Bought a sandwich today. Roll was like a week old crumbly thing. They offer reduced prices on day old sandwiches but this one was made the same day. Meanwhile, they have kept going up and up on the sandwich prices (not unlike others out there) but at least when they were cheaper priced and you got a stale roll or soggy wet inside roll because they don't know how to make a sandwich (the wet veggies do NOT go on the roll if it's sitting on a shelf for a time)...at least you weren't out much. Maybe just a fluke - but not buying a sandwich there again. read more

Well I took a trip back to the 1960s today ala Bells Orono IGA. After hearing their jingle on the radio which for some reason sticks with me and I find myself singing it every time I see the store, I was a bit disappointed. This store is a relic from bygone days pre supermarket chains. That said I enjoy independent supermarkets and don't shy away from them. Sometimes they can be very surprising with local items and wares. Now I'll admit I've been here twice, first time to buy a rotisserie chicken, and second time to purchase beer, rice and chicken. Both times their rotisserie chicken was the driest, horrid flavor chicken I've ever had. What's odd too is the second time it was in a different container like they changed providers, but it still tasted horrible. I'm a lazy cook and purchase a lot of rotisserie chicken. A little tip try the new Walmart Garlic rotisserie chicken, it's restaurant delicious. Anyway my point is it wasn't an isolated incident. I will not make that mistake a third time. I'm giving 3 stars too reserve judgement as perhaps it's just the chicken. The produce looks good and plenty when walking in. Yes as other reviewers have pointed out it's. It the cleanest, but what IGA is? The staff are all very young, college students I guess and it always seems well staffed, never waited in line. They have hand written signs everywhere like "plainclothes police walking in store" which cracks me up considering how small the store is my imagination runs to some poor cop walking around 4 aisles for 8 hours. Now the meat department (sans deli ready cooked meals) look good and next time I'll go for a steak or the like. Looks like they must use a local butcher or do it themselves as they have more cuts of meat then I've ever seen at a grocery store. Also have beer, wine and liquor, and a great selection at that. So stay tuned for part 2 and hopefully better. But remember, stay away from the rotisserie chicken..... read more

A trip down memory lane felt like I was back in my neighborhood grocery store Lawrence Massachusetts ( 1950 ) . The prices are great and you service with a smile . A bit cluttered but it is clean . It's a 25 minute drive but worth it . read more

Tuesdays are senior discount day. Seniors are supposed to get 5% off on all purchases except on discounted items or specials. CHECK YOUR RECEIPTS AND DO THE MATH. Last Tuesday I checked my receipt after getting home and found I was only given about 2.7% off. $35.28 total, saved only .97 cents. Savings should have been $1.76. I went back next day and was reimbursed the difference. I shop here about once a week and have always liked this store, I just never have double-checked this until now. CHECK YOUR RECEIPTS AND DO THE MATH. read more

The place isn't the cleanest in town, but who cares if the floors are a little dusty when the prices are so cheap? Overall, the IGA is the cheapest grocery store in the Orono/Bangor area. They also tend to have unadvertised sales. Once they had this huge batch of half gallons of fruit juices going for 3/$1. Surplus and close to expiring? Fell off the back of a truck? Who knows and who cares! On a tight college budget, you can get all your basic staples and then some for mega cheap prices. They've also got these giant sandwiches in the deli area going for $7 a pop. I could eat lunch for a week off one of these sandwiches. read more

I'm giving this place 1/2 a star more than it deserves. First this is the only market in the area (that I know of) without making a long haul to Bangor. Parking, plenty. Staff, they got them, but the light is not to bright in the attic if you catch my drift. Ended up here as I need stuff for dinner as I offered to cook at my friends... Most supermarkets, tomato products are all together next to the spaghetti, right?... here, WRONG! Spaghetti sauce and paste are with the pasta. Crushed, pureed, whole or otherwise are an isle over in canned veggies. Whoever heard of such a thing! While this place has fair prices (compared to where I come from), the lay out SUCKS! I must have made several laps looking for whatever and then "sorry it's a holiday week. Nothing will be in until Monday." Who the hell runs out of cottage cheese with pineapple mid week! What do Mainer's do with cottage cheese with pineapple to run out midweek... I honestly don't want to know.... And why does the dairy distributor only come on Mondays?! What type of place is this... NOT IMPRESSED... if this place didn't have it. Family Dollar did next door. This place is every lacking in the spice department (hence my trip next door)... and very lacking in selection as well (found more goodies next door). Unfortunately the area is kinda stuck with this place unless you want to make the drive into Bangor... Oh and the isles are very tight... carriage and half wide. read more

