My review of Safeway is directed to the Deli/Hot Food bar. I am a promoter of "waste not, want not" and I saw an employee throw away all the Chinese food from the hot bar at the end of the day and found out that is their policy. No matter what the reason - they can, at a minimum, offer the community homeless free leftovers. I doubt there would be any difficulty finding hungry mouths to come by and pick up a container full. read more

This is the Safeway that I grew up with it's in my neighborhood that I've always lived in, Castro Valley. UNFORTUNATELY! tonight I had an experience that I am not able to shake off with a staff member named TRAVIS (I believe, but i don't want to get sued so I'll say "allegedly"). But tonight when I went there for a few items after 12 am ( I thought I'd be safer and more comfortable there than at most liquor stores) I had to encounter with a young man that worked as a stock boy named TRAVIS (young, Caucasian, and maybe 6ft). As I was paying for my groceries at the only cash register that was open with a nice lady who is ringing me up this "Travis "decided to come up and ask the woman if she was a specific ethnicity "You're not Jewish are you?" He asked HER. When she responded no he proceeded to say "Some guy just totally "JEW-ed" me out of some money". I looked up and said "You should have asked me" which he countered with, "You don't look Jewish to me" in a derogatory way because I am African American looking but actually my family is from France and fought and died for European, Jewish and global freedom in WorldWarII, I could easily be Jewish. How offensive, just by looking at me he can assume that I am not Jewish because I'm also black?! How IGNORANT! Because I was still being rung up, I was unable to escape. I told Travis and the woman was ringing me up that I was "Begining to feel very uncomfortable", at that point I was done with check out. As I gathered my things and turned to leave, young Travis said to his co-worker, calling out so that I could hear as well, "She looked pretty FUCKING comfortable when she put her basket down on a box in my isle!!!!" ( because I had been shopping earlier I had put my shopping basket on a box in an isle he was working in. I nicely told him he could move it and apologized. He then asked me for a beer, I replied, "when your working? Is that allowed" he answeed "nevermind") Apparently that is getting to comfortable and in a grocery store. If you've read this entire review so far you can clearly see that I am very upset with what happened in that grocery store tonight. I feel that when you were hired by a company you should be there to help and to make your customers feel comfortable not make them feel the absolute opposite meaning completely uncomfortable ready to run out and upset even after they get to their car. I honestly plan on talking to Safeway's management, they need to look in on people that are making their stores look terrible. Ignorant, racist people need to keep it to themselves. Their job description is COSTOMER service not ignorant LIP service... "Allegedly"! read more

This Safeway drives me crazy. I can never find parking, it's small and cramped, and people move sooo sloooowly in the aisles. Since I'm always shopping in beat-the-clock mode, this gives me road rage. They have most of the stuff I can't get at Trader Joe's, and they're less icky than Lucky's, but I'm still looking for my favorite supermarket out here. read more

Worst store ever no wonder u only have 2 stars if there was a minus star id give it to you!! Your not friendly, no one smiles , no eye contact and your phone edict is the worst get your s*** together. read more

This review is solely on the bakery. I had no problems until I had called to inquire about a cake just now. The Korean sounding baker was rude. She answered the phone as if it was her personal cell phone. No "Safeway Bakery this is ____ how may I help you?" It was "hello?!" "what cake?" "I don't know what you're talking about" "no we don't do personalized cakes" then hangs up on me after I say "OK, so.... You don't make ANY personal cakes?" I will never shop at this Safeway again. Thank god for Lucky's! read more

I have been shopping at my ghetto ass neighborhood safeway in Oakland. This place is open 24 hours, nice and clean, very big and has lots of stuff that I can't find in my normal store. read more

