This will be our first trip back to Baja in 5 years. I seem to recall that the Gigante supermarket in Ensenada (on the main road) had limited parking
(we managed with a van camper towing a small boat). As we'll be even longer this time (30' motorhome towing a car), was wondering if there are any
supermarkets in Ensenada that have large parking areas and can handle us. We were thinking of stocking up there.....or would it be better to stock up
in the US?
Thanks!
SandyDanO - 9-20-2006 at 01:13 PM
The newly built Costco and Commercial Mexicana have a much larger selection than Gigante, and share a huge parking lot. They are on the east side of
the highway south of town, shortly before the Estero Beach turnoff.DENNIS - 9-20-2006 at 01:13 PM
If you stock up in the U.S. , you'll save money and be assured of getting what you need.
If not, an easier market to access would be the new Super Ley, south of Ensenada. Traveling south, the market is on your left, by Costco. Turn into
the street taking you to Costco and you will see Super Ley. Large parking lot ..... lotsa space for your rig and It's easy to get back on the road
south.DENNIS - 9-20-2006 at 01:15 PM
My mistake ----
DanO is saying it right. Commercial Mexicana. There is a Super Ley in the area but ........
Here's the one I like..............
Hook - 9-20-2006 at 01:21 PM
If you remember the old Gigante you used to hit, turn right onto hwy 1 as if you were leaving it.
About another two miles on the right, there is a huge Calimax store; much better than the old Gigante that all of us used to hit. You will also pass
the beer agencias before you get there, so if you have empties to return/refill, take care of that first.
Then, when you see the Calimax sign looming on the right, GET IN THE LEFT LANE AND TURN LEFT AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT JUST PAST THE CALIMAX. Then, park
parallel to the curb along that street....there is always plenty of parking. If you have exposed items in the boat or truck, it might be wise to keep
someone with the rig but it is not a dangerous looking area and we have never lost anything there.
When you return to your vehicle, just drive forward another hundred yards and you will encounter a nice easy traffic circle at the edge of a
residential area with virtually no traffic at it. Just whip a 180 and get back to the traffic light that you turned at, in the first place.
I guess this assumes that you are not stocking up bigtime and can carry everything with you. The walk from the Calimax to the vehicle will take about
a 1-2 minutes, not counting waiting for the light.
I have easily parked 50+ feet of vehicle here on many occasions.
Their lot can be OK but it's usually too crowded to maneuver comfortably.
[Edited on 9-20-2006 by Hook]DENNIS - 9-20-2006 at 01:56 PM
No reason for the security dude to get excited after all, Com Mex and Costco are partnered up in some way. I see Com Mex labels on various items in
Costco, especially around the meat department. Maybe someday, somebody can explain what's happening.
He probably just wanted a tip, dontcha figure ? At least they arn't blowing whistles like the super-markets used to do. Jeezo .... was that ever
annoying.DENNIS - 9-20-2006 at 02:49 PM
Yeah ---- I yield the floor to the rightful owner. Sorry about that.bajabound2005 - 9-20-2006 at 03:39 PM
I would second the motion of Costco and Commercial. We park at Costco and walk over to Commercial all the time, but we are shopping at both stores
and have never been hassled. But you can park at Costco and get what you need there and then drive over to Commercial. Both lots are large with EZ
access. Next to Commercial there is also a Solo Un Precio that carries a lot of groceries. I usually go in there first to get anything they might
have that's on my list, then go to Commercial. Commercial also has a nice line up of reliable ATMs. When you come out of either Costco or
Commercial, use the main road back to the Reforma so you can make that left turn to continue on Hwy 1.
When are you coming? By the time you get here the new Walmart SuperCenter might be open! (on the righthand side of the road as you are heading South,
next to Home Depot, across from Costco.
[Edited on 9-20-2006 by bajabound2005]fossilnut - 9-21-2006 at 01:57 PM
We'll be crossing the border somewhere around the middle of November. Will the Walmart be open by then?
