Big Trees Market (long ago known as Applewood - they still accept checks made out to them as I found out delving way back into my childhood memories at the check stand instead of writing the damn check correctly) is the best supermarket within 50 miles either direction on Hwy 4- hell, dare I say 100 miles? Seriously, the staff is friendly (although some of the of the patrons may not be if they even get a hint of you being a flat lander) and attentive. The meat selection and more importantly, the butcher, is one of the best that we've encountered. The specials are always worth buying extra of at the meat counter and if you need a special cut all you have to do is ask and most likely they'll have it. The housemade sausages are worth a try as well. The produce is pretty good as well- they always have an impressive selection of organics and do a great job of playing to their customers. Even the basics (canned goods, spices, etc) are worth looking into- they are always better priced that what you would find elsewhere (especially the bay area). But most notable is the wine selection- they have wines from great local wineries and some biggies from Napa and Sonoma, and the prices are always competitive. This place is a must stop if you're any where near Arnold. read more

This market has the BEST meat counter! Everyone who works behind the counter is a real butcher! They are so knowledgeable and have given me excellent advice over and over. How long should I cook this? Smoker or grill? Can you pound this for me because I'm going to stuff it? What's the difference between Boston Butt and pork sirloin? What meat would you use for Beef Wellington? They always have the answer and take time to explain. They remember me and ask me how my dish turned out. The produce is wonderful. I asked for fresh turmeric and they got it! Great liquor department too with reasonable prices. The entire staff is so friendly and helpful. They give seniors a discount during certain mid week days. I came from the Bay Area where we have access to everything but I have to say, this is my favorite grocery/market ever! Thank you Big Trees~Arnold. read more

While we have been going here for years when we visit my in-laws' cabin, the main reason is because of the convenience even if it's a ways down the hill... It has more than the camp Connell store. + It has the basics. - The prices are higher than you'd see at a grocery store in a larger town. + Usually, the people that work there are friendly enough. - Sadly, I had an experience that left me very unimpressed and quite upset this past December... Because the cabin we stay at has its limitations to local numbers only, we had to purchase a calling card for some work calls I had to make (yes, while on vacation). Unfortunately, the person did not bother to charge the card and I was unable to use it. After calling in, I was transferred to 3 different people and finally spoke to the manager... who was not only unhelpful (told me to drive back in to get it charged!), he also had an attitude that really upset me if he is supposed to be the manager of the rest of the people providing customer service! It was appalling. Bottom Line - You go here because you need to, not because you want to. And now, I'll definitely prefer to not have to from this past experience. So disappointing! read more

Love this market! I'll admit, I was expecting a market in line with a small town. I showed up with my San Francisco PC attitude and a reluctance to go in. Man, was I blown away! The first time I looked for white sesame seeds, they had them. Their organic produce rivals rainbow grocery. This weekend we got empty apple boxes for packing and my friend even had some playful flirty banter to go with them. Big trees market is a gem among the big trees, a diamond surrounded by rough, a fancy market in the middle of loud tourists and rugged terrain read more

If you find yourself in Arnold, this is the place to go for groceries. They have just as good a selection of anything you need as any grocery store you would find in more populated areas. They have a great selection of beer and the meat dept has a good variety of quality cuts. The prices on some items may be a little higher than average but it balances out because there are other items priced lower than average. read more

Extremely rude to locals, worth the trip to another county to do my shopping. Wish I could give the place "no stars" read more

Big Trees is a great market for a relatively small town. They have an excellent meat counter, good seafood, a nice deli counter and lots of specialty foods that you don't expect at a general grocery store in a relatively isolated area. The folks that work there are totally friendly and nice and the prices are completely reasonable. If you're visiting the area do keep in mind that locals shop at Big Trees too, and they're not super interested in standing in line behind you while you try to figure out how to split your $150 liquor purchase among your friends. A few weeks back I was behind a woman trying to get milk and eggs who just about went postal on the giggling women in front of her buying nothing but bacardi and absolut. In other words, act like you aren't an asshole from the Big City. K? read more

This is my neighborhood grocery store when We go to our cabin and I think it made my property value jump up being only a few minutes away. What a surprise to enjoy the same type of service and quality, that I expect to get on the Peninsula in the Bay Area, but at such a remote location. I was gladly surprised and I feel fortunate to have this place nearby when we go to Arnold. read more

