The Real Canadian Superstore

As the main grocery store in town, The Real Canadian Superstore is a one-​stop shopping adventure on Walker Road in the second outlying shopping district for Windsor. In shouting distance, you can find Lowe’s, Canadian Tire, Costco, HomeSense, and even a Swiss Chalet for those who absolutely must get their greasy ribs and potatoes on. I still highly advise you don’t.
Aside from the fun that is Devonshire Mall for a «real Canadian» experience, Superstore — as my family’s called it for years — basically functions as the real reason I go to Windsor. Tickled immigration officers at the border checkpoints shake their heads, especially on the American side, whenever I pull up. True story: I’ve had at least three basically wave my car through after finding out my main reason for spending four hours in Windsor was purchasing ketchup chips and frozen pastry shells (tart-​sized), which can’t be found anywhere in Michigan. Once you stop here for most of your needs, the results are several bags of junk food, teas, President’s Choice brand sauces and cookies, and a story to tell whenever I come back through the Tunnel.
Border guard: «You’re the only person I’ve met who goes into Canada to shop.»
Me: «I need my comfort food, and it’s straight to Superstore and Costco for me.»
Border guard: *snickers*
Real Canadian Superstore is part of the Loblaw’s chain, which means they have access to one of the best in-​store brands anywhere: President’s Choice. I’ve seen bidding wars over a bag of double chunk chocolate PC’s cookies. Their cookie flavours are honestly something else: mango coconut? Sign me up. Raspberry tea cookie? I’m all over it. I am not a sweet tooth and PC cookies for some reason never come out super-​saturated in sugar. I’ve given them out to American friends as Christmas and housewarming presents. When I give advance noticed, I’m inevitably three bags heavier to serve their needs. (Yeah, that’s me, cookie hustler for President’s Choice.)
I found my newest crack here: diet blood orange pop. Seriously good stuff that is much cheaper than a certain Italian brand who shall not be named, and the diet lychee, pomegranate, and mango flavours made me a pop convert again. Dammit, see what this place does?
This particular store is very large, divided into the pharmacy and clothing on the right side, the left devoted to produce and the bakery, and all the frozen and prepacked goods in the middle. Produce is typically higher in price than elsewhere, worth checking out Costco first. I don’t bother with the meats either because they can’t come back easily, but prices are competitive for Black Diamond cheese and frozen goods. I’m best familiar with the seasonal goods, the chips section — with dozens of neat flavours beyond ketchup, like the tasty Greek, Moroccan Spice, Calgary barbeque, and ethnic variations from tandoori to cracked pepper — and dry goods. They’ve got a nice variety of Asian cuisine and their Christmas options include a lot of rarer Italian snacks.
A coupon wall the moment you walk in the door shaves costs off participating products. Upstairs is a women’s-only gym and a cafeteria area to nosh on your purchases with a fine view of the shoppers and their giant carts below. They also have a small in-​store wine shop that lures you after the checkouts with samples, a drycleaner, and banking services at the President’s Choice credit union which is worth checking out — their rates are some of the best in Canada.