For the student who likes to peruse the goods at the local grocery store rather than becoming a fast food joint drive-through regular, there are some decent food outlets near campus.
A couple of the hotter stops near the University — those priced below a convenience store in the campus area — include Sundance Natural Foods, Market of Choice and the rebuilt Safeway.
Sundance, located at 748 E. 24th Ave., is near the student population and sports a selection of mostly organic produce and non-perishables. Locally grown fruits and veggies are available, depending on the season. There is also a salad bar and some ready-made meals available for hungry, time-conscious students.
Owner Gavin McComas said he plans to begin renovating next month to expand the salad bar and add a beer cooler and a cheese cooler. McComas said he hopes to add a coffee and juice bar in the spring.
He is also a member of Unique Eugene, a group of locally
owned businesses.
“It’s a political and social act to be a small business nowadays,” McComas said. He added that he hopes the group’s efforts help keep the “spirit of community alive.”
Market of Choice has three local locations, one of which is near campus at 1960 Franklin Blvd.
Perhaps one of the most notable aspects of the store is its rather large wine selection, and store manager Robert Brown said that customers could request their favorite kind of wine and the store would do its best to stock it.
Market of Choice’s other amenities include a soup and salad bar, a deli and a bakery. Specialty foods such as pre-made sushi are also available. Although the store does not have a pharmacy, Hirons is right next door.
There’s also the newly remodeled Safeway, at 145 E. 18th Ave., which has a Starbucks Coffee kiosk, full- service bakery and a floral department. The new grocery outlet has recently added a pharmacy, placing it in direct competition to the family-owned Hirons Drug Store located right next to it.
Price-conscious shoppers, take note: A quart of milk at Safeway costs $1.23, at Sundance it’s $1.55, and at Market of Choice is 99 cents.
However, the stores carry different varieties of milk, so the price will depend on the brand of milk purchased.
Tastes vary, so students can sample each store and see what suits them, whether they make a jaunt to 24th Avenue to savor locally grown and organic produce at Sundance, nip over to Franklin Boulevard to experience the Market of Choice wine selection and natural foods or make a trip to East 18th Avenue for the floral department and full-service bakery at Safeway.