i walked in the store 2 weeks ago. the produce section was empty. i walked right back out

I've been reluctant to write this review for many years, because I have wanted this establishment to succeed and had such high hopes for it. The location where Clifton Market sits was previously occupied by a somewhat janky IGA that in the 90's had one of the best beer selections in the region, and could be reliably counted on to have every staple that you needed on hand. For reasons I believe were related to damage to the building, IGA closed and the space was vacant for several years before the proprietors of Clifton Market opened this current grocery store. I moved back into the neighborhood in 2019, and while I live much closer to the janky Kroger down the road, I like to support small local businesses so at times I made a point to go to Clifton Market- mostly because it was on the way to Bruegger's or work or in the immediate vicinity of another business I was planning on frequenting on Ludlow. However, early on the experiences... weren't great. The staff is friendly enough, the store is clean, but the store has ALWAYS had a distinct covid-era feel for items in stock- and we're talking *basic* items. Like turnips. Or parsnips. Or spaghetti. Or a can of chickpeas. You'd go and there would be one sad, mushy turnip that would even cause a pig to give you side-eye if was presented as dinner. Additionally, it feels as if a lot of the brands that they do sell you might might find at an outlet mall in Shelbyville. "Wow, I didn't know General Motors made tuna" you might say to yourself while walking through the store (only a slight exaggeration). But the thing that gets me is that with *very* few exceptions, every time I go there with a list of things to get, invariably they are out of multiple items or just don't stock them. Today- the experience that lead me to write this review- those items were Fruity Pebbles and marshmallows. How does one not have Fruity Pebbles and marshmallows? YOU HAD ONE JOB. Not only did they not have those items, but the only word that can be used to describe a lot of the shelves is "barren". I think I counted five different kinds of major brand cereal in stock but you can see for yourself in the video- and the dairy/creamery aisle looked similarly post apocalyptic. For poops and giggles I popped into the 4th rate SuperX down the street, and even THEY had Fruity Pebbles and marshmallows (granted the cereal was $8.79 a box!) Strangely enough, in their favor they DO have a very good selection of Jeni's Ice Cream, with flavors that aren't available at the janky Kroger (or most other Krogers), and they have a small selection of Boar's Head products at the deli (and I mean small). So +1 for Hufflepuff. But that's literally the only good thing I can say about the place. Sigh. I wanted to love this store. I gave it the better part of a decade to get better. It has not gotten better, and I fear It will never improve under its current ownership. Frustration and bemusement at just how unsatisfactory the place is are the consistent feelings when I'm in it. Over the last few years I'd be in there fewer than ten times annually, but after today's experience that number will be trimmed to zero. Go to the janky Kroger. Go to the price gouging Super X. You will thank me, for real. read more

What a dump! Hardly anything on the shelves and I discovered stale or outdated items after I got them home. My Diet 7-Up was flat and the scone I bought was terribly stale. How this place stays in business is a mystery. "We're changing our distributors..." Not soon enough, unfortunately. What is worth buying is outrageously overpriced. Is it possible to award half a star or no stars? read more

I've only been in this store a coupe of times when they first opened, so I can't really speak on what they are like years later. I don't live in the area, so it isn't a regular place for me. When I did go in there years ago, I thought the prices were too high, for my liking. But the prices are likely average, maybe a little higher, for this particular area of Cincinnati, Ohio. It would be nice if their prices were lower for the community that isn't financially well-to-do. read more

This used to be the gem of the neighborhood. In fact I moved to this neighborhood because there was a grocery store in walking distance. It was a strike against them already that the service was getting worse (and several times staff hit on me which I didn't appreciate). I'm not sure what the issue is (it's not tariffs because of the timeline) but for the last 4 months or so you can't even buy basics (milk, condiments, frozen food, soap, etc) there anymore. What little there is is overpriced. It's a functionally useless grocery store. If I have to drive 20 minutes to buy food now, I don't know why I bother living here anymore. Its tragic. read more

Be sure to check expiration/sell by dates if you shop here. I stopped in this evening for a snack. I noticed a weird taste and checked the sell by date. This item is expired by EIGHT months. So gross. read more

