>>Craig,
>>
>>What's the one... I'm going up to the store."
>>
>>Best,
>>
>>DD
>
>Oh...going to the store is another one:
>
>"I'm going to the A&P"
>
>They never say "the Pathmark", "the ShopRite", etc. "the" is only used when referring to A&P. In the south, "the" is used when referring to Piggly-Wiggly, but not with other chains.

That is because we don't want anyone to think that we are about to perform the act of piggly-wiggly.