What's the Deal with WinCo Foods?

Savvy Phoenix shoppers may have noticed a new chain of grocery stores popping up around town. WinCo Foods is a new player in a landscape that has been dominated by Safeway, Albertson's, Wal-Mart, Food City, and Fry's.

So here's the lowdown on WinCo Foods: the company was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Boise, Idaho. Prior to 1999, they were known as Waremart Food Centers.   

Their first store opened in Phoenix in 2012. They have 5 valley locations in Phoenix, Glendale, Mesa, and a new one in Gilbert.

If you are thinking about checking them out, there are a couple of things you should know about WinCo Foods:

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2 Arizona Restaurants Make Yelp's Top 100 List in 2014

One of the most popular websites for restaurant reviews is Yelp! With thousands of user-submitted reviews of restaurants in major cities all over the U.S., Yelp has become an authority for diners who want the inside scoop on hot new eateries.

Recently, the site published a list of their Top 100 Places to Eat in 2014. Of the 100 restaurants named, two of them are located right here in Phoenix!

Coming in at #81 we have the Short Leash Hot Dogs in downtown Phoenix. This gourmet food truck is owned by a husband and wife team and can often be found at local events such as Food Truck Fridays.

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Harkins Camelview 5 to be Replaced by Luxury Cinema in 2015

For 40 years, the Harkins Camelview 5 at Scottsdale Fashion Square mall has been the best place in town to catch an independent or limited-release film.

Located in a small building which is detached from the main mall, the Camelview 5 has dutifully served its clientele of indie moviegoers since 1973. The building's exterior is distinguished by several large metal "mushrooms" adorned with neon lights, which are a local landmark all of their own.

Nearby in the main section of Fashion Square Mall, Harkins Theaters also operates a 7 screen theater showing the latest new releases. For a long time, this proved to be a good setup. However, Harkins has recently announced plans to combine the two theaters into a new 14-screen theater under one roof.

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Best Mexican Food in Phoenix

One of the things people always ask me about Phoenix is: where do you find the best Mexican food? It's true, our close proximity to Mexico means we have a broad selection of restaurants serving up Mexican cuisine - much more than you would find in say, the Midwest or the Northeast.

However, not all restaurants are created equal. As with any other type of ethnic food, the experience depends on a lot of factors. To find the best Mexican food, you need to first determine what kind of meal you want.

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Presidential Dining in Phoenix

There is an unwritten rule among United States Presidents that whenever they visit Phoenix, they always make time to grab some local Mexican food.

It's no secret that Phoenix is full of great Mexican restaurants. Let's take a look at where some of the recent Presidents have eaten in Phoenix:
 
Bill Clinton
Poncho's Mexican Food
7202 S. Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85042

President Bill Clinton ate here while in office on July 7, 1999. The restaurant has commemorated this event by painting a mural of the President on the wall.

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