Every weekend, a small army of cars and minivans comes up from the south.

They descend on a warehouse-looking building out in the farmland of southern Lancaster County.

They come carrying cash. And looking for bargains.

And as the national economy continues its much-publicized tumble, expect to see more visitors, as well as county residents, hitting stores like Ben Beiler's in Providence Township, north of Quarryville.

Known as "Ben's" or "BB's" to its devoted customers, the store is one of a handful of Amish-run discount grocery stores here.

According to the state Department of Agriculture, Ben's is also one of 346 salvage retail stores in Pennsylvania, meaning it gets its products from closeout markets or reclamation food warehouses.

While closeout markets generally carry products that were overstocked or discontinued from regular grocery shelves, reclamation warehouses carry products that were banged or dented or part of a damaged load.

Amish entrepreneur Ben Beiler opened the store in 1986 and has similar stores in Cumberland, Lebanon and Berks counties. The company slogan is "Bents, Bumps & Bunches of Bargains."

Only about half or a third the size of some large chain grocery stores, Ben's is a busy place, especially on Saturdays.

That's when the out-of-towners descend on the store to stock up on everything from paper products and health-and-beauty items to milk and other cold stuff in the walk-in cooler.

For the adventurous — or those needing an inexpensive ice cream fix — there's also a walk-in freezer.

One of the frequent shoppers is Geri Wymer of Conowingo, Md., who recently stocked her minivan with what looked like a million and one cans and boxes.

"This is the only way we can afford to feed six kids!" she exclaimed, as her husband Riley pointed to a trunk stocked with stuff.

"We grab whatever we can find that's a decent bargain," he said, holding up a few samples. "Actually, the whole place is nothing but bargains."

As store officials themselves will tell you, it isn't your one-stop, get-everything-you-need-for-the-week kind of store. But they estimate that the prudent shopper can get a good two-thirds of their family's needs there.

Inside the store, everyone from penny-pinching college students and parents on a budget to those driving Hummers root through the store shelves and boxes in search of cheap canned goods, boxed foods, even refrigerated and frozen items.

Several of the northern Maryland shoppers talk about carpooling to Ben's to save gas.

On a recent Saturday morning, the store parking lot on Camargo Road just off Route 222 was jammed with vehicles, many with out-of-state plates.

Steve and Cindy Hurst of Pasadena, Md., between Baltimore and Annapolis, say they make the trip to Ben's about once a month.

"You can buy a box of canned goods — some of 'em are a little dinged and damaged and all that, but where else can you buy a box full of canned goods for just a couple of dollars?" Hurst says.

Ann Baker, 67, of Perryville, Md., says her husband, Oliver, shops in Ben's every day, even though it's a 36-mile trip one-way.

The Bakers, who have been shopping at Ben's since 1996, get things like carrot juice, soy milk, cottage cheese, tomatoes and frozen foods, and estimate their $8 bill at Ben's would be $25 in a regular grocery store.

Geri Wymer says, "People in Harford and Cecil counties have heard about it and are coming up here."

The store only accepts cash or in-state checks (with a valid photo driver's license). The store is closed Sundays and Mondays. Shelves are restocked on Mondays, making Tuesday a busy day as well.

The state's Department of Agriculture inspects salvage grocery stores at least once a year. Despite the fact the groceries may be damaged or expired, the number of violations is no higher than that of traditional grocers, department officials have said.

A sampling of the bargains on a recent day at Ben's include 25 cents for a can of soda; 79 cents for a box of Hamburger Helper; 75 cents for a big box of pancake and waffle mix; and 50 cents for both a box of rice and a 100-pack of coffee filters.

Each of the shoppers who spoke with the New Era described a bill that was one-half or even one-third of what it would cost in a more traditional grocery store.

And many of the shoppers don't come from far away, like Michele Giglio of Lancaster, shopping with her stepdaughter, Ashley Reed.

"We always do very, very well here," she says.


Staff writer David O'Connor can be reached at doconnor@LNPnews.com or 481-6033.