Fond memories of Fort Ord Community Commissary. A lot of shopping has taken place in this facility. No tax on purchases, bagging people are available for help & what better place to shop in the Monterey Bay. The presence of a once highly military unit is now known for CSUMB. I cherish the good, bad $ ugly of serving my country in the finest landscape of property second to none read more

Ord Community Commissary - Sign - Grocery Near Me - Seaside, California

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Feedoms Choice usually makes my day when I shop this commissary. Although when brand items are needed I can usually count on this commissary supplying them. The service at this commissary has always been exceptional at all levels. read more

The commissary is great for the usual staples of food. Nice selection of some German items as well. Prices for the most part were comparable to the other stores and some things were cheaper. I'd say about 75% of the items were on the cheaper side. All name brand items as well as their own branded items called Freedoms Choice. Veterans and active military show their military ID to enter and civilians can accompany them. Much like if you were to go into Costco. There isn't any charging stations there but plenty of parking in the lot. read more

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Very organized, clean and well structured. Employees are very respectful and helpful.

Always out of stock on most items, poor produce and beef quality. Although baggers are optional, the quality of the baggers has decreased over the past few years. read more

Cheaper prices than regular store. Requires military or veteran ID to enter and purchase items

Having a store for military folks and families like meself has been nice, makes us feel that much more special. The environment has always been great, staff super pleasant and fun to interact with. I want to shoutout Sergio in the produce department. I enjoy our conversations and would like to thank you for always wiling to engage with an older fellow like meself. You don't really see that with the younger crowd anymore. The only con I have with him is that he's a 49ers fan. lol. read more

Still looks the same! I recall shopping here when Fort Ord was an active military installation, over twenty years ago. The commissary is one of the few remains in this Ghost town. It is open to active and retired military. My mom signed me in since I don't have an ID card anymore. Sigh!! The commissary is your typical grocery store with everything that the other grocers sell at a discount. Although most items are significantly less, it pays to know your prices on all your items. Some items can be priced higher than you would pay at a big box store. The only thing that they don't sell is alcohol. But you can purchase that at the PX! read more

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Wonderfully clean and well-stocked commissary grocery store. Will continue to shop here.

I really enjoy shopping here. The experience and ambiance is next to none. Box stores and their competitors are hustle and bustle, not this location. STRESS FREE. Being military, the prices are the BEST! Can not beat that anywhere, plus many items are high end for under market prices. They have a sushi (fresh made) and butcher/sandwich shop. Both excellent. California rolls superbly exceptional! The Pastrami Panini Hot sandwich i incredible! I am grateful they did not close when Planet Ord did. read more

Pretty much the only reason I even remember Ord exists anymore. Once in a while I go by the commissary to pick up a handfull of items worth stocking up on. I usually shop at Trader Joe's for good deals and Whole Foods for good produce and specialty items. I like to go by the commissary for a change of pace sometimes. I usually end up buying anything they have that's organic, which isn't much... as well as some non-toxic cleaning supplies they carry. It serves it's purpose although they sell some items (like rice milk) for twice as much as you'd pay at TJ's. read more

Ord Community Commissary - a man in a store - Grocery Near Me - Seaside, California

The prices are great. It's always clean and well stocked. We went shopping there today and they told us the base commander has reimposed the mask mandate (Jan 6, 2023). Can someone explain why please? read more

If you are affiliated with the Department of Defense and have commissary privileges, this is great value for grocery shopping. The selection is good, the pricing is outstanding, and the service is very friendly and professional. Attribute the former to how a military affiliated service gets trained and managed. Wish it wasn't so far out of the way, but it's worth the drive - the location is off of Lightfighter if you're coming down the 1, pretty easy to find if you just follow the signs coming off the highway. read more

