Arlan's has served Galveston for longer than I have been alive. From it's rebranding of Gerland's 26 years ago to its recent buyout by the La Michoacana Meat Market last December, this grocery store has prevented the East End from becoming a food desert, especially for nearby residents who don't have easy vehicle access. Many of the items are more expensive but still comparable to the prices of Kroger, Randall's, and Walmart way out on the West End. The selection of groceries aren't wide but all the usual produce and necessities can be found here. Even though I still opt for Kroger whenever I have a large grocery list, a quick trip here for milk or pasta saves me an additional 20 minutes that I would otherwise have to spend driving. If I can cut down a significant amount of time AND support a locally owned store, then so be it if I'm spending an extra dollar on milk. I recently picked up some discounted protein pasta that was actually cheaper than what I normally pay at Kroger. However, the cucumbers that I also bought during that visit tasted somewhat funky. I personally believe that ratings have a relative component to them which is what grants Arlan's a 3rd star despite their okay prices and occasionally odd-tasting produce. It's a vital part of the East End's community and without it, many of Galveston's residents would be left underserved. read more

Arlan's at University and Market. Plenty of parking. Small chain grocery does a pretty good job keeping up with the times. The building is old, but clean and orderly. Selection is pretty good with decent produce, deli, meat, beer, and wine. Frozen section is adequate. Dairy is weak and expensive. Regardless, everything you might need is available here and butter and eggs are expensive everywhere. Anyway, it's a full service grocery store on the east end and it's pretty decent. You want fancier, it's sixty blocks west at Kroger. read more

I want so bad to support this store, but the terrible smell everyone talks about permeates every single item inside. I am seriously concerned whatever that smell is, it is very unhealthy. Also, the produce looks fantastic, but it has no natural and nutritious flavor. It's time for a new grocery store on the island. A brand new one with fresh produce and no bad smells -- preferably on the East End! read more

Prices are crazy high. I paid $5.00 more for the same exact product that I buy at Kroger. Bought the meat one time.Never again. It wasn't even good enough for the dogs. It's close to my house so sometimes I go in there for one item. I always buy name brand packaged and check the expiration date.This store is only still in business because the area has some really poor people who don't have the luxury of shopping elsewhere and the medical students and staff that are in a hurry. It's a shame the owners have no respect for their customers and are only interested in their pockets. read more

Terrible fowl smell as soon as you walk in, if they got rid of that grease fried meat gone bad smell I'd go buy all I need instead of going to all other grocery stores on the island. read more

Managers are awful,rude unhelpful,meat looks bad, cashiers are rude,bread always smells bad,just not good

I agree with other reviewers that this store is vital to the surrounding community, especially those without reliable transport. Does it smell a bit rancid? Yes. Could the shelves use cleaning? Probably. But it's the real deal serving a mixed income community -- not a cookie cutter suburban supermarket. Manage your expectations and don't be a snob. The staff are polite and treat customers with courtesy. Please be respectful to them and other shoppers who live in this area. read more

Walking in, you notice 'old'. the machines look scruffy, the lighting isn't great, the smells... hold your nose in the deli. When you walk in the door, the entire right side is all frozen sweets - mostly ice cream. This is a tourist town and I can see why... As for the produce? We watched one of the produce guys dump the newer stuff in with the older stuff. Let me define the stuff that had been sitting out - the tomatoes had moldy/black holes in them (really surprised there weren't any fruit flies). The jalapeños were old, wrinkled and nasty, a huge display of cantaloupes were just bad- I could go on, but it was the same with much of the other stuff. The exceptions were the potatoes, onions, avocados, garlic and cilantro. I had to buy a certain brand of toothpaste, but the only ones they had were smashed and I almost bought one, but you can't be too sure if they don't have breaks... Meats looked good, but we didn't spend a lot of time there. Hey! They had fresh-looking chicken feet. They have no fish except fish sticks and canned tuna. They do have a great selection of chips for such a small store - and lots of liquor, water, soft drinks... I watched as one of the staff replenished a shelf. The shelves were old, decrepit and VERY dirty and I couldn't tell if they were rusty, but I can't say they weren't. As far as the staff goes - they were friendly enough, but the word 'bedraggled' comes to mind. Mind you, if I had to work there, that would describe me, but it didn't seem ANYONE had a life force in them. We travel a lot and the store is probably the WORST grocery store we've ever visited. I should have taken photos. read more

