Pop’s Bargain Outlet in Turlock: Its History and Local Story
Before a Facebook post had people talking about a $38 grocery haul, Pop’s Bargain Outlet had already been part of Turlock for years. In 2012, the South Center Street store even became a homecoming stop for a young local cyclist returning from a trip around the world.
A South Center Street Business Since 2003
The clearest documented starting point is April 2003. The Better Business Bureau’s business record gives April 9, 2003, as the business’s start date and identifies Tony Vargas as the owner. It also lists the business name PopsCo, Inc., and a July 2011 incorporation date.
A separate 2017 California appellate opinion places a store called Pop’s Bargain Mart at the South Center Street property beginning in April 2003. Together, those records establish more than two decades of local history behind the Pop’s people are discussing today.
The name varies in older records: Bargain Mart, Bargain Market and Bargain Outlet all appear in listings. The address and business details help identify the Turlock store. This is the Pop’s at 468 S. Center Street, Turlock, also listed by some directories as 470 S. Golden State Boulevard, Turlock.
Tony Vargas and a Cyclist’s Homecoming
One of the store’s most memorable newspaper appearances had little to do with groceries. The Turlock Journal reported in July 2012 that Erin Nelson, then 20, finished her nearly two-year world cycling journey with a stop at Pop’s.
Erin had set out on November 6, 2010. Tony supported the trip with monthly financial help and additional money when she needed it, according to the report. By the time she returned, her journey had taken her through countries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
“We are all proud of her.”
Tony Vargas, quoted by the Turlock Journal in 2012
The Journal’s story includes a photograph of Erin arriving with fellow cyclists outside Pop’s. Her stop there was a thank-you to Tony for helping her finish the trip.
Where the Changing Shelves Come From
The 2017 court opinion preserves an unusually specific look at the store’s buying operation at that time. It describes inventory collected from a company in Stockton, loaded onto a truck on wooden pallets, then brought to the Turlock property and unloaded with a forklift. The account also mentions warehouse storage.
A March 2025 Modesto Bee report by Maria Luisa Figueroa, syndicated by AOL, placed Pop’s among the area’s local salvage grocers. It identified the Turlock store and a smaller Ceres location, describing both individual items and bulk purchases. Pop’s is a separate business from the Grocery Outlet supermarket chain discussed in the same report.
The useful distinction is the kind of visit: Pop’s invites browsing what has arrived. A regular supermarket is where you are more likely to expect the same brand and package size each time. A Pop’s trip may fill part of the weekly list, or turn up an unrelated household purchase.
What Stands Out at the Turlock Store?
The red Pop’s lettering and wood-sided exterior in the California Insider post we shared are recognizable before you see a price tag. Inside, the draw is the range of merchandise gathered under that name. A 2026 feature on the Turlock store describes packaged groceries alongside paper goods, cleaning supplies, pet products and refrigerated or frozen finds.
- Food and household goods share the trip. Candy or cereal may be the reason for stopping, but the selection extends beyond a conventional grocery basket.
- There is a bulk-buy side. Large packages can appeal to households or people buying for a gathering, while smaller purchases let a first-time shopper try the store.
- The selection changes. A particular find can be worth returning for without becoming something the store always carries.
- It has a history of local recognition. The 2017 Best of 209 results listed the winner of its Bargain/Discount Store category as “Pops grocery outlet,” years before the current Facebook attention.
The $38 haul in the recent post is one shopper’s reported experience. A different list, or a visit on another day, will produce a different receipt.
What to Know Before Visiting This Pop’s
Turlock address: 468 S. Center Street, Turlock. Phone: 209-668-7677. Call for current hours, a specific product or return terms; published closing times vary among directories.
The questions in our Facebook thread about package dates are worth taking seriously. USDA explains that “Best if Used By” generally concerns quality and “Sell-By” concerns store display time. A date alone does not establish that an item is safe. Infant formula should not be bought or used after its use-by date.
The FDA’s guidance for surplus-store shoppers says to avoid swollen or leaking cans, damaged can seams and torn or apparently resealed packaging. Check the size as well as the price, and ask about anything unclear before checkout.
For more Turlock businesses, browse our Shopping and Dining guide. The History of Turlock pages cover other local people and places. If you are going by bus, our Turlock Transit guide explains how to plan a ride and carry your purchases home.
What Do You Remember from the Turlock Pop’s?
How long have you been shopping there, and what do you remember from your first visits? Add your story to the existing Facebook conversation.
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