Ord Community Commissary - booyah - Grocery Near Me - Seaside, California

Good: 1. It's clean and the staff is generally friendly and tries to be helpful. 2. Same quantity of selection as your equivalent supermarket. 3. The fact that you need an ID to get in is also nice, as it's never crowded. 4. Decent selection of meats, like most commissaries. Bad: 1. They stock what they stock. Being a commissary, there's no attention paid to demand, so the best stuff sells out fast and isn't replaced until the next restock. They also never know when a product will be back in stock, and a few things I regularly bought have been discontinued without warning. 2. There's something wrong with their produce. I don't know if it's something in shipping, or storage, or how they refrigerate it, but I've found so much rot and mold on everything from berries to apples to potatoes, it's scary. Things go bad quickly as well. It's especially noticeable if you compare to somewhere even average like Trader Joe's. 3. They also leave things out past their expiration (often happens with their dairy, especially cheese and yogurt). 4. For many, one of the big draws of the commissary was always price. You're not saving any money at this one. Everything is priced at market rate, and there's a surcharge that just happens to be the same as what you would pay in tax. 5. Worst of all, they just don't care. If the store closes at 6:00, they'll start packing up at 5:30 or even 5:00. There could be a line halfway across the store and they'll still not open more than two registers. Half of the baggers are little old ladies who can't lift 30 lbs. and have no idea how to balance a load. They have covered area by the door specifically to keep the carts dry...and they park them in front of it so they're always soaked. Go elsewhere if you can. AAFES has been in a nosedive for decades and it shows at the Fort Ord commissary. read more

This review is for both the Commissary and the Sushi stand inside. The Commissary is awesome, great prices, selection, service. Overall, the best place to shop for groceries if you are military. Now for the Sushi stand. Wow! I have missed my favorite sushi place in the East Bay Area since moving here. I've tried several spots around Monterey and have been less than pleased. Most places are pricey for so-so quality. I'm glad I tried the Sushi stand. The quality is fresh and you can order just about anything you want. I opt for the raw fish offerings more than the fried ones and they're better than the sit-down places around here. Great value! Just remember to grab some chopsticks for eating at home! Only negative is that the hours of operation are not consistent so sometimes they're not there and you're stuck with pre-made options. But seriously, try it. So good! read more

I frequent Moffett Field, Travis and this place. This place and Travis always have very friendly staff compared to Moffett Field. They always have everything that I need. read more

I don't normally shop in the commissary. It's always just been too inconvenient no matter where I have lived as I have never lived what I consider close enough to a military installation to make shopping here worth the effort. I am surprised this commissary is still around given Fort Ord closed years ago. However, I am glad it is and have stopped in from time to time when I visited PG. As compared to other commissaries, I find this one small. Prices for some items are quite reasonable. However, some items are priced higher than you would find in a regular grocery. Produce is not always the freshest and I am leery of buying meats here. If you are looking for more high end items, such as a nice steak for grilling, this is not the place to purchase. However, it's a great place to stock up on staples - spices, jams, peanut butter, rice, etc. Items are tax free, however the commissary charges a surcharge of 5% which is added to the amount due before coupons. Congress mandated collection of the surcharge to pay for commissary construction, equipment and maintenance. The surcharge is supposed to be returned to commissary patrons in the form of continually improved commissary facilities. Baggers work for tips only so please keep that in mind when you shop here. read more

I come here for the convince but it seems the fresh fruit are not always fresh the strawberries seem to have mold on them as well blueberries. Prices are ok somethings are higher than other grocery stores. read more

Located in the old Fort Ord (Ord Community), the Commissary is for DoD Beneficiaries and is a hidden gem for the military community of the Penninsula (NPS, DLI, Retirees, etc) While it is older and smaller than some of the commissaries I've visited before, the price value compared to other alternatives (the Safeways, SaveMarts, etc.) on groceries is worth the drive. Our experience is that a small cart in other stores can quickly exceed $100 while I routinely load up a cart for that price here. That said, the meat department is so-so (lose a star) especially on Sundays - however, after they restock / inventory on Monday's, I find that Tuesday's make for a much better selection. Another CON is that they (and all commissaries) do not sell alcohol, but the AAFES PX is right next door (as is the AAFES gas station). I never took the time to use the Commissary at other posts, but I ALWAYS use it here. Please remember, the baggers work for tips only (as I did many, many, many years ago)... read more