Clifton Market - the receipt for a snack bar - Grocery Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I shop here often not out of choice but because it's closer to me than Kroger is. And to be honest, it's never really a good experience. They have a policy where you have to leave any bag at the door which I find absurd because there's no security system in place to make sure someone else doesn't walk out with your bag! I don't see why I have to put my own personal belongings at risk because the store is paranoid about protecting their bottom line. I have to mention too that the bathroom is EXTREMELY disgusting. One of them has been "out of order" for as long as I can remember and I don't think the toilet in the other one has been cleaned for months- there are nasty crusty splatters all over it. Garbage all over the floor, no paper towels, and barely a lick of toilet paper. Also, the light in the bathroom constantly flickers dramatically as if it's a strobe light, which could trigger a seizure if you're epilectic- and I know because I came here with an epileptic friend last summer and somehow it's still an issue that hasn't gotten fixed. I feel like the disgusting bathrooms are an insult to the customers because their prices are so steep. You'd think that a place that tries to sell you expensive, highly marked-up groceries would be the type of place that would offer facilities a step above some shady gas station in the worst part of town, but you'd be wrong. ALSO. The last time I shopped here, I accidentally purchased an item that was leaking and therefore a faulty product. When I tried to call, I found out that they have no real way to reach the staff, only a robot system that leads nowhere. When I went in person to clear up the issue, they basically just shrugged without offering a replacement or refund because "that could've happened after it left the store". Nevermind the fact that I've been shopping here for years and that's the only time I've ever tried to return anything! Seems like it's designed to prey off locals who shop here out of convenience. The whole ambiance is exactly like an understaffed Walmart in a sketchy part of town, with prices as if it were Whole Foods in NYC. read more

I've been shopping in this market for the past 2 months every two weeks, but I'm never shopping there again for a single cause the customer service is so bad; a cashier literally treats me poorly every time I come in (I think he's Indian with colored hair) he doesn't welcome anyone to the store I mean he doesn't even talk to me, besides giving that bad look read more

I love shopping here. There is parking in the back and it had good options without being run over with people

I've been there three times to pick up money from western union, every time when I get there I've to wait 20 to 30 min for the owner to show up so I can pick up my money It's very bad service read more

Clifton Market - the front desk of the store - Grocery Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I was honestly skeptical of Clifton Market. My first thoughts were surely this is an upscale overpriced "Kroger". Well, I was wrong. Yes, some things are more expensive than your average grocery chain, but all in all this place is convenient. They sell Breadsmith bakery breads which are delicious, especially the rosemary garlic ciabatta and the cinnamon raisin. I won't go here for my big grocery hauls, but for little odds and ends this is it. read more

Clifton Market - Grocery Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I have never seen something Like this in my entire life. Was living all around globe. Where to start? I guess from the beginning. The whole is so sad.Place has the most disgusting odor, workers does not greets you, prices are ridiculous. Just visit this place for unforgettable experience read more

This place was much more than I expected! I heard from my friend that this was considered a co op since the community poured their own money into it & I'm so surprised. It looks amazing. There's so many different products with a mix of standard grocery items as well as vegan friendly items I usually only find in health stores. So glad to find such a nice store nearby! The prices are a bit steep but will definitely be returning again due to proximity! read more

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My shopping habits have changed drastically during the pandemic, but my love for Clifton Market has only grown. In the early days, when the big box stores were all out of toilet paper and milk, we could still count on our neighborhood market to have what we needed. They also did a great job right away with putting in precautions like gloves and wipes. Now that things have settled down, Clifton Market continues to be well-stocked and covid-conscious. They've even found time to make improvements such as re-paving the parking lot and driveway. Unfortunately I can't just wander in with my kids all the time anymore, but until we can go back to that way of life, I will use the online ordering system for convenient pickup, and occasionally delivery. read more

It's nice to have a local grocery store nearby that isn't a huge chain, but the prices here are pretty absurd. Also, the cashiers never seem happy to see anyone. Love the walk-in beer cooler with tons of beers and a discount selection. read more

Clifton Market has potential to be a great store. Unfortunately the owner has zero concept of running a store honestly. He comes across as a nice guy who wants to serve you well. The gripes are numbers of times I've given him lists of items that were regularly selling out and now they are gone. Upon his and other employee requests. He comes back with they don't make it anymore. This is bull I can buy them everywhere else. Prices just keep soaring and are incorrect by the time you get to check out today eggs on the shelf say 4.49 at checkout 7.99 I left. I didn't mind paying more for convenience to help the store grow. But after years now it just gets more expensive less quality products spoiled food on shelves and produce as well as expired dairy Tha stays in fridge 2 weeks after it is brought to his attention. I cannot see how his possible to have the review rating he has . Before my final visit this time I still stopped in nearly every day only to find more items still not restocked week after week and replaced with brands I've never even heard of for twice the money. ITS VERY SAD. If only he had a clue that consistency and fair price will bring him a strong business instead of raising prices to make up for what gets expired because people are going elsewhere now. Most people I know won't shop at Clifton Market anymore for the same reasons. Would rather the store be gone despite convenience to not take advantage of the neighborhood I've been a part of for the past 30 years. Needless to say I will never be back and I hope whoever the people are that give 4 plus stars wake up to reality. One star because I had to. read more