6:00 pm on a Wednesday - only 3 check stands open - 1/2 the self-check stands not working. No management, no one there to assist at the registers. Easily more than 60 people standing in line PO'd at the lack of checkers! This is quite typical 24/7. They also have vendors stocking the shelves at all hours - blocking the aisles, making the shelves inaccessible, leaving cardboard boxes and packing scraps. The parking lot is an absolute disaster - the pickup rate for the carts is nil, so if you find one in the lot, bring it in with you! And while they're obviously not responsible for the drivers - be forewarned that people are now driving slowly through the lot not watching while playing Pokemon!! The only relatively unobstructed area is the produce section, which is well stocked. If you can, go up the hill and shop at the other C.V. Safeway! read more

The head clerk Travis is an amazing guy. Bought 2 rotisserie chickens and he found a coupon in the Ad to help me save money. Always coming back just for that man. Thanks again brother ! read more

This is my neighborhood store i shop at all the time. Today i went in to pick up some groceries, i got some milk and few other items, when i was in line i kept getting this awful odor coming from one of the items but couldn't figure it out. Checked out at self check out and was on my way, i carried my items out by hand, once in the car driving aways i smelt that smell again so i picked up the milk and smelt it again, nasty and set it down to look at my hand to have a brown smear of something and smelt it , smelt just like feces!!!!!! then there it was on the bottom of milk carton. Absolutely disgusting!!!!!!! Long story short, had to come back to return the milk. I did ask for a manager but Cindy said they were busy read more

Safeway you suck! I just watched Safeway allow two people purchase 15 yes I said 15 gallons of milk! REALLY REALLY! Also there is nothing on sale. In fact there are increased prices of items with a sign saying due to the impact of Covid 19 the price of eggs have increased! Five dollars for 18 eggs! Fuck you safeway! Your only getting one star because yelp won't let you give zero stars like Safeway gives zero fucks about their customers! read more

I'm editing an earlier review because they seemed to have fixed the problem of understaffing and long lines in the midday. I go often and it's always a good experience. It would be great if they had the bulk grains etc. that another nearby Safeway has. read more

Already hate shopping here because of the parking and lines and don't let me forget price of everything is ridiculous. But they just got the liquor license back after losing it for a month or something for not checking ID or selling to under age kids. Not so great Safeway . Clean up your act! read more

I used to work in a customer service center at Bel Air Market in the Sacramento area, and am familiar with the ins-and-outs of that world. So when I was told that I would have to come back to the store the next day to return a steam cleaner because the office was closed for the day, I was surprised: courtesy clerks are more than capable of returning a machine. I asked about it, and the clerk jumped on me like a tiger on a raw steak. "it's the rules, I don't make the rules, nothing I can do about it." I spoke to a manager, and the manager said essentially the same thing, just a little nicer. Not exactly executive action to point to the book of arbitrary rules, but I could play along. I came back the next day to return the machine and brought it up to a second young person behind the counter. Apparently this one doesn't make the rules either, and isn't afraid to express as much with a heaping side of condescension. Here's a tip in customer service for all the customer service clerks out there: when a customer finds themselves in a position where the rules aren't working in their favor, just smile and apologize for the inconvenience. It's a small token to be sure, but a meaningful one that will help smooth things over. Customers don't want to be difficult, they just want to feel listened to. In this series of transactions, Safeway is 0-2. read more

THEY PURPOSEFULLY AND DECEIVINGLY GAVE ME OLD MEAT!!!! I downloaded this app specificly to review this safeway. Went here the other day to get some flap meat that was on sale. They only had marinated flap meat at the butcher window. So i asked the guy if they had any unseasoned meat left. He said yes, then gets a bag of meat with an alarming amount of blood in the bag. At first i thought i was being paranoid. But when i got home the meat was brown. Its not my regular store so ill probably never return here. Best believe im watching all the butchers who grab meat from the back from now on. read more

Pretty decent as Safeways go. I've probably had my better experiences grocery shopping here even before the remodel. Cashiers are friendly and the store usually has what I'm looking for. It's great for late night food runs or early morning snacks for work. I avoid like the plague coming here at 5 PM because it's mobbed with shoppers. Otherwise, easy place to get what one needs for the week or a single meal. read more

