A full cart of groceries for under 100 dollars sounds like a story from decades ago. In Colorado Springs, it still happens on an ordinary weekday.
One east side store sells name brand pantry staples, frozen meats, snacks, and household goods for roughly 75 to 90 percent below regular retail prices. The catch is simple, and it is not really a catch at all: many products are closeouts, overstock, or past their best by dates, which usually point to quality rather than safety.
Regulars treat each trip like a treasure hunt, because the shelves change constantly and nobody knows what will turn up next. Some shoppers stock whole pantries here, while others drop in for candy and snacks.
Keep reading to learn how the store works, what to expect inside, and how to shop it smartly.
A Reclamation Grocery on East Fountain Boulevard
Some of the best bargains in Colorado Springs hide in plain sight, right next to a Harbor Freight. My BargainMart sits at 2833 E Fountain Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80910, on the city’s east side in Colorado, United States.
From the outside, it looks like a modest neighborhood shop. Inside, it runs as a reclamation grocery store, which is a less common type of business in most American towns.
The idea is straightforward. The store rescues overstock and close-dated products that would otherwise end up in a landfill, then sells them at steep discounts.
That means shoppers find real brands, the same labels sold at big chains, for a small slice of the usual price. Shelves hold canned goods, dry goods, frozen items, snacks, and even non-food products.
It is not a typical supermarket, and it does not try to be one. That difference is exactly why so many locals keep coming back.
The People Behind the Counter
Every small store has a heartbeat, and here it comes from the owners, Jim and Diane. Their names come up again and again among loyal shoppers, often with real gratitude.
The business feels close to an old-fashioned mom and pop operation. Customers mention being greeted warmly, sometimes by name, after only a few trips.
The owners talk openly about their mission. They want to help families save money while cutting down on food waste, and they do not shy away from explaining how the store works.
When shoppers raise concerns, the owners often respond directly and invite people to email or stop by and ask for Jim. That hands-on approach is rare for a grocery store.
Plenty of shoppers describe the owners as caring people who genuinely want to support the community. In a world of self-checkout lanes, a face behind the business still counts for something.
Discounts That Sound Too Good
Seventy-five to ninety percent off. That figure is not a one-day sale banner, it is the regular reality on most items.
Shoppers describe getting name brand products for about a quarter of their usual price. One standout find was organic sunscreen for one dollar, an item that normally retails for more than fifteen dollars.
Families on tight budgets notice the difference fast. A full cart for under 100 dollars is a common story, when the same haul elsewhere might cost three times as much.
Candy lovers do well too. A whole bag of family sweets can come in around ten dollars.
Not every item is a jaw-dropper, and prices vary with whatever arrives that week. Still, the overall math strongly favors anyone willing to browse.
For many households, the savings stretch the gap between paychecks in a very real way.
Best By Dates, Decoded
Here is the part that surprises first-timers. Many products on the shelves are past their best by date.
That sounds alarming until the label is understood. Best by and sell by dates generally refer to quality, not safety, and the USDA notes that food can be safe to eat past the date on the label.
The store leans into education. A chart posted inside explains date labels in detail, and some regulars snap a photo of it to use while comparing items.
The website also offers resources on the topic.
Plenty of items are not past their dates at all, and some frozen goods do not hit their dates for months. Smart shoppers simply check each package and decide what works for them.
A little label knowledge turns a confusing aisle into a money-saving one.
Shelves That Never Stay the Same
Regulars like to call each visit a treasure hunt, and the label fits. Inventory arrives as closeouts and overstock, so the mix shifts constantly.
Something on the shelf this week may vanish by the next. That unpredictability keeps dedicated shoppers stopping in two or three times a week.
Products also move around the store as new stock lands. Staff members will walk customers down the aisles to hunt for a specific item when asked.
Occasionally, the finds lean fancy. Gourmet items and upscale brands appear alongside everyday basics, the kind of products many people would never pay full price for.
The flip side is that nothing is guaranteed. Anyone hoping for a specific product should go in with an open mind and a backup plan.
Flexible shoppers tend to walk out happiest, often with something they never knew they wanted.
Pantry Staples by the Armful
Canned and dry goods are where the store truly shines. Shoppers consistently point to this section as the most dependable place for name brand deals.
Expect lots of canned soups and a wide spread of condiments. Running low on mayo is apparently a very solvable problem here.
Shelf-stable foods make up a large share of the inventory. Some regulars admit their home pantries now resemble a miniature version of the store.
Healthier options show up as well, often at prices well below what a standard grocery charges. Both name brands and generic labels share the shelves.
Since these items keep for a long time, they are ideal for stocking up during a good week. Buying extra when prices are low is the quiet strategy many locals follow.
A well-stocked pantry can carry a household through lean stretches, and this aisle makes that goal reachable.
The Freezer Section Steps Up
Frozen foods were not always part of the lineup. The store now offers refrigerated and frozen items, and they have quickly become a favorite.
Shoppers mention scoring a whole box of breakfast sandwiches plus two pounds of chicken nuggets without breaking the budget. With grocery costs climbing, that kind of haul matters.
Frozen meats are part of the mix too. The owners even mentioned grilling one of the store’s steaks themselves.