This is a terrific market! No need to haul groceries up for your vacation, these folks have just about whatever you need. Good selection of organic produce, La Brea fresh bread, and meat substitutes and tofus for the vegetarians. One suggestion: they could up their cheese game. If you want the really good cheese go to the Lavender Ridge tasting room in Murphys or bring it up with you. read more

I live in the SF Bay Area. Over the phone I ordered a quarter sheet cake for my mother's 86th birthday party in Dorrington. Her favorite is carrot cake. Crystal, the baker, took my order with all the details. We picked up the cake at the agreed time and Crystal carried the cake all the way to our truck in the parking lot. The cake was wonderful. My mother said it had "perfect flavor and consistency". My 4 year old grandson gave it a big thumbs up too. The frosting was a big hit with everyone. Next time you're hosting a birthday party I recommend Crystal and the team at Big Trees Market. read more

Big Trees market is run by crooks. I purchased groceries there yesterday, but upon arriving home, discovered that they had mislabeled the fresh squeezed OJ bottle but refused to refund me the difference in price, stating that without a receipt, it was too bad. I was a long time customer, who never bothered to save receipts, but I do not want to do business with dishonest people, so they have lost me as a customer. read more

This is a great little market, and you'll find just about anything you could possibly want or need, at a reasonable price. If it's been a while since you've visited Arnold, you will be amazed by what they have to offer here! Highlights: * Fantastic wine section! They have a great selection of local wines, plus some really nice choices from outside the area. Pro Tip: Sometimes their prices on the local wines are better than you'd get at the winery! * Wonderful deli! Seriously. Check out your choices: beautiful prepared salads; tasty cheese; high-quality deli & cured meat. * Freezers stocked with quite a selection of ice cream! Makes sense for summertime visitors. * Lots of candy and pretty good magazine choices. (Definitely falls into the "want" rather than "need" category!) * Happy, friendly checkout folks. In short: long gone are the days when you'd visit Arnold, realize you forgot some particular foodstuff, and drive back to Angels Camp to pick it up (or choose to live without it, and eat potato chips and ice for the duration of your stay). Big Trees is your reasonably priced resource! read more

I agree with all the other reviews: Big Trees Market has a caring, and sincerely friendly staff that go out of their way to provide excellent customer service. I always head to the wine section to check out the specials. They have an incredible selection and you can find some great deals here on local wines. It may be the only game in town but it's a much more enjoyable shopping experience then you'll find anywhere in the bay area. read more

Good selection of produce & other misc groceries , good wine selection particularly local wines Fresh seafood selection is below average but that's really the only negative view, otherwise an above average supermarket, decent prices read more

I concur with the other reviews. Having never been to Arnold I didn't know what to expect grocery wise. It was nice, clean, very large alcohol selection which is important when staying in remote areas. Because being drunk and seeing a bear is probably better than being sober and seeing a bear... maybe? Anyways, nice meat selection with fresh bacon and hot dogs. And yes, the locals don't care too much for you trying to split your purchase with credit cards, especially when you are traveling with kids and your main purchase is alcohol. read more

I was shocked by the booze section. They have a bigger selection of Champaign than any supermarket or Costco I've ever been to. Their Scotch whisky selection was the best I've seen in any bar or store in the Bay Area (except for that one Irish pub in SF, the name escapes me at this moment). On top of the excellent booze section they have food and other camping related stuff in case you run out or forget something. read more

We are in Arnold monthly and always shopped at Big Trees Market. Today, there was no sign of COVID-19 safety precautions. The couple in front of us had no masks. The checker raised her face shield to talk with them. He coughed on the card reader and when I asked the checker if she had something to clean it she got angry, wiped a bunch of hand sanitizer on the sides of it leaving a gooey mess but not cleaning the part you touch. There was no sign the carts are sanitized and nothing to do it yourself. I'm guessing nothing is being cleaned in that store. I can't patronize a place that disregards the health of their customers. read more

Terrific little supermarket, offering the usual stuff found in the larger chains, except this place also offers delicious sandwiches, the best rotisserie chicken I've ever had, along with plenty of friendly, polite and helpful employees. It's also fun to see all the little swallow nests in this strip mall, during springtime. Good times in the Sierras. read more

Terrible produce section, most stuff is not very fresh. I have bought rotten meat here more than once, and even bought spoiled dairy products. It's kinda the only game in town, so they don't seem to care. read more