This was my first time at the new event: 5 for $5. This is held on Fridays beginning at 5pm Everything was delicious! Staff was friendly explaining dishes. read more

Clifton Market - Fruit tarts on pastry cream - Grocery Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Employees are always exceptionally friendly and it's a great location. It's really just an overpriced IGA with some specialty goods, and the staff seems to be a revolving door as well. I'm aware staffing is an issue everywhere, but I've heard stories about the ownership that makes me think their issue is specific to them. I was watched very closely and seemingly followed off the property by the owner after checking out. Mr. Singh- if you're so concerned that I was potentially shoplifting $5 worth of goods, perhaps you should re-evaluate your priorities. I think it would actually be more lucrative to replace your apple inventory that's covered in mold and fruit flies. And maybe spend less time being aggressive towards local Clifton residents who are less fortunate, and figure out a way to work on your own store upkeep first. read more

First time here; stopped in to kill some time with a friend after a movie at the Esquire. It's a medium size grocery with lots of fun things to see: bakery; deli shop; salad bar; bulk snack mixes, grains, oils, dog/cat food, etc. Similar to Whole Foods or Trader Joe's, lots of organic, health-conscious, and vegan products. Friendly staff, reasonable prices. Would return. read more

I was excited when this first opened, as the Clifton area desperately needed a good grocery store. What has disappointed me with each trip is that the price to quality ratio is very poor. I anticipated that prices here would be similar to that of Whole Foods/specialty stores, but unfortunately the products sold here are far inferior. The assortment of many items (particularly of dairy and cheese) is limited and often items are expired. The worst offender to me is the produce section. I would love to buy local or organic produce at this market, but often what I purchase is already spoiled. For that reason, I try to avoid this for any fresh foods and only stop by if I need some packaged goods quickly. On a positive note, their employees are usually friendly, and they have a decent selection of wine and beer. read more

They sold me a gallon of milk that had been expired for 3 months. Their prices are higher than Kroger, Aldi's, or Jungle Jims. Their produce section is measly in comparison to those other grocery stores. They have a standoffish staff that act like you are a burden when all you want to do is check out. The carts have messed up wheels, and several of them are missing their backs. They have a woman outside the store that is always trying to hustle you out of cash in exchange for like, a Nutrigrain bar or something, which aren't even supposed to be individually resold so that's in violation of the distribution agreement, but I digress. They've got a great pastry display, but no one is ever staffing it so you can't get anything out of it, and if you ask an employee to like, help you, they act like you're asking them to single-handedly bake the thing from scratch just for you. If you don't want to staff the case, just put the goods in a plastic container and let shoppers do it themselves. Overall shopping here is a bad experience. They are coasting off of a convenient location. read more

I cannot begin to explain how excited I am that the Clifton Market is finally open. My first impression of our new neighborhood store was "Wow, this place is huge!" I also like the skylights. I visited during their pre-opening for members only, and it was really packed within 30 minutes of opening. First things first, I was worried about the prices being a little high to recuperate the high expense of opening, but I was really pleasantly surprised that the prices were not unreasonable. For my first shopping trip I bought: 1/4 gallon milk: $2.00 in-house baked blueberry muffin: $1.19 tin foil: ~ $3.00 Clifton Market is my new home, as my boyfriend explained, if they rented rooms I'd probably try to move in. The space is wide open, and I appreciate that the fruits and vegetables are front and center. I will be going this week to try their lunch selections so I will update my review when I do. read more

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Wonderful to have a great local grocery with everything you need! I love all the bulk items rice, flour, honey, oils, coffee! So needed in Cincinnati. They have a great selection of organic fresh produce and delicious vegan salads in the deli. My new favorite place. read more

Clifton Market - Grocery Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Convenient location on Ludlow and parking close by for a quick pick up of groceries. I would recommend coming here for a few items and NOT ALL your groceries. Decent Wine selection and Organic options are available. Produce section not fresh and cheese selection all close to expiration date. Cashier was friendly. read more

