Albertsons Tampa cuts prices to close

Posted Sep 5, 2011 by Dennis Joyce

Updated Sep 6, 2011 at 10:29 AM

Signs in every aisle announce the end is near

Albertsons at Dale Mabry Highway and Waters Avenue in Tampa is closing Oct. 8, the staff there says, and all its inventory, including wine and cosmetics, has been marked down until it’s gone.

We mention wine because there was still a lot of it on the shelves today, at 20 percent off the marked price.

Like a bottle of Brancott Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, already cheap at $11.99 a bottle, for about $9.50.

We mention cosmetics because they’re all 30 percent off.

Other price cuts: Meat, seafood, produce, bakery and dairy – excluding milk – is 5 percent off (no returns on “liquid dairy,” the sign says); grocery, frozen foods and liquor 10 percent off; and general merchandise, health and beauty 25 percent off.

The sign out front says “Up to 50% off” but we couldn’t find anything we wanted at that price.

Two other local Albertsons stores, one in Clearwater and one in Brandon, will remain open.

Albertsons, you’ll recall, founded in Boise, Idaho, in 1939, was one of the nation’s largest grocery retailers before it collapsed in 2006.

Publix bought 49 of its stores, Gordon Food Service or GFS bought its Plant City distribution center, and Minnesota-based SuperValu took over the brand and 463 Albertsons stores, most in the West.

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Feed your kids for cheap this weekend

Posted Sep 2, 2011 by Janine Dorsey

Updated Sep 2, 2011 at 01:40 PM

If you’ve got little ones to feed, you already know that they seem to eat alot.

Take a break from paying for all that this weekend with a couple of local dining deals.

Evos, with five Bay area locations, offers free kids meals with the purchase of an adult meal on Sundays. The offer is good for kids ages 12 and younger.

Evos bills itself as a healthy fast-food alternative and the kids menu options include airbaked chicken strips and hormone and antibiotic-free beef burgers.  The adult meals are a little more gourmet than standard burger fare and include a spicy Thai chicken wrap and Mediterranean Summer salads.

And this weekend only, Sept. 3 - 5, IKEA is offering free combo kids meals for children ages 12 and younger. The menu options include macaroni and cheese, chicken tenders or Swedish meatballs and all include a side dish (veggies, fries or mashed potatoes) and a drink. 

Children must be present and only one combo meal per child, but no purchase is necessary.

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‘1905 Day’ coming to a Columbia near you

Posted Sep 2, 2011 by Janine Dorsey

Updated Sep 2, 2011 at 12:48 PM

Another deal to mark on your freebies calendar (you do keep a separate one just for freebies, right?) is the annual “1905 Day” at Columbia Restaurant. 

On Sunday, Sept. 18, all six Columbia Restaurants - excluding The Columbia Café on the Riverwalk at the Tampa Bay History Center, which will be open, but not offering the specials - will roll back their prices for “1905 Day” to celebrate the 106th anniversary of the family-owned business.

The Columbia has developed a special menu with the prices of yesteryear for this day.

From noon until 7 p.m., guests will enjoy the restaurant’s Spanish cuisine for prices they might have paid long ago.

Menu items will include:

• Chicken & Yellow Rice - $2.95

• Boliche - $2.95

• Merluza “A la Rusa” - $2.95

• “1905 Salad” - $1.95

• Sangria - 95 cents

• Flan - 50 cents

• Coffee - 5 cents

On this day only, reservations are not accepted, and takeout items are not available.

Plan ahead. This is a popular event and lines form early.

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We’re wishing for free ice cream

Posted Sep 2, 2011 by Janine Dorsey

Updated Sep 2, 2011 at 12:50 PM

In our minds, it’s never too early to put free ice cream on your calendar.

So mark Tuesday, Sept. 27, from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m., for visiting Cold Stone Creamery to mark its 10th annual Make-A-Wish donation drive.

Anyone making a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation at that time will get a free “Like It” sized-cup of the custom creation, “Sprinkled With Wishes,” which is Sweet Cream ice cream mixed with brownie pieces, rainbow sprinkles and fudge.

The offer is only good during the advertised time and date, at participating locations, while supplies last.

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BOGO subs at Firehouse Subs

Posted Sep 2, 2011 by Richard Mullins

Updated Sep 2, 2011 at 10:07 AM

This is a genuine Firehouse sub.

Labor Day is a big, national holiday, and that’s bringing out the promotional deals.

One in particular caught our eye: Firehouse Subs is offering a buy-one, get-one free deal on Labor Day.

Just purchase a sub, drink and chips, and you’ll get another sub for free.

To redeem the offer, go to the Firehouse Subs Facebook page and print the coupon, or show it on a mobile phone at the cashier.

Firehouse Subs is growing quickly, and has upwards of a dozen locations around Tampa Bay.

Click here to find a location.

If you know of other great Labor Day deals, share them in the comments below.

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