I just love this place. While you won't catch me buying any seafood there, the meat selection is fantastic. A must: the thick cut bone in pork chops. I don't know where they get their pork, but it reminds of how pork used to taste (missing that!) I often find better product at this little grocery store in the mountains than I do at my super Safeway and Whole Foods. And the upside: everyone there is just plain nice. read more

We love big trees market, as the quality is very good, and it saves us from having to shop near home and schlepping everything in bags and coolers up to the mountains. Good produce, fresh, well cut seafood and meat selection (the pre-seasoned tri-tip is the best!), and a really nice staff. In 6 years, I've never had a complaint with their fresh food. Fair prices, too, considering the location far away from the wholesalers. Good place! Larry P.S. There's a restroom in the back, perfect after a 3 hour drive. read more

what a great market! we went camping at big trees and stopped by Big Trees Market several times. so friendly and helpful! big city markets need to follow their lead! read more

One of the best small-town grocery stores that I've ever been to. It reminds me a bit of the grocers when I was growing up in the 70s and 80s- before all of them were bought out by the big guys. It's not small, but it's also not enormous. Despite that, it seems to stock everything you could need and then some. There's a nice collection of fresh baked goods, a wonderful meat and seafood department, prepared foods, and a fantastic produce section including a sizeable organic selection. What's more, every employee seems to go out of their way to ensure your visit is a good one. read more

This store gets a solid four stars by Bay Area standards, and it's way up in the mountains! There's about one star for every thousand people that live in Arnold...that's pretty remarkable. Produce, wine, and cheese are pretty good given the location. What really highlights the experience is the long old-fashioned butcher's counter. They have home-made sausage...can't eat my breakfast without some Big Tree's breakfast links. It's pretty cool that you can escape the Bay Area for a weekend in the mountains, but you don't have to sacrifice on the quality of food that you can cook. In certain cases it's even better. read more

This place was great. We stopped here before we went to our cabin in Arnold. Great variety of produce and products. It has a great small grocery feel to it. Staff was super friendly! Hopefully if we go up to the cabin again in the future, we can stop by again. read more

I've been going to this market for years...always been happy with it, especially the meat counter...It is the best by far... Recently, I had a special request for a bridal shower I was co-hosting... went in and talked directly to "Sherrie" in the Deli department... Then processed to call her and special order over the phone 4 Armenian Cracker Bread Sandwiches... "Sherrie' had the order ready the next morning... These were the best anyone had EVER had... Service, fabulous handmade sandwiches, and "Sherrie" was delightful to work with... Huge "Thank-You" to Sherrie in the Deli department read more

Great full service market in Arnold. In fact, it's the only market in Arnold. Having said that, I appreciate the early morning free coffee and friendly service. Their selection of fresh vegetables and fruit is great. The prices are a little higher but that's fine considering it's the only market around. Appreciate that they have Senior Discount days for Tuesday and Wednesday (as of 2011). Such a deal! Thank you. read more

I was in Big Trees market today and there was an entire family that did not have masks. I asked him where his mask was, and he said he had a health condition and couldn't wear one. I asked the clerk if she would follow up and she said it's not a mandate in California--and then she said it's county by county--not true read more

Living in Bear Valley, this is the closest place to buy groceries, and while it's a little more expensive than shopping in Sonora, Angels Camp or Carson City, I'm happy to give Big Trees my business! Their meat counter is really impressive. They always have several good sale items, good thick-cut bacon and a great selection of sausage - including bulk sausage (not in the casing), which I use a lot. Seriously their meat counter is one of the best I've seen. Their own brand of sauces and seasonings is great as well. Lots of delicious marinades, salad dressings, spice mixes etc. Overall they have a great selection of products and the only thing I haven't been able to find here is protein powder. Decent selection of all-natural/organic food and lots of non-dairy substitutes, several brands of kombucha and good quality produce. Oh, and a really great wine department featuring lots of locals wines! Yeah you will probably pay a little more here than at Save Mart, but their great selection and the friendliest staff make this place a winner. read more

They have a great selection of meats and produce. The employee's are fast and friendly. As a local, I shop there weekly. Ron read more