Love our Safeway. They have a new employee at the self check who actually goes all out to help. He watches the line and makes sure people take their turn, checks out the gift cards without complaint and provides good customer service. I have been using this Safeway for the past 16 years. Their organic section has also improved and more choices of fruits and vegetables are available. Have been to other Safeway stores in the area that were quite disappointing when compared to ours. read more

Is it my imagination? I went there one Saturday it was so busy, difficult to find parking even I were lucky to get a spot fairly quickly. Inside the supermarket there are not much left on the shelves for those on sale but I were able to get some bargains. Not sure if I want to come back here on a Saturday because there are just too many people in there. Apart from that, the cashier was very friendly and courteous and asked if I needed assistance to my car since I bought quite a bit of grocery. That's a nice touch. read more

I will not spend another of my or my husband hard earned money in a Safeway store. The day before Thanksgiving, I fell in the store, on the main corridor. I am 63, going on 64 (soon) years of age. I understand other customers not assisting me, I guess. But not one employee, NOT ONE, came to my aid. Ok. Maybe out of all of the employees there that day...maybe they didn't see me. Well, after I finally got up off of floor, I went to floral department and let them know about the slippery spot on floor, so no one else would slip. Only that young lady seemed to have any compassion. She said let me call management and at least get a report written. When management finally got there, they walked behing me, snickering. I showed them the spot and my shoe slip treads. After they didn't ask me for my name or anything else, I said, you might want my name and number. Then they asked, oh yeah. How's your knee? They had nothing in their eyes. Yet their eyes were judgy. No report, no call, no nothing. I called their corporate office Friday, realized they were closed. Called Monday morning. Transferred me to their Risk Management-Sedgwick. Told them about the incident. There was no record. Finally a record was taken/written. Like they care. Haven't heard back from them. PEOPLE, HELP ME SAY, "BYE SAFEWAY!" read more

They are not open 24 hours. Found that out when I showed up at 2:05 a.m. and all the doors were locked. I called and was told that since Thanksgiving they closed between the hours of 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. when I inform them that they are still listed as a 24-hour store all I got was a "sorry it's been that way since Thanksgiving you'll have to come back at 5". Well if it could wait till 5 don't you think I would have waited till 5? I'm not out at 2 a.m. cuz I got nothing better to do. It's kind of a crisis. This service is mediocre at best anyway so I guess I'll just be taking my business somewhere else that's a little further but at least doesn't have false advertising on their hours and offer a half-ass apology. read more

Strangest grocery store trip of my life. First off, I could not help but notice how odd the parking lot configuration is which is an instant turn-off. I only needed a handful of things so I braved the parking maze, and the last minute Mother's Day shoppers. Inside I grabbed a few incidentals that are uncommon at the less conventional stores I usually frequent, and I swiftly made my way toward the front part of the store. On my way to the check out stands I had to detour to the ladies' room so I parked my cart nearby. When I returned to the spot where I left my selections my cart was gone. There was no trace of it anywhere. Half annoyed, I grabbed the closest employee and asked for his assistance. As I detailed my dilemma to him I clarified that my own shopping bag was in the missing cart. After he listened to me he went off to inquire on my behalf. He returned looking more baffled than when he ventured over to the customer service desk. Next thing I know he turns back to likely grab some more efficient support when low and behold a manager passes by and instructs him to have another employee page someone else. "Luckily" this third person knows exactly what he's talking about, yet despite this good fortune everything except my bag has supposedly been sent back to stock. Why you might ask? Well, first because the cart had perishables, second the cart became the focal point of an attempted "caper". Apparently while I was temporarily absent someone attempted to steal the cart, and had to be approached not once but twice for trying to shoplift this irresistible shopping cart. After gaining all this not so helpful info no one seemed to know what happened to the grocery items I actually needed so rather than wasting more time I simply ditched the whole effort and returned to my vehicle and the dreaded parking lot. I'd rather not shop among the thieves. read more

