(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Near the corner of South Circle and Fountain Boulevard, there is a local grocery store providing cheaper prices for name-brand groceries that people in Colorado Springs are starting to check out more.
The Bargain Mart has been open since 2005, but has moved around and changed in size over the years. But owner Jim Krug says he has seen his store grow in size exponentially in recent years.
“In our previous space, I only had 1000 square feet in my back room, so I was limited. This total store right now, 16,000 square feet,” Krug said.
Krug adds that people from all across southern Colorado have made their way to check out the store and save money on the everyday essentials.
Jaedyn Kletze tells FOX21 News she has shopped at Bargain Mart since 2022 to do as the name suggests and save money.
“I would say we save probably a few hundred bucks a month coming to the Bargain Mart,” Kletze said.
Kletze is part of a wave of people the store has seen in recent years.
“We’re almost triple what we were two years ago, and I anticipate that we can grow another 40 percent,” Krug said.
The store has also had recent additions with Krug putting in a frozen section in his store to sell wings and ham, along with other frozen food items. With high inflation and uncertainty with tariffs, many in southern Colorado have felt the impact in their wallets in recent years. Kletze says her buck is worth more at the Bargain Mart.
“Just the other night we spent probably about $70 at a regular grocery store compared to giving just a few bags of groceries,” Kletze said.
Higher prices mean major grocery brands don’t sell all their products. Because of this, Krug is running out of room in his back area.
“I had an opportunity the other day, last week, to buy an entire load of Blue Buffalo pet food. I just didn’t have room,” Krug said.
It’s part of why he’s still selling his products for cheap to make sure people have food on the table through any economic uncertainty, which is something he says his mom would be proud.
“A lot of what I do is, from what I’ve heard from my mom, and it’s not so much me, but it’s what my mom taught me, and that’s to take care of people and to really appreciate them and understand what they’re going through,” Krug said.
FOX21 News did ask Krug if he would consider a move to a bigger location to accommodate all those boxes, but Krug said no. He did add that storage units are being looked into to store more products from orders.
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