Sandybajabound2005 - 9-21-2006 at 02:35 PM
I would guess so, they want to be open for the Christmas shopping season. Watch this site and when someone hears when it's opening it'll be posted
here!bajaguy - 9-21-2006 at 05:48 PM
I was in Ensenada last weekend and the construction is moving right along. I will go along with BB2005 and say it will be open by Christmas. I will be
down again October 22 and will get some photos........
BB2005....saw the sign and did a double take.........are they also building a Sam's Club???bajabound2005 - 9-21-2006 at 08:31 PM
Si, Sam's Club AND a Walmart Super Center; also Applebee's, McDonalds, a VIPS (that's like Sanborn's as we understand it...) and a movie
complex....Dont't understand the Sam's Club/Walmart Supercenter right across from Costco; but hey, this isn't the US; that and the way the road
goes...we'll stop at which ever store is on the way we are headed! In most cases, for all of us Nomads, that would be South, so that actually gives
each store an equal chance... once they get that one traffic light figured out! We live in Punta Banda, west of Maneadero. Our usual run is get
anything we can in Maneadero; if we can't get it there, on to Commercial and Costco; if not there, keep going into Ensenada as far as the Super
Gigante and try there...do the U turn and hit Smart & Final. Once Walmart is in - that Uturn trip will include a stop there. So far, all we are
missing is Vermouth?? can't find it anywhere in Ensenada??? SOME place must have it! Tell us where...oh, we're talking DRY vermouth here, did find
SWEET at the Super Gigante.
[Edited on 9-22-2006 by bajabound2005]DENNIS - 9-21-2006 at 08:41 PM
Yeah BB, I heard about the Super Wal Mart. From what I understand, they dont even have those in California. Well good. That'll be four major
grocery stores within a quarter mile of each other. Now, if they would get into competition, we could see some good sales.
There's a classy liquor and wine selection in Com Mex. Maybe there ??
VERMOUTH?????
bajaguy - 9-21-2006 at 08:48 PM
I can bring you a bottle in October, let me know the brand.... I usually just wave my Vodka on the rocks (and several olives) past a closed bottle of
vermouth, and that's usually a bit much vermouth.........lolbajabound2005 - 9-22-2006 at 07:31 AM
Ditto on my martinis, BG, but I prefer gin. The bottles is waved over the glass, no rocks, right out of the freezer. Lemon twist, no olives. No dry
vermouth in Com Mex, nor at Costco, nor Super Gigante. nor Smart & Final. We'll be returning from the State the same time you get here BG so I'll
stock up when we are there! Thanks a million for offering though!
Oh, which brings to mind the Smart and Final is also a good place to get groceries and the lot is accessible even towing. They usually have a pretty
good selection of stuff including bagged salads. But those might be on the no no list right now with the spinach problems. Pull in and park and then
exit off to the (south) side onto the road that goes back out to the Reforma.Bob H - 9-22-2006 at 09:37 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajabound2005
Si, Sam's Club AND a Walmart Super Center; also Applebee's, McDonalds, a VIPS (that's like Sanborn's as we understand it...) and a movie complex....
[Edited on 9-22-2006 by bajabound2005]
What about KFC? Hahahahahaajureal - 9-22-2006 at 04:50 PM
Walmart owns Sams Club. Was down in Puerto Vallarta and they have the same combo there.bajabound2005 - 9-22-2006 at 05:05 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by Bob H
What about KFC? Hahahahahaa
Ensenada ALREADY has a KFC! But, there are many, many storefronts going us, so we'll wait and seebajabound2005 - 9-22-2006 at 05:06 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by jureal
Walmart owns Sams Club. Was down in Puerto Vallarta and they have the same combo there.
And I saw somewhere that PV also has a Starbucks! Now that would be heaven. Well, if there were a Trader Joe's AND a Starbucks - UTOPIA.DENNIS - 9-22-2006 at 05:56 PM
Yeah ---- Trader Joes for Two Buck Chuck or would that be Twenty Two Peso Carlos ?