Clifton is a nice little market on Ludlow. Parking is located in the back and can get a bit tight at peak times. There are generally community fundraisers outside of the store. Just inside the store you may find live plants followed by seasonal items and a large produce department. The produce department offers a fairly wide variety of conventional, organic, and local produce. You may not be able to find organic in all products. Employees in this department are generally helpful and knowledgeable. There were plans for a juice bar but these will not likely be worked out for a while. The store has a good selection of kombucha throughout the store but is not the best for juices. The bakery section has a wide variety of sweets and breads. Some are made locally, others are brought in. There is also coffee available in this section and employees are are very helpful. The deli has board head and many great prepares foods. This section is pricey but offers some nice and easy meal options. Employees are also very helpful here. The rest of the store has a mix of standard and boutique type items. In general Clifton Market is about 10% more expensive than the average grocery store. They also offer curbside pick up and delivery. The only place I have experienced less than satisfactory customer service here is in customer service/ checkout. The is one employee who has a tendency to be a bit rude and the checkout experience is not made for speed- so it may be best to not stop by if you are in a hurry. It is nice to have Clifton Market in the neighborhood. As they grow hopefully things will keep getting better. read more

First things first, you do not have to be a shareholder to shop here, it is open to everyone. Generally, we have found that you can find anything that you may need at this store. The prices range from average to slightly higher than average, but the management has said they are working on finding the right balance for its customers, so I would expect to see many changes over its first year. There are a couple of things that stand out to me: 1. The store is well designed- feeling modern and high-end (a-la whole foods) 2. The prepared foods are all very good - particularly their roasted chicken (which is $1 less than Kroger and at least 50% larger - great for a quick protein for a meal) 3. Bakery is phenomenal (Breadsmith and 16 Bricks and Shadeau Bread, beautiful desserts, donuts, bagels, and cakes. 4. Beer and wine prices are good and they have a great local selection. 5. Local products - They are celebrating local - they claim 15% of their products are local (which is huge for a store this size). I am looking forward to the spring and summer when their fruits and vegetables have that local sign (that will be the real test). 6. The staff have been just lovely - sparking conversations, remembering us from the last time we were in, just a great community feel they are building at the store. So I would highly recommend trying out Clifton Market, while you may not do 100% of your shopping there, I have found that it has completely changed my daily routine , as I can stop in just for tonight's dinner, instead of coming home with 15 bags of groceries. It's convenient and high quality. Also, Parking is located off of Howell street and if the lot is full, you can park on Howell, or in the Merchants lot, right next to it. There is also a Red Bike Station located directly behind the store on Howell. read more

Well.... I was super excited that Cincinnati finally had its first "co-op" grocery store. I used to be a member of a co-op when I lived in the West coast. However, Clifton Market is not what I really expected..... Clifton Market definitely is a nice alternative grocery store to Kroger, but I am disappointed that as a co-op grocery store, it still sells a large amount of products from national and mainstream brands. It is great that Clifton Market is owned by the shoppers who buy shares, yet I wish I could buy shares to support local, independent groceries and brands..... I hope this makes sense.... While I am not a fan of the mainstream groceries sold at this market, I found their produce and meat/seafood section fresh and interesting. The bakery looks nice too! Price wise, it is between Kroger and Whole Foods. I am not sure if I will visit Clifton Market often in the future. But I would like to see how it developed.... I am hoping that in the future it could gradually get rid of the mainstream stuff..... read more

A very beautiful and exploratory shopping experience! Try have a dining area to eat and a great delicatessen and bakery. Their coffee is well priced and very good. The parking lot is pretty torn up can has a lot of obscene and offensive graffiti on the walls toward the back of the building and underneath the rear overhang. read more

Clifton Market - Grocery Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The prices seemed to have dropped since they opened, which is great. I am thankful that we have a grocery in the gaslight where you can get everything on your shopping list without driving somewhere. The local and organic selection of beer, eggs, fruit etc is a nice way to support the community and earth friendly farming methods. At the same time, they also have cheaper "normal" alternatives so if you don't want to spend more on specialty items then you don't have to. The store is always clean. The produce is top notch. Every fruit and vegetable I have gotten there has always tasted great. I have never had a problem finding parking in their lot. You can enter from Ludlow or Howell. A much more pleasant experience than driving to Kroger. read more

This place is a great local grocery store. Good selection and solid prices. Great beer selection too

