United States – Navigating Daily Life

Everyday Grocery Stores

• Walmart
  • Large-scale supermarket and general merchandise store. Comparable to a hypermarket; strong focus on price and selection.
• Randalls
  • Traditional supermarket with a more classic layout and regional presence.
• Target
  • Mid-sized grocery selection combined with clothing, home, and everyday essentials.
• Costco (membership required)
  • Bulk-focused warehouse store, best suited for larger households or long-term purchases.
• Kroger
  • One of the largest national supermarket chains in the U.S., offering a traditional grocery shopping experience with a broad assortment of everyday products. Strong regional presence in many states, including parts of the South and Midwest.

Higher Standards & Organic Focus

• Sprouts Farmers Market
  • Strong focus on fresh produce, organic food, and health-oriented products.
• Phoenicia Speciality Foods
  • Wide range of international and specialty products.
• Trader Joes
  • Smaller stores with a curated selection and strong private-label focus.
• Whole Foods Market
  • Premium grocery store emphasizing quality, sourcing standards, and prepared foods.

Beverages & Alcohol

• Total Wine & More
  • Large-format retailer specializing in wine, spirits, and beer.

International & World Cuisine

• World Market
  • Selection of international food items alongside home and lifestyle products.
• Phoenecia Speciality Foods
  • Particularly strong for Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and global ingredients.

Drugstores in the United States combine the functions of a pharmacy, a drugstore, and a small convenience store.
They are used for prescriptions, over-the-counter medication, personal care products, and everyday essentials.

• CVS
  • One of the largest pharmacy chains in the U.S.
  • Offers prescription services, health products, cosmetics, snacks, and basic household items.
• Walgreens
  • Very similar in concept to CVS, with a strong focus on pharmacy services and everyday convenience items.

Notes

• Drugstores often stay open late or operate 24/7
• Prescriptions are filled directly at the in-store pharmacy counter
• Many locations function as a quick alternative to supermarkets for small purchases

This section highlights stores focused on fragrances, cosmetics, and personal care products.
In the U.S., these are often separate from classic drugstores and range from mass-market to premium retailers.

• Sephora
  • International beauty retailer with a strong focus on premium brands, fragrances, and curated product lines.
• Ulta Beauty
  • Broad selection of perfumes, skincare, and cosmetics, combining drugstore brands with higher-end products.

Notes

• Fragrances are commonly tested and purchased in-store
• Sampling culture is strong, especially at Sephora and Ulta
• Prices can vary significantly between retailers and promotions are frequent

Home improvement stores in the U.S. are typically large-format and cover everything from basic tools to building materials, appliances, and garden supplies.

• Lowe’s
  • One of the main home improvement chains in the U.S., comparable to large European DIY stores.
• The Home Depot
  • The largest home improvement retailer in the U.S., known for its extensive selection and warehouse-style layout.

Arts, Crafts & DIY Supplies

• Michaels
  • Focused on arts, crafts, and creative DIY projects, rather than construction or renovation.
• Hobby Lobby
  • Very large craft chain with a strong focus on home décor, seasonal items, framing, and DIY projects. Comparable in size to Michaels, but with a different assortment focus.
• Blick Art Materials
  • High-quality art supplies for drawing, painting, and professional art projects. More specialized and less hobby-focused.
• Jerry’s Artarama
  • Strong focus on fine art materials, canvases, paints, and tools for artists.

Notes

• Stores are usually spacious and highly specialized
• Staff assistance is available, but self-navigation is common
• Product selection is broader than in typical European DIY stores

Electronics and multimedia stores in the U.S. range from large-format retailers to brand-specific stores.
They typically combine consumer electronics, accessories, and service offerings under one roof.

• Best Buy
  • The most common electronics retailer in the U.S.
  • Offers TVs, computers, smartphones, home electronics, and accessories, with in-store support and services.
• Micro Center
  • Strong focus on computers, components, and DIY PC builds.
    Particularly popular with tech enthusiasts and professionals.

Notes

• Large electronics purchases are often made in-store for advice and setup
• Return policies are generally flexible compared to Europe
• Service desks and extended warranties are common offerings

Cars play a central role in everyday life in the United States.
Automotive-related stores and services are therefore widely available and highly specialized.

Car Sales & Used Vehicles

• autotrader.com
• cars.com
• echopark.com
• carmax.com
  • Large-scale used car retailer with fixed pricing and standardized buying processes.
• carvana.com
  • Online-focused car retailer offering home delivery and digital purchasing.
• autonation.com
  • Operates both new and used car dealerships across multiple brands.