Okay supermarket. Not the greatest, but the prices are cheaper on some things. Watch out for the tuna fish sandwiches in the deli. One day I had one that tasted like it sat out too long without being refrigerated. Thinking this was a fluke I tried another several weeks later and it tasted awful too. Needless to say I won't be getting any more of these from this store. An interesting side-note: One morning just before 9:00 am on a weekday I was waiting in the check out line at this store. In front of me was a man buying just a sandwich and a case of beer. I guess he needed something to wash the sandwich down with. :) read more

Yea, I'm a fan of this place and here's why: 1. Friendly. I've never seen a cross face among the workers; everyone is helpful. 2. Speed of check out. I go into the big Hannaford's Supermarket up the street, and I have to check out my own groceries or wait in line several cartloads back to be checked out and bagged. At Bell's if you're seen waiting more than a few seconds, someone rushes right over an opens a new lane just for you. It's great. 3. Basics. If you're looking for something super fancy, you will be out of luck, but if you need decent fresh veggies, good meats, frozen items, canned goods, coffee, ice cream, baking goods, etc., then if they don't have it you can probably get along without it. I hope this place is in business for many years to come. read more

I like IGA its a cool store great sells and the people who work at IGA are nice and well help you

As a local, I love this store. They have the best prices, over the other supermarket in town. The staff are friendly and helpful. The produce is fresh and good. And the meat is butcher cut, you can also order what you would like, but the you have to wait for delivery. When I visit elsewhere, I am always frustrated. due to prices the lack of helpful staff and my unfamiliarity with the store. read more

Nice people working there and a good selection of items, especially for a small supermarket. Highly recommended.

Small compared to Hannaford down the street, but sometimes has better prices and different selection.

I have seen numerous supermarkets in many states, but this is one of the best. I am pleased with the variety and selections available. The prices are quite reasonable and the staff has always been most helpful. I can happily recommend it to any and everyone. read more

Prices are pretty average but if you look around for unadvertised specials they are always great bargains. Be sure to check the expiration date on some foods because these great deals should be consumed soon after purchase. read more

Most of the employees are very nice. The store is a bit drab, so atmosphere is lacking, but there are some decent prices on a number of items I usually buy. My one complaint is that whoever does the signs around the store makes a lot of spelling mistakes. I tried to get them to pay attention to this, but to no avail. eg, the plural of banana is not now, nor ever was, banana's (with an apostrophe). It just looks bad. I do like having this store nearby - it is the closest grocery to my residence. read more

Dirty, unprofessional. The prices are lower, but you trade in service and cleanliness. Reminds me of a general store. Almost all of the signs are hand written, concrete floors. read more

Better deals then other stores in the area! Do your shopping at the other store in town, then shop at the iga, compare your savings! Been a customer since they opened, in store specials are great and so are the people! read more

There are not a lot of grocery stores to choose from in the Bangor area; I can think of 5 or 6 Hannaford and 1 Shaw's, as well as the Walmart/Target options. Bell's is a GREAT option for those who like a hometown market with decent prices (and more convenient than going to Bangor, Old Town, or Brewer). I shop at Bell's weekly on Tuesdays for the senior discount. It's only 5%, but every little bit helps, and they offer it to those 55 and older. On Wednesdays they do a 5% discount for college students. Don't know of ANY other grocery store in the area that does this! Bell's is a little run down around the edges. It reminds me of going to the market when I was a kid, before our country was filled with mega-conglomerates for all kinds of shopping. They have, hands down, the best meat and best meat prices in the area; more variety and better quality than Hannaford for sure! They also have the cheapest milk prices in the area, and usually the best price on eggs (just bought large white eggs, $1.50 a dozen from a local farmer; Hanny's wanted $2.79 from wherever they are sourcing from this week). They have a decent in-store deli and lots of freshly-packaged things that you can use in a variety of ways- pepperoni or cooked crumbled sausage for pizzas, store-made chicken, tuna, egg, potato, pasta, etc. salads, sandwiches, deli platters, wings, meal-type salads, etc. Produce prices are reasonable, but choose carefully; they don't stock in the quantities or have the turnover that Hannaford sees in produce. They also have a mark-down section for fruits, veggies, bakery products, frozen products. Perhaps the best thing about Bell's is the Unadvertised in-store specials! Just bought Ken's salad dressing for $2 ($3.79 at Hanny's), cream cheese for $1.29 (8oz), sour cream for $1.50. ALL cheaper than at Hannaford. Great variety of beer and amazing wine section, too! read more