Store is freezing cold turn up the heat. Cashier lines are extremely long self check even worse

Pad an extra 25 minutes to your grocery trip for parking and check out. There are always 100 people waiting in line and parking can be compared to mall parking November-December. I shop here out of convenience because of it's proximity to my boyfriends house. In new development of this horrendous store, I went in on Sunday 3/12 and purchased a couple of chocolate milks that were in the refrigerators by the cash registers. Big mistake. The "enjoy by date" for one of them was 2/21/17!!! Now I can't even trust this store to sell unexpired items. I'll be checking expiration dates from now on I guess. read more

Safeway - Purchased on Sunday 3/12... gross!!! - Grocery Near Me - Castro Valley, California

What a HUGE improvement from my last update! Produce department well stocked and beautiful thanks to the Asian gentleman who asked me twice if there was anything that I needed. The front end manager was moving at the speed of light and kept all of the checkouts moving smoothly even on an extremely busy Sunday afternoon. The deli department cooked fresh potato wedges to order and was handling the rush of customers flawlessly. Thanks to the top notch staff my shopping was a breeze! read more

I just had another great experience at the Safeway on Redwood Road! I had a weird meat I needed to return and they took care of it seamlessly. It was super easy ! Love them read more

There is nothing here you can't get elsewhere cheaper. If you live on ready-meals and junk-food then consider the convenience food over at Trader Joe's just up the road. Any of which will have fewer ingredients and cost half the price of something at Safeway. Safeway lost my business 2 years ago when I realised it costs twice to three times as much to get a week's worth of groceries. PW Market also has a very nice selection and the even the prices there are better. read more

If you like long lines, this is the place for you! The lines are always at least 10 deep! Sometimes longer. My favorite part is there is a 3's a crowd sign hanging above the registers, but I guess 3 isn't a crowd here. Also the prices are fair one some things, but out of control on others. $2 for a lemon, yep they have that, $2 for an avocado, you got it! Overall I go here because its the closest one to my house, but I try to avoid going here if at all possible. read more

I'm not really too familiar with this location as I usually go to the downtown San Leandro location. But it was a nice change of scenery it was much cleaner much neater much more organized the employees generally seem to be in a better mood and more willing to help it was difficult to navigate this or as the house seemed a bit more cramped and everything seemed to be all over the place but like I said this isn't my usual store. But it is worth a visit to have a nice experience read more

Ive lived in cv/ hwd my entire lufe and avoid this store like the plague but last night i give it a shot an it just reconfirmed for me why i dont shop here! I found an item that was less expensive at Luckys across the way and asked if i could have it priced matched. The mgr went into this long explanation about corporate office and how they dint do that....so theyd rather me take my business to Luckys? She cont' by sayin esp not if its price matchin Luckys.... Really? Idk if its price matchin fuckys.... In the end she did it! I will continue going to the ugly L word across the way! Oh and i forgot to mention The Lines!!! Urgh!!!!! read more

I've been going to this Safeway for years & appreciate how helpful the cashiers, person who bags the groceries and any staff in the aisles that'll direct me to an item I wasn't able to find. Today, I am especially grateful & thankful for NORMAN!! He is the most honest & helpful person. I was shopping yesterday, very stressed out. My family is recovering from a life changing event (my daughter was in a car crash in SoCal last year & she survived) I forgot my wallet in the shopping cart. I didn't realize it until today when I was going to drive my daughter to her Physical Therapy appt in Livermore. Imagine my panic-- everything was in my clutch wallet. I called Safeway & miraculously, Norman answered the call & asked all the right questions. I drove down to Safeway & there he was, handed my clutch purse to me & everything was there. The other shopper standing next to me commented how lucky I was. Yes-- I was blessed that an honest person found my wallet. In the midst of everything going on. I believe in the kindness of others and will continue to pass along his kindness. Employee of the year!! blessings to you Norman & the Safeway staff on Redwood Road read more