I love this supermarket, it is chaulk full of delicious foods, and I especially love the deli section especially the fish and hamburgers. We often make our own hamburgers from the minced meat that they have, and they are literally some of the tastiest burgers I have ever had. The market has much great produce, deli, bakery, and standard grocery store items. Expect to find their brand Western Family abound, it is a good brand. The store is not overly large but big enough to provide for all that you could need, and is the biggest grocery store in the area, unless you head back to Murphys and go to the grocery store there. The staff are friendly, and they seem to always have good quality, well stocked food, but it can be a little crowded. read more

How weird is it that a market up in the Sierras is BETTER than 90% of what I have available in the Bay Area? They have an amazing meat department, a wine selection that rivals Draegers, and their produce is to die for. Everyone I know from the Bay Area who comes up to Arnold raves about this place. To top it off, the staff (from the guy working in produce who made a great recommendation) to the checkers/baggers - over the top helpful and friendly. My local Safeway should take a hint :) read more

For a grocery store in a small town, this place has a lot to offer. We stay in a cabin very close by when we visit Arnold and this store is always busy. The bagger even remembered our visit in the morning, "weren't you guys here earlier today?" speaking to my DH and our friend. I intervene and said, "yes, we were. They were sober then." The bag boy was concern of their visible intoxication and luckily we were there to buy cantaloupe and honey dew and not liquor. He started asking questions of who was driving. My friend pointed me out and I think he talked to me a little longer to make sure I wasn't drunk. Good man for trying to make sure we were getting home alright. The only con is that I forgot my face moisturizer at home and they only had ponds available. There was no make up and the aisle for beauty products were lacking. read more

NOW this is where they have the greatest selection of local wines that you will find anywhere. I have found some very old wines here in the past like 1995, 1997, etc., now where else in the county can you find treasures like that. The people are very super friendly, but then I used to live here and still consider it to be my real home town even if I do live in Modesto. read more

This market is really your only option for groceries or any random things you may need if you are camping in Big Trees and forgot to bring something. While this market will have most of what you need, it always seems to be crowded! The aisles in the store are narrow which causes problems if there are a lot of people in one aisle. The real problem here is that the lines are always long and there are usually only a few registers open (at least the times I have been here). This market would be much better if they could get the lines to move faster and also if the aisles were less cluttered. read more

This is the kinda place that instinctively makes me go "what the hell is wrong with the bay area?" . . . And I say this because the food selection is insanely rocking, staff is out of site, and prices are amazingly great (as its on par with Piedmont Market). Huge selection of fresh and yummy eats, great deli (cheeses, breads and crackers and more), fresh salads, delish deserts, etc. Considering where its at along with the competition (or lack thereof), you'd think BT would up the capitalistic anti but they don't . read more

Everything you might expect from a grocery store. Store is spacious and well organized. Large selection of food from all major brands. Staff is friendly. Long opening hours. read more

A terrific grocery store and deli. Has everything you could need, including some things that are hard to find even in the Bay Area. Large selection, great, fresh salads in the deli and sandwiches. Yay! read more

If you want to buy expired, overpriced food look no further! My family and I have been giving this store business since they opened, and if I think back on all the expired food that we've purchased from them over 3 generations, it would be in the hundreds if not thousands of dollars. Lately we have been having a really bad streak of buying moldy, expired and opened products. Less than a month ago we saw a RAT scurry from under one shelving rack to another, further putting us off from this local business. We have gotten bean sprouts that were moldy in the container when they were still well within their date, expired dog and cat food, expired tea, expired eggs. I am extremely disappointed with how this business is going and considering all of the new business with everybody that moved up, they should be moving so much product that stuff isn't able to go bad on their shelves. Making a trip to Walmart for food you know will be good is worth it, and Walmart is more cost effective even with the 30 mile drive one way. read more

My all time favorite stop when I'm in Arnold!!! We pick-up everything we need before heading to the cabin for the weekend. I LOVE this market. It's an IGA, which are really nowhere to be found down in the bay area. They have the BEST meat, produce and deli! Better than any Safeway that is close by me in the bay area, which is pathetic considering what a huge metropolitan area the bay area is. This place kicks Safeway to the curb! I always find whatever I need and then some. For example they sell Diestal Farms turkey in the deli! Big plus!! We got some marinated tri-tip from the meat department the last time we stopped in and it was delicious. The cashiers are all super friendly and the store is clean and easy to shop!!! So sad I don't have a big trees market where I live. Not sure why a lot of reviews say their prices are steep, I think they are right in line with any grocery store in the bay area. Plus, I'm much happier spending my money at a local owned market than the evil Safeway empire. read more