I have one complaint can you please ask the little Latin girl with glasses the checker to at least smile say hello how are you? I'm spending a lot of money there and I expect the checkers to be a little bit more respectful little bit more at least say hello you know maybe she doesn't like her job I don't know but anyway you have a good prices on the meat. read more

Arlans is so much cleaner than our local HEB I've also noticed they are trying to bring in more selections. However the prices are much higher than the HEB. I am not in love with their off brand Best Yet. I do appreciate the cleaning and organization of the store. read more

Had a decent selection but workers are rude and act like they hate you for being a customer. I'm a millennial and thought they were rude. Everyone had ear pods in. read more

Two weeks ago I notified employees thy there were a dozen expired milk products on the shelf. Last week they were still there! I notified one of the managers. Today, literally two weeks later 7 of the expired cartons are still on the shelf!!!! Selling milk two weeks past expiration. This isn't the first time Arlan's he hd these issues. Watch out for expired meat also, and avoid any pre-made food from the deli section unless you want a nice bout of food poisoning. read more

We were visiting Galveston and needed a few things. We arrived to a clean parking lot and inside the store was sparkling clean. Aisles are clearly marked and shelves were neat as you would expect early in the day. It's not a large store with tons of options but they do seem to have what is needed and expected at a good grocery market. read more

I spend more time on the east end nowadays. Arlan's deserves a reprieve. Yes, they can be pricey, but the next closest super market is fifty one blocs away. somethings they're pricey on, but you can find some reasonable good deals. The east end is sort of a city all its own, reflecting more of the flavor of an east coast city than the expansive west of Galveston Island that has not entirely a suburban feel, but the most you're going to get for Galveston. Dont expect sushi here, but you might find ox tails, calf's liver, and chicken hearts. read more

Stopped in to pick up a few essentials during my short vaca in Galveston. Parking was a breeze and the store was well stocked with many employees. The produce was fresh and delicious! Some stuff is a little overpriced but that is to be expected in a small store like this. read more

I used Arlan's delivery service for the first time and it was wonderful. They actually had every item they offered on the web site, which shouldn't be unusual but is, and my order arrived at the early end of the time window thanks to a friendly, competent driver. Best overall service I've found on the island. read more

Cashier needs more Customer Service training. Rude!! Also, please make your sales sign more explanatory. Cabbage was marked 2/$1.00 which I thought was 2 heads of Cabbage was $1.00. #Signbait. read more

My favorite oldschool grocery store. Everything you need. Good prices. High quality. No crowds.

You guys really need to pick up all the dead flys laying around. Its utterly horrific. And the place has a very distinct smell. Foul. But the male workers are chill. read more

I am tired of bad pork, slimy salad, expired items on the shelves as well as constant issues with prices. Tonight I finally had it and walked out of the store after prices were off again. There has not been one instance of correct prices while checking out and when you tell a cashier, they just stare at you like a deer in headlights. How hard can it be to keep the prices the same on the shelf to the register?!?! This store is way too small for these constant errors. I apologized to the cashier tonight, but the constant issues with prices needs to be looked into. read more