This particular commissary has the worst produce I've bought from anywhere. Especially in the winter. I lived in New Hampshire for most of my life and all year round we had good produce. I don't understand why after two days my apples have developed browning on the inside before I've taken a bite. And not to get this confused with bruising its that the apple has gone bad already. I hate that you have to tip the baggers because its awkward. For one, I can carry my push my own cart to my car and load them up. It's awkward because I never know if I should help them or not since I'm tipping them. Because I'm pregnant they ALWAYS insist on helping me, when I truly don't need help. That, and you never know how much to give. Last, compared to grocery stores and other commissaries I spend so much more money here. Usually for my husband and myself we spend about $75.00 total. All commissaries have the 5% Surcharge, even still it should come out to only around 79 but here I usually tip a bagger $2-$3 for bagging or if they insist on helping me (by taking my cart before I can say no) I give them $4-$5. We end up spending $100 or more every time. We are smart shoppers and we don't buy a lot of junk food. Usually just a frozen pizza and a small pint of ice cream on occasion. read more

From the Presidio of Monterey Facebook: "Ord Community Commissary will return to normal (pre-furlough) operating hours beginning the week of August 18. As a refresher, the hours are as follows: Sunday: 1000-1800 Monday: CLOSED Tuesday: 0900-1900 Wednesday: 0900-1900 Thursday: 1000-2000 Friday: 0900-1900 Saturday: 0900-1900" read more

The store is well organized and great checkout service. Great fruit and produce selection too.

Mmmmm. Old, rotten, expired or near expired food. Mmmm. What a steal. All self check out registers have been out of order or broken for weeks now. I won't pay someone to bag a few groceries who will hold their hand out AFTER receiving tip. read more

Been shopping here for many years. Great place to shop. Many helpful employees. Prices overall better than any civilian supermarket in the area. Good idea to check expiration dates on those items which have dates. There are times old stock is left on the shelf. If you see something new that you like, get as much as you can, because it may not reappear. As I understand it local commissary has only a limited say in what they carry. Most decisions made by the Defense Commissary Agency headquarters. The manager, Mr. Alex King, is quite approachable either in person or by email. He usually gets back to you fairly quickly with an answer. The answer may not always be what you want, but Mr. King gives you a straight answer and does all he can to help. Believe the commissary is a literal lifesaver for elderly retirees on fixed incomes and younger enlisted troops with families. read more

I have been shopping at this commissary for almost a year now. Our family consumes very little junk food, and for a commissary, it carries a lot more organic/natural options than I would have expected. I have only shopped at 2 other commissaries before, and, true, this one is smaller and older, but I still find that I can usually get everything I need/want, at much better prices. As another reviewer said, the prices at other grocery stores in the other don't even compare to the prices here. Yes, every now and then there will be an item that is comparable (organic milk, for instance, is the same price as Trader Joe's if you get it in the quart size, however, getting a gallon at TJs or Costco works out to being about a dollar cheaper than the commissary), but for the vast majority of items, while still expensive compared to the rest of the country (it's still California), they are SO much cheaper than other stores. It takes an especially large shopping trip for me to go much over $100 with my family of 3 adults (two of them being men) and 2 kids. They lose a star for quickly and sharply raising their bread prices, and for the 5% surcharge. I don't remember the other commissaries having this surcharge, but maybe it is something they all do and I just don't remember. Either way, it's dumb and shouldn't be there. I do get annoyed about the baggers-for-tips-only thing, BUT it's really not that big of a deal, because there are 5 areas (2 express) for people who wish to scan and bag their own groceries. We always choose that option because it's not worth it to me, if I already have to pay a 5% surcharge, to pay more money just so I can get my groceries into the car. If you have a bunch of "littles" with you and it's just "one of those days", the option to have them bag your groceries and put them in your car can sometimes be worth a few extra dollars. To sum it up, if you live in military housing (we do), it is DEFINITELY worth it, in my opinion. Yeah, you might save a dollar on organic milk if you drive to TJs, but there are few things that make it worth doing an extra 30-40 minutes of round-trip driving. I have found the commissary to have many items (at much better prices) to fit a family choosing to consume fewer processed foods. We will be shopping here until it's time to "move on"! read more

I am so grateful that the Ord Community Commissary is here in Seaside. I do the bulk of my shopping here and find the variety and pricing beyond compare. The only reason for four stars and not five is the way the bagging system at checkout is set up. I find it uncomfortable and offensive to have baggers fight over me to bag my groceries because they are looking for a tip. I understand that a change has recently been made in the system and that baggers must take turns. Which would help immensely . I personally have stopped shopping during the week when the "regular" baggers are there. I go on Sunday when the high school and college kids are bagging. They do a far better job packing. They actually care that your bags are packed properly with perishable items all together in one bag. They are courteous and friendly and they take turns without being told. They deserve their tips. read more

Great prices!! Wish there was one closer to PG & Monterey...

