Ever wonder where all the 'Amish stores' get their stuff? I suspect it's this place, but what do I know? All I can say is that given the same exact items, Zook's have the cheapest prices anywhere!
It's a large warehouse - nothing fancy, and like most of the Amish stores, you never know what they'll have from week to week (you takes you chances). In fact, most of the items you'll see, you'll never see again. Much of this is overstock, or out of, or near out of date stock. Which is cool - you just have to pick out what your comfort level allows.
Helpful Hints for the Smart Shopper:
Get there early. No, not 7 AM (when they open). Get in LINE at 6:30 if you want a cart. Otherwise, you might be waiting awhile and it gets crowded FAST!
Take a light jacket. I don't care if it's 99 degrees outdoors, like it was on our last visit. Take one for the freezer. This isn't the same kind of freezer you've seen in most Amish stores, these freezers are monstrous industrial-level behemoths that will freeze the skin from your bones. Keep moving, take in breaths through the nose, cover up any exposed skin, dress in layers, etc.
TAKE CASH... Or don't. You don't have to, really. It's just that you get hit with a 2% 'convenience fee' if you use a card. It's the same kind of fee any other store hits you with - magically included in the price of your items. I didn't take enough cash, so I was warned by the tall Amishman that this would happen. Once I signed for my card, I told him that it was indeed, 'convenient'. He was only slightly amused. Getting the Amish to laugh is a challenge (but it CAN be done!) :)
Go for the trip, stay for the savings. If you are the kind interested in some of the best kind of scenery offered in PA, this is a GREAT trip in which to discover it. I love this area, and honestly, it's gorgeous to drive through. It's a bit out of the way for most people, but there are more benefits to the trip than just saving a few bucks on a case of potato chips.
Take some pictures and SHARE here! Don't know why more people don't do this. Have a sense of pride by contributing to the Amish warehouse 'community'. I'm not suggesting you get t-shirts made up and march in support. I'm just saying that not all the best deals are represented on Zook's Facebook page.
SIDE NOTE: This review is going to be dated quite soon, I suspect. After all, our government can't keep printing money and expect it to be worth the same as it was before. So, all of the examples I'm posting here are pre-inflationary explosion - coming soon to an economy near you.
You'll just have to take me and my pictures' word for it: Yes, these were real prices back in July of 2020 - no Photoshop at work here! I'm sorry for you people of the future. You'll never know how...
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