This is the only grocery store on the east end of the Island and the only one within easy walking/biking distance for college students. They also attract tourists from the large public beachs nearby. Arlans takes advantage of this, charging prices 50%-100% greater than market value for food and produce of low quality. The store is poorly maintained and the staff is embarrassingly unprofessional. I've had several checkers who avoid eye-contact and one who would not address me directly; she literally referred to me in the 3rd person when I was standing in front of her! This neighborhood desperately needs a new grocery store! read more

may 17, 2017 2nd trip today...mostly to get Kenz Henz eggs [local farmer] but, i go in and get milk and try kountry boys bacon [i love their sausage] this store is always clean, well stocked, and the staff is friendly. the prices reflect the area..so, it's a bit more for meats...but, the same for milk and eggs ________________________________________________________ well, i finally went to check this store out~~~ive only lived on the island for 3 years...and work at the hospital down the street. ha!! it was clean. produce was fresh. everything was in order. for a small grocer...its got what you would need...and might even want. decent wine selection. a bit higher prices...on some items not all. but, meh, everything on the island is more expensive...east end even more. i went in for the fried chicken...got an 8pc...huge pieces...total $8.65...greasy fried goodness!! the staff in that area were real friendly. so, was the check out girl who noticed i didnt have any napkins and offered me some. its a local family owned grocer...small business. original location in seabrook texas. buy local. support local read more

Arlan's Markets - Fried chicken...BIG pcs too!! greasy & awesome!!  8pc combo $8.65 total - Grocery Near Me - Galveston, Texas

Can't believe it, but the checkout girl sneezed into her hand and touched my food. I said sneezes are scary nowadays! That's when she finally used hand sani. I went home and lysoled all my food and wiped down each item individually! Not to mention everything was more expensive by .70+ above HEB or Kroger. I would have walked out with out my food, but this is all we have on the East End. read more

Customer service is not the best. I went back to get the difference because my mother was charged incorrectly on some items she purchased. Walked up up the cashier to see about getting the difference and she responded with why didn't she say anything when she was in line. When I asked if we could get one of the item for the same price that my mother saw I was told no. Never shopping here again that's for sure. read more

The ridiculously generous amount of stars really is due to the close proximity to the UTMB campus. They have saved me more than a few times when I've forgotten to bring something for a potluck lunch. However, the prices are inflated, the store is dirty, and there's always that shady feeling that something isn't quite right with the shoppers there. I will say that the employees have always been incredibly friendly and helpful, even if they were a bit slow. But that's how things are on the island. If I were more of a planner, I'd probably never shop here. However, my necessity (read: addiction) for Dr. Pepper takes over sometimes and I'm just not down with paying the absurd prices on campus for one bottle. Arlan's takes care of me with decent prices on a 24 pack. Does my caffeine fix cloud my judgment? Perhaps. If it weren't for being there for me in my moments of need, I'd definitely give Arlan's a much more fair review of 2 stars. read more

Hey, there's a grocery store on this end of town? I had no idea! I didn't feel like driving all the way to Randall's so I thought I would give this place a try. It seems a little bit more expensive than your average super market. It's pretty small and there weren't many people there. That is not a bad thing. The checkers were friendly and there was a fair amount of options. It's A-Ok, but I prefer Randall's and Kroger. read more

Here is my limited experience with this market: You step into the doors, under the faded sign that reads Arlan's. A waft of mold, food, and evaporating water from the ice machine that is leaking passes through your nostrils. A motley of consumers -- physicians, residents, rednecks, children, students, whatnot ambles by through the aisles, while the employees mostly manage. Strangely, everything is more or less orderly. You get your stuff, checkout, and go, deliberately not casting a glance at the absolutely horrifying yellow cleaning bucket that they are using to mop up the water spill. If you have to go here, well, it's a supermarket, and it has what you need. If you have higher standards, you would be going to the Kroger's on 61st or somewhere else. read more

Arlan's has stepped it up and we have been able to get everything we need from somewhere closer to home. The veggies and fruit are much fresher and we have been really pleased with all of the selections. read more

A small grocery store that's not bad for essentials with a hot table that's surprisingly good. The fried chicken is fresh, not dried out while not being greasy, and is tasty even beyond just the delicious breaded skin. Eight pieces is just $7.99 but you can get as much or little as you like. You can also get potato wedges or even pork egg rolls - which are amazing! The rotisserie chicken for just $5.99 is nicely flavored and again penetrated into the meat of the bird. The ribs, however, are more in line with most grocery store ribs - dry and lacking any real taste. Stick with the chicken. read more

