First, what these reviewers say is true. Very nice variety, rivaling that of Mr. Jin's up the…read morestreet, although Jin's is a touch better. Smile is cheaper, and I must thank the fine folks here for teaching me that just because it is cheaper, it is not necessarily the better choice. The produce is questionable at best. Eating it won't make you sick, but it will make you ponder the sorry state of the world today.
Here's a replay of my last experience at Smile, about a month before I moved out of the 'hood.
I was in a rush one day, flew off the A train, stopped at Smile on my way home and bought the first loaf of bread I spied. I get it home, open up the package. Oh, wait, it is already open! Oh wait, someone already felt it up and mushed the bread together.
I take it back to the store. "I want a refund," I say, still disgusted that someone put this back on the shelf and these people were selling it, maybe knowingly, and trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. I had gotten screwed a few times in the Heights, so I was a tad wary.
"This bread is, um, used. And stuff."
Checkout chickenhead, between smacks of gum: "Ain't no body heah to give jou ya money back, OK? Why don you juss keep it, OK?"
Lady behind me, hair in curlers: "Yah, jou can steel use eet."
I put the bread on the counter and left. There was no telling what else I had consumed from there that had already been "felt up" by nasty people. The thought of it made me ill.
I decided to continue to help Mr. Jin become a rich man.
So while everything may seem peachy keen, especially if you've shopped here for months or even years, watch your back. And your bread.
Damn, I loved this neighborhood so much. But Smile was a sign that I just had to go. Proof positive that the further east you get on 181st, the more things change, and not for better.