Auto Parts & Maintenance

• Firestone Complete Auto Care
  • Nationwide service chain offering inspections, oil changes, brakes, tires, and general vehicle maintenance.
    Representative of standardized automotive service in the U.S.
• AutoZone
  • One of the most common auto parts stores in the U.S.
  • Offers car batteries, oil, tools, replacement parts, and basic maintenance supplies.
• O’Reilly Auto Parts
  • Similar in concept to AutoZone, with a broad selection of parts and accessories.

Car washes & Vehicle Care

• Mister Car Wash
  • One of the largest car wash chains in the U.S., offering automated exterior washes and monthly subscriptions.
• Quick Quack Car Wash
  • Membership-based car wash chain focused on fast, repeat use.
• Independent Car Washes
  • Widely available in most cities, often offering self-service bays, automatic washes, or full-service options.

Notes

• Many auto parts stores offer basic services such as battery testing or installation
• Car buying is often handled through large retail-style dealerships rather than small lots
• Online research and price comparison are an integral part of the process

Everyday Essentials

• Target
  • Everyday clothing, basics, and seasonal items combined with home and lifestyle products.
• Nordstrom
  • Higher-end department store offering fashion, shoes, and accessories with strong service quality.
• Macy’s
  • Traditional department store covering a wide range of brands, styles, and price points.

More Clothing focused / Off-Price

• Marshalls
  • Discount retailer offering branded clothing, shoes, and accessories at reduced prices.
• Ross Dress for Less
  • Off-price store focused on value-oriented fashion and everyday apparel.
• TJ Maxx
  • Similar to Marshalls, with a strong focus on branded items and frequent inventory changes.

Footwear

• DSW
  • Large footwear retailer offering a broad selection of shoes across many brands.
• Foot Locker
  • Sports- and sneaker-focused retailer specializing in athletic shoes and streetwear.

Notes

• Sizing differs noticeably from Europe
• Returns are usually straightforward and generous
• Seasonal sales and outlet concepts are very common

Furniture shopping in the U.S. is often organized around large showroom-style stores, offering complete room setups rather than individual pieces.

• Gallery Furniture
  • Large showroom-style furniture retailer, known for full-room displays and immediate availability of many items.
• IKEA
  • Flat-pack furniture, home accessories, and functional designs with self-service pickup and assembly.
• Ashley HomeStore
  • One of the largest furniture retailers in the U.S., offering a wide range of styles from entry-level to mid-range.
• Rooms to Go
  • Focused on complete room solutions, often sold as bundled sets with coordinated furniture pieces.
• American Furnitue Warehouse
  • Large-scale furniture warehouse with a broad selection across price points and styles

Notes

• Furniture is often sold as part of complete room concepts
• Delivery times vary widely depending on availability and customization
• Showrooms tend to be large and located outside city centers

Online shopping and delivery services are deeply integrated into everyday life in the United States.
Many physical stores are closely connected to delivery platforms, making same-day or next-day delivery common.

Food & Restaurant Delivery

• Uber Eats
  • Widely used for restaurant delivery, groceries, and convenience items.
• DoorDash
  • One of the most common delivery platforms in the U.S., covering restaurants, groceries, and local stores.

Grocery Delivery

• Major Grocery Chains
  • Most large grocery stores offer their own delivery or pickup options, either directly or via delivery platforms.
• Amazon Fresh
  • Online grocery service with scheduled delivery windows, often integrated with Amazon accounts.

Notes

• Delivery fees and tipping are standard
• Same-day delivery is widely available in urban and suburban areas
• Pickup options are often free and commonly used

Moving between cities and attending live events in the United States often relies on a mix of long-distance transport services and digital ticket platforms.
This section highlights commonly used options for intercity travel and sports, concerts, and live events.

Intercity Transportation

• Amtrak
  • The national passenger rail service connecting major cities and regions. Useful for long-distance travel, though often slower and less frequent than in Europe.
• FlixBus
  • Budget-friendly intercity bus service operating on many U.S. routes, especially between larger metropolitan areas.
• Busbud
  • Online platform aggregating bus routes and ticket options from multiple operators across the U.S.
• Busbuster
  • Online platform focused on intercity bus travel in the United States, allowing users to compare routes, schedules, and prices across different operators.
• Vonlane
  • Premium bus service operating primarily in Texas, offering business-class seating, onboard service, and city-center routes.

Events & Sport Tickets

Live sports and entertainment events in the U.S. are commonly accessed through centralized digital ticket platforms.

• StubHub
  • Widely used resale platform for sports, concerts, and live events. Often the go-to option when official tickets are sold out.

Notes

• Long-distance travel and event access in the U.S. are highly digitalized, with booking and planning often done entirely online.