à l'épicerie vs chez l'épicerie

Question

On the week 70 writing challenge, A1 level, the question is 'Je vais ____ épicerie." I wrote chez l'épicerie, but it was marked wrong. If one says "Je vais chez le dentist" or "Je vais chez la boulangerie", why would 'chez l'épicerie' be wrong? I don't see a difference. Thanks for the help! Terri

Answer

Bonjour Terri,
The lesson is about «À + le = au, à + les = aux, de + le = du, de + les = des (contractions of articles) -» and does not cover the use of «chez».  While your response seems the correct usage of chez to me, I believe that is the reason that it was not marked correct.
Bonne chance,

Answer

Ron, thanks so much for your response. That makes sense about it being this particular lesson. Your answer is an encouragement. Think I'll give it another try today! Terri

Answer

You use chez when you go "to a person" and à for impersonal locations. For example:

Je vais chez le dentiste/le coiffeur/le docteur/etc. But you would say
Je vais à la boucherie/au cinéma/à la piscine/etc. because they are all impersonal places.

-- Chris (not a native speaker).

Answer

Bonjour Chris,
I am not sure I understand, still struggling with French for beginners!
We do say, "Je travaille chez moi".  So, "I work at my home."
So, is it home, or house, it is again a location! So, why not "chez  epicerie?"

Answer

Je travaille chez MOI -- I work at my place. It's you that is the person. 
Je vais chez Alice. -- I go to Alice's place.

You CANNOT say: "je rentre chez la maison. " because "maison" is not a person. But you CAN say: "je rentre chez moi. "

-- Chris (not a native speaker).

Answer

Merci Chris,
I think I got it.