There is a store in Mississippi where a full case of meat can cost less than a single restaurant meal, and where name-brand snacks show up at prices that make regular grocery bills look silly. The catch is that you never quite know what will be on the shelves from one week to the next, which turns each trip into a small treasure hunt.
Families drive an hour or more just to fill their carts, and they leave already planning the next run. The floors get crowded on busy days, the parking lot has its rough spots, and yet people keep coming back.
What keeps them loyal is a mix of low prices, friendly faces, and the thrill of the unexpected find. Here is the full story of this budget-friendly favorite.
Where the Bargains Live
Tucked along the highway at 5395 Hwy 42 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, sits E & B Discount Grocery, a supermarket built entirely around the idea of paying less for more.
The address puts it within easy reach of town, though plenty of shoppers happily travel from much farther to get here. Some drive an hour and a half and still count the trip as worth it.
What sets the place apart is its focus on discounted and closeout items, the kind of name-brand goods that would cost far more at a standard store. The selection shifts constantly, so no two visits look exactly the same.
Regulars describe it as a spot where you never know what you will find, but the search is half the fun. That element of surprise has helped it earn a 4.4 star rating across nearly 800 reviews.
It carries the feel of a neighborhood store rather than a polished chain, and that is precisely the point. The goal here is stretching a dollar, and by that measure the store delivers.
For anyone tired of watching grocery totals climb, this highway stop offers a genuine alternative worth remembering.
A Store Built on Closeout Finds
Discount grocers work on a simple premise: buy overstock, closeouts, and short-dated items in bulk, then pass the savings along. E & B leans fully into that model.
The result is a rotating lineup where a shopper might grab a favorite name-brand treat one week and something entirely different the next. Nothing here feels predictable, and that keeps people curious.
Shoppers point out that not every single item beats the price of a generic brand elsewhere. What the store does offer, though, are deals on brand-name goods that bigger stores rarely match.
Smart shopping is part of the game. Those who know their usual prices can spot the real bargains and skip anything priced close to standard retail.
The frozen goods often draw particular praise, and package deals on certain items can be striking. Some shelf-stable products land better than others, so a little attention pays off.
That mix of hits and occasional misses is baked into the closeout format. For the patient bargain hunter, the payoff makes the sorting worthwhile.
Prices That Keep People Talking
Low prices are the whole reason this store exists, and they remain its loudest selling point. Words like unbeatable get tossed around by longtime customers with real conviction.
The savings can be dramatic on the right items. Cases of meat, frozen goods, and pantry staples often carry price tags that make the drive across town feel like a smart move.
One example shared by shoppers involved paying around ten dollars for a case of pork chops and roughly twenty for a case of chickens and game hens. Those are numbers hard to argue with.
Not everyone agrees the deals are as steep as they once were. A few longtime customers feel some prices now sit closer to regular retail, and they wish more items carried the old discounts.
Even so, the general sentiment tilts strongly toward value. Many describe leaving with a full cart and a bill far smaller than expected.
The store’s own reputation rests on this promise of savings. For budget-minded families, that promise is exactly what brings them back.
Meat Deals by the Case
Few sections generate as much buzz as the meat coolers. Package deals here can run to full cases, priced low enough to stock a freezer for weeks.
Families feeding many mouths find the bulk buys especially useful. A case of pork chops or a box of chickens spreads out to plenty of meals for the money.
Honesty helps here, though. Some of the case meat needs work once you get it home, whether that means cleaning up feathers on poultry or breaking down cuts with a cleaver.
A few shoppers have run into meat that was starting to turn, particularly with pork and cubed steak, and chose to skip it afterward. Quality can vary from one visit to the next.
Others have had strong luck, especially on frozen options, and return for the value again and again. Even shoppers buying meat for their pets have found the prices reasonable.
The lesson is to inspect before you buy and shop the coolers with an eye for freshness. Do that, and the case deals can be a genuine win.
The Expiration Date Game
Any conversation about this store eventually lands on dates. Because it deals in closeout stock, some items sit near or past their printed expiration.
Seasoned shoppers treat date-checking as part of the routine, not a dealbreaker. They know many products stay good well beyond the printed number, especially shelf-stable and canned goods.
That said, opinions split sharply here. A few customers have felt too much of the stock skewed too close to its date for comfort.
The savvy approach is simple: read labels, use judgment, and grab the items that clearly still have life left. Plenty of good finds hide among the shelves for those who look.