Another Safeway... nothing special. Lately they have been having non-organic strawberries at 'buy 1 get 2 free' at a cost of $3.99. Not bad. Lately no other specials onany other berries or any organic fruit. I usually come to Safeway bc they have white grapefruit juice from Oceanspray at 2 for $4, which is amazingly cheap, or $2 each, either way. Without that draw I might not stop in as much as I do. I am addicted to that stuff! They do have better prices than some other local grocery stores, but they are not the best. In fact, this particular store runs out of some items and fails to restock the. For example, I love me some dried pineapples from their tiny selection of bulk foods back near the rear of the store on the fruit & veggies side. Well I loved them so much, one day I clear cleaned them out, and when I next returned on my bike, hoping to swoop in for my staples of white grapefruit juice (this store has the BEST low price on those, however, which is the MAIN REASON I even go out this far from my hood of Cherryland all the way 5 miles on my bike to shop from this rather than the one in Hayward) and dried pineapples and yogurt and kefir and if on sale, fresh berries (preferably ORGANIC. BTW, MESSAGE TO SAFEWAY: YOU GUYS NEED TO PUT YOUR ORGANICS ON SALE MORE OFTEN. Your organic prices are thru the ROOF. Your organic prices are higher than Whole Foods's regular prices on organics! And what's up with this tiny little selection: one section of one row in the open refrigeration aisle, and perhaps, maybe, one section of one tiny little cart on the floor? And that's a MAYBE! Organic is how ALL PEOPLE ATE just a couple hundred years ago and all the years before it. It's how nature intends us to eat food. It's how food grows. Chemical additives may produce a more aesthetic product, but you have no idea what it is doing to the insides of our collective bodies -- even all your workers, and even all the shareholders and executives and even the President and CEO! So What up Safeway? When you gonna wake up and go back to how humans have been eating since the dawn of time with no troubles at all? Nobody died off from eating organic foods, cuz we sure made it until 2011 with way over 6 Billion People, most of them hungry!). Ahem. Okay I'll step down and stop shouting to nobody in particular. I just hate glancing at the prices in the area grocery stores and wincing, when I used to only eat Whole Foods items, food, and drink, and all that, and I admit to wincing a lot at some prices, like their non-edibles (don't get me started!), but Safeway I think is the best choice for value shopping in the area I am currently and unfortunately stuck in. So, please, when I was talking a second ago about swooping in to grab my necessity foods, and maybe some Ramen Noodles, which SHOULD ALWAYS BE 6-packs for 99 cents or a DOLLAR, ALWAYS. Not just on SALE. I mean, I remember when they were 12 for a dollar, and I am under the 35 and under age group by some years!! So I am no granny recalling the days of the stock market crash and all that,... but let me get back to that swooping. Those pineapples were GONE,and in their place, some OTHER ITEM was THERE,, something I dare not eat!! And it's been months, and it's still completely full, so I have no hopes of ever getting to buy bulk pineapples again from this Safeway. Nope, the just gone. And why are the boxed pre-packaged "bulk" items costing more than the bulk bag-it-yourself items? ANYWAY, let me just conclude, that if you live in the North Hayward Tri-City Area (San Leandro and Hayward.... and is it Castro Valley? Or San Lorenzo? They're all pretty close. But let's go wtih Castro Valley), there is a poor choice for grocery supermarkets with the selection I want (white grapefruit juice on sale, always, for one), unfortunately. But I think out of all the choices that are available to me at this point, this particular store is my choice for where I'd want to shop if I owned a car and could load up on stuff. Oh and if I didn't live on a fixed income of Disability at my young little age. So this is my choice for best place to shop in the area, but only 3 stars because I have been stalked by their lame security guards at times near closing, and it feels very much like they are profiling me, and for that, I want to punch 2 stars off their rating. Also, Borax for like FIVE DOLLARS? The laundry enhancer magic washing material that I buy and use, but certainly never at that high price? Man, it makes me have to shop at like several places just to finish my grocery and needs list. Target just down in San Leandro at the next BART stop, Bayfair, has it for 2.99! So get your game up Safeway! Don't make it hard on bicyclers like myself to get my crap done! Now I gotta go so I can make it to your store. The one good thing is I believe it is open until 1 am. It's either this store or the one in Hayward that is open that late, but I am hoping it is you. If it isn't then you need to fix that. read more