Availability can be hit and miss on meats, so selection depends on timing. Some shoppers also wish for more single-serving freezer options for people living alone.
Dairy and produce appear occasionally, though they are not a constant. The freezer and fridge cases are best treated as a bonus round on each trip.
Checking them first, before they get picked over, is a smart move.
A Sweet Spot for Snack Hunters
Snacks are one of the most talked-about parts of the store, and it is easy to see why. Candy bars, protein bars, and assorted sweets fill a good share of the shelves.
Parents especially enjoy this aisle. A pile of treats for the whole family can cost around ten dollars, with a big bag of Dum Dums making up much of that total.
Protein bars appeal to gym-goers and busy commuters who go through them quickly. Paying a fraction of retail makes stocking a desk drawer far less painful.
Variety changes often, so a favorite brand might appear one week and disappear the next. Grabbing a few extra when a good find shows up is common practice.
Snack shopping here feels a bit like a game, minus the coin slot. The prize is simply a full bag and plenty of change left over.
Gluten Free Finds and a Fair Warning
Specialty diets can be expensive, which makes this store a pleasant surprise for many. Gluten free products appear regularly, along with other specialty foods.
Shoppers who follow gluten free eating say the selection exceeds expectations. Paying discount prices for these items can save a household a lot over time.
There is one honest caveat. Gluten free items are not separated from wheat-based products on the shelves.
For anyone with celiac disease, that means cross contact is possible. Checking packaging carefully is a must, and strict shoppers should use their own judgment.
Since products are packaged by the original manufacturers, labels typically remain intact. Occasionally, though, an item may be missing a label, so reading carefully applies across the board.
With a little caution, specialty shoppers can still come away with an impressive bag of finds.
Beyond the Grocery Aisle
Not everything here goes in the kitchen. The store also carries shoes, dog beds, cleaning supplies, and a variety of other household goods.
Pet owners can find items like Greenies and small chicken soup style pet food packages. Some longtime shoppers say pet food selection used to be larger and hope it grows again.
Personal care products occasionally appear as well. That one-dollar organic sunscreen is a good example of the non-food surprises waiting on the shelves.
Bread also earns loyal fans, with some shoppers calling it a highlight of their trips. Like everything else, availability depends on what comes through the door.
Having household basics and groceries under one roof saves an extra stop. For budget-minded families, combining errands at deep discounts is a welcome bonus.
A quick lap past the non-food shelves is always worth the extra few minutes.
Rewards, Discounts, and a Free Pie
Low prices are only half the deal. The store layers on extra savings through a rewards program and several discounts.
Signing up for rewards is free. Members earn points toward money off future purchases, and new sign-ups receive a free whole pie.
Seniors get a 10 percent discount. Military members receive 10 percent off as well, a thoughtful nod in a city with a strong military presence.
Stacked on top of already deep markdowns, these perks make an obvious difference over time. Regulars often describe the rewards program as generous.
The store also offers a 100 percent money-back guarantee. Bring a receipt for a full refund, or receive store credit or an exchange without one.
That guarantee removes much of the risk from trying an unfamiliar product. It is a confident promise from a store that clearly believes in what it sells.
Friendly Faces and Community Spirit
Friendly staff is the single most mentioned quality of this store, by a wide margin. Shoppers describe employees as kind, polite, and quick to help.
Checkout service tends to move fast. Staff members will happily search the aisles for a requested item, which helps in a store where stock moves around.
The store is also described as clean and well organized. That matters when shelves are filled with constantly changing products.
Many shoppers see the business as a lifeline. Some recall relying on it during very hard financial times, even when other assistance was out of reach.
Experiences are not perfect for everyone, and a few customers have reported uncomfortable interactions. The owners say they take service seriously and invite direct feedback.
Overall, though, the warmth of the team keeps showing up as a reason people return week after week.
When to Go and What to Know
Timing a trip is easy thanks to generous hours. The store opens Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 7 PM.
Weekend hours run from 9 AM to 6 PM on both Saturday and Sunday. That schedule works well for commuters and weekend errand runners alike.
Since new inventory keeps arriving, frequent short visits often beat one big monthly trip. Regulars who drop in several times a week tend to catch the best deals.
Bring a phone to snap the best by date chart if label decoding feels tricky. Also plan to check each item’s date and packaging before buying.
The store sits right beside a Harbor Freight, which makes it easy to spot. It also makes combining errands simple.
Signing up for rewards on the first visit is a smart opening move. The free pie alone is a decent welcome gift.
A Thrifty Verdict
So who belongs in these aisles? Budget-conscious families, seniors, military households, and anyone curious about cutting food waste will likely feel right at home.
Shoppers expecting a polished supermarket may feel differently. Past-date products and an unpredictable selection are part of the deal, and that model is not for everyone.
For those comfortable reading labels, the rewards are real. Name brands at 75 to 90 percent off can transform a weekly grocery budget.
The store holds a solid 4.4-star standing across more than 500 Google ratings, a strong sign that most people leave satisfied.
Add friendly staff, a rewards program, and a money-back guarantee, and the case gets even stronger. My BargainMart offers a smarter way to shop and a small win against waste.
Go with an open cart and a curious mind, and the savings tend to follow you home.
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