These grocery stores are trading your pennies for something more valuable, but there’s a catch… It’s for one day ONLY!

Don’t blink—or you might miss the grocery deal that’s got everyone buzzing.

This 2-for-1 steal is the kind of promo that turns everyday shopping into a mini celebration.

Double the goods, for the same price tag? Yes please. But here’s the twist: it’s a coin-driven countdown, and once the change runs dry, so does the offer. So grab your bag, check your wallet, and move fast—because when the coins stop clinking, the savings stop stacking.

Grocery chains get creative as the penny retires​

In a clever twist on coin redemption, northeastern grocery staples Market 32 and Price Chopper are inviting customers to cash in their pennies—literally—during a one-day event called “Double Exchange Day”.

On November 16, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., shoppers can bring rolled or loose pennies to the customer service desk and receive a store gift card worth twice the value of their coins.

That means 50 cents becomes $1, and $100 turns into a generous $200 card. There’s a cap of $100 per customer, but for many, that’s a sweet reward for clearing out the coin jar.

This promotion isn’t just about generosity—it’s a practical response to a historic shift.

The US Mint officially stopped producing pennies on November 12, marking the end of a 232-year run for the one-cent coin.

The final batch was struck in Philadelphia, where the penny first debuted in 1793. With production costs soaring to 3.69 cents per coin and digital payments dominating the checkout lane, the penny’s phase-out was inevitable.

For retailers like Market 32 and Price Chopper, the dwindling supply of small coins has made it harder to provide exact change to cash-paying customers.

“Cash transactions remain an important part of how we serve our customers,” said Blaine Bringhurst, president of both chains, “... we want to make sure we can continue providing the same great checkout experience—right down to the penny”.

They’re not the only ones getting creative.

Earlier this month, Giant Eagle, a regional grocer with over 200 stores across five states, launched a similar coin-for-gift-card initiative.

These promotions reflect a growing trend: supermarkets are finding smart ways to manage their coin reserves while giving shoppers a reason to dig through their drawers and piggy banks.

So if you’ve got pennies collecting dust, this weekend might be your last chance to turn them into something truly valuable.

Before you head out, be sure to check which locations are participating: just use the Price Chopper & Market 32 store locator to confirm availability near you.

As the penny fades into history, cash-paying customers may notice a subtle shift at the register. While some may miss the precision of exact change, others will welcome the quicker checkouts and lighter coin purses.

Key Takeaways

• Two northeastern grocery chains, Market 32 and Price Chopper, are offering a “Double Exchange Day” where customers can swap their pennies for a gift card worth twice their value.
• Shoppers can bring in rolled or loose pennies to the customer service desk, with a cap of $100 in pennies earning a $200 gift card.
• The promotion aims to address the dwindling supply of one-cent coins, as these supermarkets want to ensure smooth cash transactions even as cash use declines.
• The offer coincides with the end of the US penny, as the last penny was minted on November 12 after more than two centuries of production, largely due to rising costs and decreased demand.

So, members, what do you think? Would you jump at a 2-for-1 deal on your old coins? Do you still use cash, or have you gone fully digital? And do you have any penny (or cent) stories to share from the days when every coin counted?

We’d love to hear your thoughts and memories!