If I could give this store a -10 I would. First... The produce.... They have all the organic stuff mixed up everywhere with the regular stuff... Totally confusing, they even have organic bags that I made a mistake in getting... Had to switch over to regular produce bags, as to not be charged for the organic. They are always out of everything in this store, and the lines are ALWAYS ridiculously long! I almost ALWAYS bag my own groceries in order to expedite the process... I would go up the street, which is a much nicer store... But they carry even less. From now on, I will drive to dublin to go to Safeway... Because all of cv grocery stores are HORRIBLE! read more

This is the nicest looking crappy grocery store out there. They are lacking in so many basic staples, and I never get everything on my list. Last time, they didn't have Thai chiles or King Arthur brand flour. The time before that, no dark brown sugar. At this point I only go if Lucky is closed and I'm desperate. read more

Quit shopping here a long time ago. Between the crowded parking lot, the angry customers and employees, the attitudes, all of it, no way do we shop here any more. read more

This place is miserable and sells the same fattening and unhealthy garbage as they did 10 years ago. Finding things in this place is a nightmare that I resort to coming here when desperate and needing to buy things that Trader Joes doesn't carry. read more

Safeway has good quality food i like to get my lunch from here but it takes too long to stop in for lunch it takes at least 25 to 30 minutes to go buy lunch the average person does not have this much time this location needs more workers for the lunch rush I would go everyday for lunch if it was quicker read more

I was in line once and witnessed "Flo" (the shift manager) talking to an elderly lady about her charges. The customer was trying to confirm that she got the sale price. The manager had a major attitude and kept giving her the same answer over and over and the customer didn't understand what she was saying. Frankly I didn't either. The so called manager was the rudest nastiest person! She treated this or little lady with so much condescending attitude like I've never witnessed before. I hope she's been fired. Also I've seen flies in the donut case 4 times. I've reported it 3 times. The last time I reported it the lady have me a blank look and said yeah we'll look into that. Nothing has been done. It's fine to shop here, just don't eat the donuts and don't talk to Flo whatever you do! read more

This place is stocked well but it's always too crowded but lately it has been better. Maybe a new management team? Keep enough check stands open please! read more

5 stars for having ladyfingers when there is none to be found anywhere else (trader joes has stopped carrying them, so they say). and at the cash register, if you donated any money towards prostate cancer they'd say thank you to you over the loud speaker and you get an applause. you feel like a safeway-celebrity for like 15 seconds. store is nice and pretty new, but parking is a nightmare and the store is a little cramped. read more

Used to go to this Safeway all the time when I was staying in Castro Valley. I prefer Safeway to other general needs stores because unless it's late at night, it's usually pretty clean and obstacle-free. I prefer the layout over other stores as well since it's usually pretty intuitive. As for this location itself, there is a nice-sized parking lot and it is right off of Castro Valley Blvd so the location is convenient. The only time I had a complaint about this place was when they lost their liquor license for a while... read more

I am just going to talk about the Deli Department, I am really sorry to say this but the customer service for Deli department is really bad, I don't work far from the Safeway and every time I went in there, I see employees just standing there talking and playing and at the same time customers standing there waiting for someone to help them. 2 weeks ago I went to get a sandwich it took them 30mins to make my sandwich, OMG I thought that my sandwich was never going to be done. No supplies were stocked up to make sandwich and I am not talking about in the morning this is around lunch time so think how bad there service is. I would not recommend anyone to go there for sandwiches. When you complain to the manager seems like they don't care. read more