From dish soap to sushi, you can purchase it all in Oakland

You have moved into your new home away from home. Clothes are unpacked, books are purchased,… You have moved into your new home away from home. Clothes are unpacked, books are purchased, classrooms are located and you have found the local McDonald’s. All you need to do now is fill your new mini-fridge. Depending on your preferences, there are several places you can go to fulfill your needs.

Several shops and restaurants in the area cater to the local student population.

Walking down Forbes Avenue, you will find what you’re looking for to fulfill immediate shopping needs. Whether those are Band-Aids, milk, chocolate or a hangover cure, 7-Eleven, CVS, Rite Aid and Eckerd have it. For those midnight snack runs, 7-Eleven, Rite Aid and CVS are open 24 hours a day.

Giant Eagle, at Negley and Centre Avenues, is the closest grocery store to Pitt, although you’ll want to take the 71A to reach it. You’ll arrive at a Whole Foods Market if you continue down Centre Avenue, or you can take the 500 or 71C to Highland and Center Avenues.

Neatly stacked fresh fruit greets you as you walk into Whole Foods. The market offers organic foods and other products. Hot food, which you can take home or eat there, is also available. Tables set up outside allow those who choose to dine at the store to enjoy the weather along with their food.

Salim’s Middle Eastern Foods near the corner of Centre Avenue and North Neville Street is another place in Oakland to purchase take-home food. If you’re looking for a reliable butcher shop to get some barbecue fodder, check out Salem’s Halal on South Bouquet Street, across from the post office.

If you continue a few miles down Forbes from campus you will head into Squirrel Hill. This area, in addition to having a 24-hour Giant Eagle, boasts many stores where you can purchase foods characteristic of different cultures. On Murray Avenue, you will find shops carrying Japanese, Indian, Italian, Asian and kosher food.

Murray Avenue Kosher has a sign advertising “Produce For Less.” Here you will find reasonably priced foods for the vegan and kosher eater, and the store keeps special hours for Jewish holidays.

On Penn Avenue, close to Downtown, you will find a commercial area called the Strip District. Once known for supplying local stores with wholesale goods, the area now sells to the individual. For several blocks, a shopper will find fresh produce, baked goods and ethnic markets. Pennsylvania Macaroni Company, Fortunes Coffee Roastery, Klavon’s Ice Cream Parlor, Prestogeorge Fine Foods, Inc. and The Enrico Biscotti Company are few of the stores you will find.

One place you might want to check out is Robert Wholey ‘ Co., more commonly known as Wholey’s. You can purchase fresh seafood to prepare at home. If you become hungry while shopping, you can have one of Wholey’s fish sandwiches. Also, Andy’s Sushi Bar is located on the premises.

Some stores offer savings cards free of charge. These cards allow you to shop without having coupons stuffed in your wallet. Giant Eagle and CVS are a couple of places that offer such cards. After you get your Giant Eagle card, you can go to their Web site and find additional savings.

If any or all of these suggestions do not fill your needs, ask more experienced Pittsburghers for advice; they’ve been in your shoes before.