Frozen items and dry goods tend to be the safest bets, and they often carry the steepest discounts too. Produce can be hit or miss depending on the day.
The store even posts a sign noting that fresh produce goes out as soon as it arrives. Catch it on the right day and the picks improve considerably.
For anyone willing to play the date game, the rewards usually outweigh the effort.
A Big-Family Kind of Place
Something about this store draws big families in particular. When you are feeding a crowd, bulk savings on staples and meat add up fast.
Parents describe the trip as totally worth the drive when the sales are running. Filling a large cart for less makes the mileage feel like a bargain in itself.
The atmosphere leans warm and communal. Regulars compare the feel to a big family where everyone belongs, and that welcoming spirit shows up in how people talk about it.
Saving money while enjoying the visit is a rare combination, yet shoppers here manage both. Many look forward to each run rather than dreading it.
The wide variety helps too. With a constantly shifting selection, there is usually something for everyone in the household to get excited about.
It is the kind of spot where budget-conscious families can stretch their grocery money and still have a good time doing it. That balance is not easy to find.
For households counting every dollar, few stops offer more.
A Selection Full of Surprises
Variety is one of the store’s quiet strengths. First-timers are often surprised by just how much fits under one roof.
The inventory covers frozen goods, pantry staples, snacks, dry goods, and more, all shifting with each new shipment. That constant change keeps the aisles interesting.
Because stock rotates so often, the thrill of the unexpected is real. You might arrive hunting for one thing and leave with a cart of finds you never planned on.
Some categories shine brighter than others. Frozen goods earn frequent praise, while shelf-stable prices range from excellent to merely average depending on the item.
There are limits, of course. A particular brand of a favorite product might not be in stock on a given day, so flexibility helps.
Ice cream and other treats pop up among the finds, adding a little fun to the practical shopping. Healthy options appear too for those seeking them.
The huge, ever-changing lineup is a big part of the appeal. For shoppers who enjoy a good hunt, the store rarely disappoints.
Clean Aisles and Easy Browsing
Getting in and out quickly matters to busy shoppers, and many find the layout works in their favor. The store is often described as well organized and easy to navigate.
Locating what you came for tends to be straightforward. Some shoppers report a quick in-and-out trip with no fuss, which is a plus on a tight schedule.
Cleanliness gets high marks from a good share of customers, who note tidy conditions and a pleasant shopping experience. That care shows in how smoothly a visit can go.
Not every account agrees. On busier or off days, a few have noticed cluttered aisles or scraps on the floor, a reminder that conditions can vary.
The high traffic plays a role here. When the store is packed, keeping everything perfectly neat becomes a taller order.
Still, the overall impression leans toward an orderly space where finding bargains does not require a struggle. Good organization makes the treasure hunt easier.
For shoppers who value efficiency, that ease of browsing is a welcome bonus on top of the savings.
Planning Your Visit
Timing your trip is easy once you know the schedule. The store runs Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 6 PM and stays closed on Sundays.
Fridays can get busy, with the store packed on some afternoons, so early hours may offer a calmer browse. Weekday mornings can be a smart bet for a quieter run.
Cell phone service around the location is not great, which makes price-comparison apps tricky to use on-site. Knowing your usual prices before you arrive pays off.
The parking lot is large, a plus for handling crowds. It does come with some rough patches and deep potholes, so drive through it with a little care.
Because the drive is worthwhile for many, a bit of planning goes a long way. Bring a mental list of your regular prices and a willingness to check dates.
You can find the store online at ebgrocery.com for more details before heading out. A quick look ahead helps you make the most of the trip.
Arrive ready to hunt, and the visit tends to reward the effort.
Why the Drive Pays Off
Weighing everything together, E & B Discount Grocery lands as a favorite for the bargain-minded. Its blend of low prices, friendly staff, and surprise finds keeps a loyal crowd coming back.
The store is not flawless, and honest shoppers will tell you so. Checking dates, inspecting meat, and knowing your prices are all part of shopping here wisely.
Do those things, and the payoff can be real. Cases of meat, frozen deals, and name-brand goods at cut prices reward the shopper who pays attention.
The welcoming, big-family feel adds warmth to the savings. Kind cashiers and helpful workers turn a budget errand into a trip people actually enjoy.
For families stretching a grocery budget, the value here can be hard to beat when the deals line up. Many make the long drive gladly and plan the next visit before they leave.
It is a store that rewards curiosity and a sharp eye. Come prepared, keep an open mind, and the highway stop in Hattiesburg may just become your new bargain destination.
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