I adore this commissary. Granted, I may be a little bit biased because I work there (I also shop there!), but after having seen my fair share of commissaries both stateside and overseas, I feel like this commissary is far better off than other ones I've seen/worked at. I think everyone that works here tries to be extremely respectful and kind towards our shoppers, because we respect military members and their families (both active duty and retired). Our produce may not be the best, but then again most people don't shop at our store for the produce, but our great deals/fair prices. I noticed some of comments complained about the baggers. I'm sorry to hear that people don't appreciate or understand this service that is provided. You will not be judged if you choose not to have a bagger help you with your groceries, that is your choice. What you tip your bagger is entirely up to you to decide. I can see how new shoppers may not understand how the bagger system works, but I assure you that the system is present at almost every Commissary. I shop there often, and find that the prices are so much better than other stores, and that the variety is quite good as well. read more

As far as other commissaries that I've been to, this one is ok. As others have said, yes, the prices are usually very good compared to other stores in the area. However, I have two things to mention. 1.) I absolutely, positively HATE that the baggers work for tips. I don't care if I have to pay an extra 5% on everything - I believe it is truly inappropriate for any establishment to have a tip-only position like this, especially since at any other grocery store they pay employees to bag. I have worked tipped jobs, and I have an understanding about how much they're making - and I would rather them work for wages. I NEVER buy a lot there because I refuse to have to pay for someone to bag my groceries, or feel like an a-hole if I don't tip. Inappropriate. 2.) Their produce - they have an ok selection, and it is all flavorful, but it has a very short lifespan compared to produced purchased at other places. Fruit goes bad very quickly, and where bananas I've bought at Savemart have stayed yellow for five days, commissary bananas start to spot after a day and a half. So I usually only buy produce here that I plan on using immediately. But it's got a decent selection of products, and a good variety of ethnic foods. Their prices on premium items, like Chobani yogurts (only $1!!!) is very very good compared to their competators, so I always pick up these items there. I recommend them to any service member/retiree. read more

I love the military, I spent 21 years in service. But I have to tell you, the Ft.. Ord commissary needs alot of help. The produce is terrible, living is this area you would think we would get good produce. However, the commissary staff obviously does not check the incoming produce very well and the vendors know this, that's why they bring all the lower quality stuff to the military. Shame on them. I never buy milk there anymore, it usually only has a few days left until it expires, even if it has a long date it usually spoils in 2-3 days. I always check dates on everything, ALWAYS. I was purchasing cream cheese and it had been expired for 2 months. I called the Manager out and showed her, she did not seem overly concerned. I'm not sure how qualified she is to be in that position. I have talked to her several times about other issues and she doesn't seem too knowledgeable. As far as the issue of cold foods spoiling quickly I believe that food sits on the dock too long and there's the problem. Tomorrow is Veteran's Day and I need to go shopping (yes, I still use the commissary) so I called to see if they are open. You would think tomorrow being a holiday they would have a voice mail message to let you know if they are open. There is no message, they don't even have an answering machine and no one ever answers the phone. I just feel the men and women that served deserve better that what they are getting. read more

There are several drawbacks to the Ord Community Commissary: All to often, the fruit and vegetables are at best of fair quality. There a spurts of exceptions, but not enough to warrant shopping there for them on a regular basis. Another drawback pertains to the lack of frequency shown in restocking the bottled and canned shelf items in a timely fashion. Not infrequently I have waited two to four weeks before finally getting what I wanted. Another matter that I find unfortunate is the huge amount of shelf space that has been set aside for "junk" food and beverages. It would be appreciated--at least by me--if the Commissary management replaced one such aisle with more healthy selections, to include its minuscule seafood selection. Quite honestly, I believe, if greater attention was shown to stocking more quality products rather than concentrating on lowest pricing that the Commissary would attract more active component shoppers, many of whom simply do not want to make a round-trip drive there only to find a selection of so-so items. If the Commissary was a civilian operation, I seriously doubt it could compete and survive in the business marketplace given it management philosophy, that is, assuming it has one? The Commissionary staff are friendly and try to be helpful as best as they can, but the above mentioned issues do not fall within their purvey. read more