Restaurant supply stores: good deals?

A couple of weeks ago, I set off to a restaurant supply store in search of some new kitchen towels, or “bar mops” as this type are usually referred to in the food service industry.  It’s been awhile since I’ve been to a restaurant supply store, but I know they are often heralded as places to get a “steal” on kitchenware.

Well… I have to say, I wasn’t that impressed with United Restaurant Supply (725 Clark Place, pretty close to the Asian Pacific Market at Platte and Wooten).  The store was very nice, nicer than the other restaurant supply stores I’ve ever been in, but I didn’t see anything that was really a deal.  The towels I wanted were the same price for half as many towels compared to Sam’s Club (I checked online before I went).

I browsed for a few minutes, but didn’t see any good deals.  They had some Vollrath whisks starting around $10, and they seemed very sturdy, but not any cheaper than most other kitchen stores.  Maybe cheaper if you’re looking for something that can withstand a tornado? ;)

So, I’m asking you: have you found any good deals at restaurant supply stores in Colorado Springs?  Which ones do you go to? I had trouble finding exactly what I wanted, Google Maps included coffee roasters in the “restaurant supply” category, which wasn’t exactly what I was looking for in this instance.

I’ve been asked several times about whether or not they have good deals, and I have to say that based on this experience and my limited experience in the past, the answer is “maybe, but know your prices before you go”.  Hope some of you have some tips to share!