First off, I didn't realize this was nestled on the college campus. I went to get a study snack, if you find yourself in the same predicament, I'd recommend walking to a nearby store like Trader Joe's or another stores in the area. Everything in here was overpriced. It's a shame how college students are exploited. The guy working the counter was kind and patient though. I'd only recommend this to a college student who needs supplies really early or really late in the day (which is probably what this store is used for) read more

The Midway Market opened in the brand new South Campus Residence Hall this past fall. The Midway Market is one part coffee shop, one part convenience store, and one part grocery. For me, it is in a perfect location as a coffee shop and it is open every night during the school year from 7:00am - 3:00am. This makes it the only cafe/coffee place in the Hyde Park area open past 9:00! You would think a campus area would have late night locations for studying, but alas it has taken years to get such a place. ADVICE: the Midway Market is NOT at street level so if you are looking for it along Ellis you might miss it. There are stairs that go down from the courtyard to get to the entrance. Also, you should note that the doors to go in are VERY heavy and I see people all the time try to open them, think it is locked, and then turn away. But if it is before 3:00am and school is in session then it is definitely open. PULL! MORE ADVICE: After 10:00pm the Midway Market becomes the main destination for all the students in the nearby dorms who are studying or looking for a break from studying. I.e., if you want a place to study be prepared for a steady stream of undergrads coming in large packs, making lots of noise. And it is at this time of night until close that the cafe actually fills up with students trying to study in groups or just hanging out. If you are looking for a noisy student location or a late night snack then this place will be perfect. If you want somewhere quiet, then coming in late at night will not be an option. PROS: The Midway Market is almost always empty during the day, afternoon, and early evening. I come here almost every evening and I am typically the only person until after 7:00pm. Students definitely come in and out, but they rarely sit down to study. What a shame! Because its not that bad of a place to get some work done and the tables are decent size and the booth-like seats are quite comfy. They also have a fairly large selection of items for purchase: deli sandwiches, panini, sushi, cereal, candy, chips, cold drinks, COFFEE (of course), cakes, etc. etc. CONS: There are quite a few. First of all, it was FREEZING all winter long. The building was not well constructed at all and cold air would pour in through the windows, through the outlets on the outer wall, and the heat seemed non-existent. The staff was constantly freezing and always had their coat on, and pretty much anyone sitting inside had on hats and coats as well. Next, the staff. They range from polite and quiet to downright rude, very loud and unprofessional. For a while there were a few manager types that would come in and yell at the employees very loudly in front of everyone in the store. This was rather disconcerting and seemed mostly about displaying managerial power. When the managers were not there, the staff would yell at each other about how they had been yelled at without just cause and how they had done nothing wrong or about how the managers didn't know what they were doing. And on more than one occasion I saw the staff in complete tears. That said, there are plenty of very nice, friendly people who work here, but it is really hit or miss. Finally, they have a restocking issue as they frequently run out of the items I want and it will be days or weeks before they get new supply. read more

Midway Market - people walking in front of a building - Grocery Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Despite the fact that a proper convenience store would greatly benefit this part of Woodlawn, Midway Market insists on marketing itself only to the undergraduates living in the dorms above. Its product selection is nigh-useless for residents of the nearby blocks. I went in here for a half-gallon of milk and some ground coffee; they only had some minuscule "Deans" and instant coffee--unbelievable! Next time, I will just walk a few blocks to Jewel. read more

Midway Market is nice and convenient. Good food and a decent selection. It would be greatly improved if the hours were more consistent and longer. I also wish they the selection was larger. read more

Aramark, you capitalist fiend, you. You've managed to fatten your gilded pockets by charging exorbitant prices for goods we could purchase elsewhere for much less, a business strategy that would never work in the real world. But since UChicago is certainly not the real world, you have found yourself in a gold mine, sloughing away my Maroon Dollars as my peers and I come in to buy that party size bag of Doritos for $5 just so that we can barely survive the all-nighter that we're pulling for Organic Chemistry. I hope you're happy with yourself, Aramark. read more

One of the first important beneficiaries of the campus-wide change away from Aramark has been the sandwich store in the Midway Market, which now serves a surprisingly earnest array of basic made-to-order sandwiches. I got, for instance, roast beef and cheddar on a focaccia roll with fresh spinach, roasted red peppers, onions, and mustard. It wasn't the best sandwich I've ever had in my life, but it was satisfying and it lacked artifice. And most importantly, it was convenient and available at a time when most things on this part of campus were closed. I'm sure I'll have my complaints, but this little place deserves to be a mainstay. read more

Red Bull? They got it. Candy, candy bars, power bars etc. They got it. But this place could be really special. There's no other market like it, near South Campus, south of the midway, near Logan Art Center. There could be good food, well curated stuff for the South Campus (dorm) dweller-- but there's just the some random, not very tasty stuff undergrad junk food fodder. Uchicago students are special and deserve exciting, interesting, quirky. Occasionally you will see some special random item, summer beach towels, gluten free food items, but nothing really sticks around, or sticks. I believe this is a wonderful opportunity to serve the student and community body, but so far that need is unmet. Want to see how a thoughtful, caring, feisty market does it? Hoof it over to someplace like Open Produce, or Bon Sante. Want to see how Aramark has is asleep at the switch? Come here. I've often come in looking for that tasty treat taken a walk around the shelves, and walked out. read more

If you're a drunk college student who really can't get her or himself to walgreens or cvs or if you just simply don't have time to go there, then midway market is a good last resort place. It's extremely expensive. For example, a jar of Nutella is about $5... It is nice having it by the residence hall though for urgent items and for a small snack. The staff is really really nice; I feel so bad for them because they have to deal with the students all the time but yet they hang in there. Definitely don't get anything from their fridge of like fresh food... Especially the cup of veggies. Those veggies are really old and are bad. But the cashews and the candy sold by the pound are a must since you will not find them cheaper anywhere else! read more

Midway Market - a variety of cereals and cereal bars - Grocery Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Admittedly, the Midway Mart is there for you in your times of need, and the workers are generally pretty friendly. It's also open until 3 am, which is always a plus when studying (or partying!) gets the better of you. However, the items are over-priced, generally $2-3 more than you would find anywhere else. The tables are often dirty, and food is left out for too long - what was brought in the morning is still there almost 24 hours later. Keep in mind that a solid majority of Midway Mart's customers are college students that are either drunk, high, or an unfortunate mix of both. read more