(3.75) ~ Good Overall Local Grocery Store, that emphasizes local products not always found at National Chains. The only reason I didn't give it a (4), is b/c it had A LOT of empty shelf space? read more

I love Clifton Market as a grocery, but I wanted to give a specific review of their newly available (again) sushi. I went last week to grab a quick bite and satisfy my sushi craving and I was not disappointed. I had a simple California roll that was fresh with the nice addition of black sesame seeds in the rice. The roll was more affordable than other grab and go options in Clifton. I am certainly no sushi aficionado, but if you are looking for a simple, affordable sushi fix, check out Clifton Market. read more

I've become a fanboy of Clifton Market's bakery. The bars are creative, naughty, and amazing. There are about a dozen variations of brownies, my preferred treat in the baked goods world. The beer selection is excellent as well. The rest is a fairly straightforward mid-sized grocery store, but the bakery is the standout. read more

It's great to have a walkable neighborhood grocery again! Clifton Market is a clean, fresh and bright store. The staff are really friendly and helpful. Staple items are a bit more expensive than the supermarkets but the meat counter has significantly lower prices and higher quality meats. My only real gripe is that the layout is weird and doesn't flow very well from aisle to aisle. Because of the higher priced staple items it's not really viable for me for weekly shopping but the meat counter and service is second to none. Definitely worth stopping by. read more

I really had such high hopes for Clifton Market when it first opened. I've lived in Clifton, except for a brief time, since 1991. The last several times that I've shopped there, the shelves grow barer and barer. Oh my G-d! Who goes into a grocery, looks in the herb and spice section and finds that they don't carry vanilla extract? That is only one example. My search for fettuccine was in vain. Most of the pasta shelves had a gross abundance of empty space. There are 3 primary reasons that a grocery can't stock merchandise: 1. They haven't paid vendors for previous shipments, 2. They don't have sufficient funds to restock merchandise, or 3. They've already filed bankruptcy, and vendors will no longer make shipments. Take your pick! Any of these options are clear indications of a business that is failing miserably. That is such a disappointment for a store with so much potential. read more

My latest trip to Clifton Market was sadly disappointing. Mainly because they seem to no longer carry the Kentucky beer cheese that I like which was my main reason to shop there. Also, I asked an employee if they had a coffee grinder and he directed me around the corner to two grinders next to several barrels of coffee beans. So a good selection. I ground some beans and went to checkout where the clerk asked me what kind of coffee I had. See, there were no pens, markers, labels or any way for me to make a note on the bag of what it was. And I didn't remember the specifics. I think I was still too disappointed about the lack of beer cheese. It's still a decent little market but sadly my most compelling reason to stop in is gone. read more

I like this market because it is a walkable distance. For the most part it is clean and quality is good but make sure you double check your produce because sometimes it is not fresh. I love to shop here because the cashiers are very nice and make it worth going here. However my three stars are for the deli. First, I always get the feeling that I'm bothering whoever is working at the deli. Like I'm interrupting their other important work. And they have sandwiches and stuff they will make for you above the deli. But don't ask them to make them for you because it takes like 15-20 minutes while they do other things than make your $8 sandwich. My husband went one time to ask if he could have a pizza as it was listed on the sign and they looked at him like he was crazy and said, "we don't do pizza here." read more

Cute, local grocery store. Some of their items are overpriced compared to chain stores, and sometimes they're missing products, but all in all it's a great initiative. read more

Clifton Market is our neighborhood grocery, so I really want it to do well. Its wonderful to have a grocery I can walk to. As a shareholder I was a bit worried at the beginning but I am excited they seem to be getting things straightened out. Prices also seem to be dropping making them more competitive in a challenging market. The store is clean and well stocked. It feels much better than it did as Kellers- which was pretty gross. The new windows in the front really opened up the space adding natural light, giving it an airy feel. They have a good selection of local products and fresh produce. They are doing some cool things with events and tastings on the weekends. A few things I would like to see improved: I feel the deli and bakery selections could be a bit better. I have yet to get anything from either that I've enjoyed. Granted, I can't name a grocery store in the city with a good bakery so I may be expecting too much, but the deli food could definitely be improved. The neighborhood store seems to be working hard to adjust and improve. Support this community Market. read more

I really enjoy shopping at this place. Good quality and selection of local and upscale items. Also super cool that you can grab a sandwich or pizza from the deli while shopping. They do frequent beer/wine/coffee/baked good tastings that are always a nice surprise. read more