Good option for groceries on the East End. They have started to carry a very few organic and gluten free selections. They do have a good variety of produce, and a large wine selection. Convenient location near UTMB. read more

Arlan's Markets - Grocery Near Me - Galveston, Texas

How is this place still open? I work fairly close to this place and stopped by on my way to work to grab some oatmeal. Upon entering, an unpleasant smell greeted me at the sliding doors. The produce doesn't seem fresh and the prices are higher than other grocers on the island. The cashiers are nonchalant and on the way out, I was asked for change by a man in hospital scrubs. read more

I love my little east end Grocery... Lots of organics a solid wine selection and everything you pretty much need. And the staff has always been very sweet and helpful every time I walk in. My wife and I go almost every other day read more

I had to stand in line with two people without masks in checkout. When i told them you need to be wearing a mask and get away from me. They called me a Karen and said it was their right to not wear a mask! The cashiers and manager did nothing but watch. Will never shop here again. read more

My family goes to Arlan's at least 4 times per week. I love that they have BIG Red Delicious apples! You can pick your own and they are reasonably priced. They have a good selection of fresh herbs, also reasonable. I wasn't able to find Gatorade Zero at Kroger or Walmart, but when I looked at Arlan's, there it was! They need to stock more, though. Everytime I go to buy it, there only one or two 32oz. bottles, and only one flavor. The store itself is always clean and I've never seen any dead flies,like some claim. The cashiers are a pleasure to deal with! Always so friendly! We will continue to shop at Arlan's for a long time to come. read more

They are expensive but it is better than driving to walmart or kroger which is across town. I wish they had better prices but it is what it is. Its nice to just walk over here and grab what i need. Usually all the vegetables and fruits are fresh. They always have a abundance supply for the local community. read more

Pros and cons of Arlans are as follows: Pros: -Convenient for people who live on Harborside -Boars Head products -Bike rack outside Cons: -Produce is not always fresh. I've been here too many times to find all the strawberries moldy, grapes moldy, etc. -Lack of products. No fresh mozzarella, very limited bread selection, only Friskies and Fancy Feast for cat food, very little Greek yogurt selection, few to none travel size items. -Cleanliness. Waaay too many dead flies chillin in the yogurt/cheese section. I also found a fly in an egg carton. -Kind of sketchy at night. read more

This store because of its prime time location a couple blocks from most UTMB people reminds me of people in long term on and off relationships... They really shouldn't be seeing each other but damn if it wasn't so convenient. read more

If you think prices are high at Arlan's you should try Big Store on Bolivar where I live, lol. Just tried Arlan's today and was pleasantly surprised. It is convenient to the ferry and they seem to have a good selection for a small independent grocery. I always try to shop local if possible. read more

Decent grocer if you are in the area. They are small and not like the larger chains but it has a decent variety of produce and other basics and no bakery. The fried chicken is tasty and usually fresh during the day. Later in the evening is a hit or miss unless you are there when it is fresh out of the fryer. Very friendly staff. read more

This place needs a facelift but I certainly understand that it's probably not going to happen anytime soon with this economy...well at least not till after January 20th 2013. Anyway that's no excuse for the poor service. We go there only when we are in a hurry and need something small and that just because it's so much closer than Kroger or Randalls. Went went in today and again horrible service. There were about 6 people in line waiting at the single open check out. Of course the one checker is going even slower than she usually would because she caring on a conversation about her weekend with another employee. Why the other couldn't open another check line and simply finish their conversation about their trashy weekend later is beyond me. This is an ongoing problem with this place...poor management. I think if it wasn't for UTMB this place wouldn't even survive with it's poor employees and high prices. That sucks to because it could make a nice asset to the Eastern side of downtown. read more