I use specialty grocers an awful lot(Burmese markets in particular, though we also have Latino and Bosnian stores I hit up, too). Occasionally, I'll drive an hour to get to an Indian market. I don't use the big box stores too much for food; they're expensive for the products I use most, and they're inconvenient to get to. I do tend to use what's called Family Dollar a lot; they sell very basic foods, but what we tend to go for are household products(things like soaps, TP, socks, etc). They are lower priced than the big name places, and are usually nestled in neighborhoods as opposed to commercial areas. I abhor driving to the city's commercial area.
I buy books online, often through thrift book stores. I don't buy clothes too often, but when I do, it tends to be specific stuff online. We're all picky about what we wear(except for the youngest), and what we want isn't available locally.