Jul. 31--The big barbecue starts in an hour, and you've somehow forgotten to buy hamburger buns.

Come to think of it, you could probably use a few extra deck chairs and -- oops -- maybe even a grill.

But you don't have to blow those final chaotic preparty moments running all over town for overlooked essentials.

You can find them all at your neighborhood grocery store.

Driven by customers' growing hunger for one-stop shopping, local grocers are stocking everything from third-party gift cards to gasoline.

"While we don't try to be all things to all people, there are many nonfood items that make sense for time-starved customers to pick up while shopping for groceries," Giant spokeswoman Tracy Pawelski says.

In the last decade, many local grocers, including Darrenkamp's, Giant, Stauffers of Kissel Hill and Weis, expanded or remodeled stores to offer shoppers more options, like ready-to-eat foods, salad bars and cafes.

Grocers devoted some of that extra space to in-store florists, pharmacies, post offices and banks.

Now stores are branching out even more, catering to busy shoppers with increasingly diverse merchandise, from children's holiday socks to inflatable backyard swimming pools.

"The more one-stop shopping you can provide for customers -- that's what it's all about," says Joe Darrenkamp, co-owner of three local Darrenkamp's markets.

But are shoppers really looking to buy a swing set with their sugar?

Redner's Warehouse Markets is steadily expanding its seasonal offerings, spurred by successful sales of grills, picnic tables and patio umbrellas.

"I can tell you that the numbers speak volumes," spokesman Eric B. White says. "Every year we sell out of the (seasonal) stuff."

But not all grocers are looking beyond food.

Some shoppers love the convenience of grabbing a loaf of bread and a patio-furniture set in a single stop, says Warren Crills, buyer for Stauffers, which is known for its combination grocery store/garden centers.

But patio furniture takes up a lot of space that could be devoted to a variety of more traditional groceries, he says. And nonfood items might not appeal to many customers.

So inside its grocery stores, Stauffers sticks with food-related gadgets, like turkey fryers or coffee pots -- and the occasional pair of holiday socks.

Stauffers does plan a video-rental kiosk and perhaps third-party gift cards for its roomy new Rohrerstown store, set to open this fall.

Otherwise, Crills says, "We're in the food business. That's what our expertise is in. Somebody else can take care of (the rest)."

Here's what you might find at your favorite grocery store:

Many stores, including Giant and Darrenkamp's, sell new-release DVDs at competitive prices.

Redbox kiosks allow grocers to rent movies without sacrificing space and manpower.