

Definitely the best way to get fresh and local produce, though Big Y often carries local when in season as well.

Albany is an hour away, which affords access to Trader Joe's, which is in that zone that you want with MB. There's also a Whole Foods (but Guido's is closer!), as well as more Hannaford's (which I've always liked).

I don’t get the Market Basket love either. Occasionally like twice a year, I go to the one in Ashland and it’s always a shit show. The parking lot is the seven circle of hell and the store is as you described, crowded and tight.

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Depends really what area you're in. There are lots of little farm shops that are open seasonally. A few like Atkins that have expanded and are open year round

Because it’s by far the cheapest and when other stores struggle to get 5 cashiers at once Market Basket is running 15-20 with baggers.

Take a quarter

There's no equivalent, I've been living all around the pioneer valley the last 12 years searching with no luck. Big Y and stop and shop suck but unless you have a good local grocer those and discount places like price rite are your options.

Market basket is the only thing I will ever miss about eastern MA.

There’s a good one on Barker Road in Pittsfield during the summer. I forget the name of it, it’s about a mile past the airport if you’re headed towards Lenox.

I’ve found both the Hudson and Maynard ones to be jam packed both sundays and mondays, and the way they stock their shelves has taken me ages to get used to

Exactly! And trying to find what you want is chaos, the store is set up super weird, and they stock shelves so if they are out of something they cover up its label and fill the empty spot with something else, it’s absolute madness

Other stores like stoppy just have the scanner you scan and bag as you go though, checkout takes literally 45 seconds, you just scan the scanner and pay.

Big Y pizza slaps

Guidos is expensive and has the best produce hands down. It is sort like Zabars in terms of variety - cheese, organic and natural foods. It caters to a NYC crowd. Big Y has good produce, especially in summer and many local (Massachusetts and Connecticut produced) products. Aldis has lowest prices, good produce, but limited variety and a lot of their own brands rather than national brands. Price Chopper has OK produce, and tend to be cheapest for national brands. Target is good for pantry staples. Stop and Shop has so-so produce, but probably the most variety in general items.

Edit: keep forgetting Price Chopper is now Market 32 (same company) in this area.

The farm store on Fort Hill is good in summer. Also Jaeschke's on Crane Ave has a good garden center for veggie, herb, and flower plants and a pretty diverse farm stand in the summer. The owner can be a bit cranky if she is the one waiting on you. Whitneys on Rte 8 also has a great garden center/farm stand with bakery and sandwiches (a bit more expensive than Jaeschke's) and a pain to get out of if you are heading south back into Pittsfield.

Try Atkins in Amherst

People just want the cheapest food they can get. The shopping experience and time to do so don't matter to them (as much).

Price Rite is where it's at. Big Y is too expensive.

Aldi is opening in Northampton this week 🙌🏼 hot damn I need me an alternative to big Y now and then

The Haverhill store near 495( 400 Lowell Av) is the bomb. Pizza oven etc. The recently renovated Danvers store is top notch. Second busiest after Chelsea but the liquor store is very cool with loads of beers that are hard to find.

There isn’t. Market basket is substantially better stocked, cleaner, and cheaper than any other grocery store in western MA. Stop and shop, big y, are not even comparable in price to market basket.

It's soooo expensive though. Makes me crazy. So many items are literally 2/3 times as expensive as MB.

Big Y is expensive. Good stuff, but expensive. For cheaper groceries, I usually do Trader Joe's or Aldi. Try Mom's House for specialty Asian ingredients.

Farm stands: Atkins, North Hadley Sugar Shack, Barstow's on Rte 47

I'm not in pittsfield but pricewise, aldi. Price Rite is cheap too. Big y for local, but they are on the higher end of the pricing scale. If you want to make a drive and have room in your freezer, Arnold's in Chicopee for Meat.

When I’m near Pittsfield, I go to Market32. They have an awesome produce section.

Shoutout Whitney's, shoutout anyone affiliated with Jaeschke's being at least kind of an asshole.

Also, I'm a fan of Wild Oats in williamstown. Not cheap, but great quality.

Coming from a hilltown, everything in Lee feels fancy to me. But Lenox? I'm not allowed there, it's only for New Yorkers. And when I walk into Guido's, I feel like I'm in Westchester County.

Besides a nice pizza slice lunch, Big Y also has decent donuts.

I worked there years ago. We had to change the prices the week before a sale (raising them of course) so that things looked like they were on sale.

Things at big y are never really on sale. When I worked there we just jacked the prices up, the week before a sale, so the sale price was just regular price. They were pretty shitty to employees as well.

The barn in GField. Really more of a grocery outlet analog, but it's cheap.

And no dedicated baggers. Charging me for bags.

It honestly a nice little store just Jesus, too expensive.

Atkins is wonderful but it’s definitely not cheaper than Big Y

MB is super localized. I grew up in Eastern Mass and I don’t think I’ve ever been in one. Big Y and Aldi are your best bet here. I alternate depending on what I need.

Yeah, but if I'm gonna let the store save on labor, I at least want a discount. At Market Basket you get lower prices and don't have to worry about being a cashier.

There is none. MB is unequaled.

I like price-rite, they have good prices but limited selection

Sounds like Bartletts

the nice thing about being out here, there are farms local and coops that sell their stuff.

enjoy the grass fed beef, fresh local eggs and locally brewed beer

No, it's before Bartlett's. It's just a tiny little farm. There's a chicken coop out front.

High Lawn Farm, Lee, Mass. The best blue cheese you'll ever eat.

there's only one reason: it's cheap as hell when compared to everything else. you can only sometimes get slightly cheaper by going to costco or something.

my only gripe is S&S and its ilk have a larger selection of goods than MB. obviously this impacts the price, but again, my only gripe.

Does big Y still do the coin thing?… and as a eastern masser big up to market basket everytime

Market 32 in Pittsfield, or Guidos.

Haven't been to Harry's in a while so can't say....

I’m in Ware and I would give up every Big Y for a single Market Basket

If Market Basket opened in the Pioneer Valley (Hamp, Holyoke, Hadley) it would make a Gadzillion dollars. All we have is overpriced Big Y and totally inept Stop & Shop.

I haven’t thought about Harry’s in such a long time (moved east like 2010). Man I miss the Berkshires.

It’s really not good stuff though. At least the ones in eastern MA have atrocious produce that is literally double the price anywhere else. All of their products are insanely expensive for identical brands found everywhere else. I don’t get their premise at all.

Grew up in an immediate suburb outside the city and never understood the attraction. It’s incredibly overrated

Not near Pittsfield but Food City