If you do any comparison shopping at food stores in Ocean City, you will find that the prices at the major supermarkets are competitive with those in most urban areas. The only problem with our food stores is the long lines at the checkout that occur every Saturday and Sunday.
On most weekends in July and August, we have in excess of 200,000 new folks moving into condos that have no food, disposables, or other essential supplies. Since virtually everyone arrives after noon, the majority of these folks head for the stores between 1PM and 5PM. As the result, all the Ocean City supermarkets are as crowded as typical supermarkets the day before Thanksgiving and remain that way until early evening every Saturday and Sunday.
After you get past this weekend crush at the supermarkets, you will not encounter much of a delay if you visit any of the supermarkets in mid-week for re-supply. However, if you have spent 3-5 hours in the car just to get here, you sure don't want to spend another two hours just picking up bread, cereal, milk and something to make for dinner.
Ocean City Condos has solved this problem for our guests by subscribing to a food delivery service. Basically, we pay for one free food delivery from a grocery delivery service for each of our arriving guests. You pay for the food. We pay to have it delivered and stored away in your unit. While you cannot buy everything offered at the supermarket, you will find an ample supply of products to get you started at prices which are comparable to what you would pay if you waited in line. In most cases, the food you have ordered will be delivered and put away in the refrigerator and cabinets before you arrive.
You can view the supplies available for order at the McQuay's Marketplace Grocery Service Website (www.mcquaysmarketplace.com) by simply viewing their online catalog. Orders can be placed online , by FAX (302.227.5975 ), or by phone (302.227.5655 ). When you place your order, simply tell them you are staying at an Ocean City Condos condominium unit and give them the building and unit number where you will be staying. We have an agreement with them to bill us for the initial delivery charges for food deliveries to our units during July and August.