I finally have to say something about this place. I really wanted it to work; I truly did. And after reading all the reviews on here everyone else seems to be blinded as well.
How I am rating them:
#1 star = they are clean
#2 star = they have a liquor store
Now that you see my rating system you will see that 80% of the other reviewers also meant to give them 2 stars.
But, what's most important about a grocery store isn't if they have a Starbucks or Jamba Juice it's how they rate as a damn grocery store.
And, this place is terrible.
A little setup. I do all the grocery shopping for the family once a week. I have tried every store within a five mile radius of this place because I have a few goals:
I want to shop at as few places as possible
I want to go quickly
I want fair prices
Now let me pull the wool back from your eyes about this place. You will walk in and see an amazing produce section, fully stocked shelves and unique sections; but upon closer inspection some things become suspect. "Look at that giant display of apples" you'll say, but if you look closer there are only two varieties of apples in one giant display. That may be fine for you, but don't be fooled. The same goes for everything else in the produce section. There's a lot of very little. Every time I have shopped here I have to go somewhere else for a couple little simple things like cilantro or green beans. They'll have parsley, but not Italian parsley, you know, the one people actually eat and not just use as a garnish.
You will start to see this trend throughout the store. They are always sold out of popular items, but have an abundance of items people just don't buy. How do I know people don't buy them? Because, upon closer inspection a lot of stuff is close to expiration. Not expired, but when canned stuff normally takes years to expire and the thing you just bought gets there in the next 60 days you have to wonder how long it was on the shelf.
I don't like meandering around a grocery store mindlessly wasting my time away. I want in, I want out. This place will never allow such luxuries. They have this "whole foods" style section of the store, which is fine, but it makes shopping awkward. Why? Because they separate simple items into stuff that goes there and the more plebeian stuff goes on The. Other. Side. Of. The. Store. You wanted cheese? Well you'll find cheddar over there you Plebe, but if you want feta, that will be in fancy land.
Everything is weird like this. Packaged lunch meat in one section for your basic sliced stuff, but if you want packaged smoked turkey, well, that's a walk to the other side.
Again, everything! The Hispanic foods section is nothing but retried beans and salsa, if you want real Mexican spices, well that's in the yogurt section. Why? I don't know. They don't know either.
Finally, prices are higher. I shop at many stores often for the same things week after week. This store (and probably all Safeways) costs 20% more. I would be able to justify it if it were really as nice as it appears, but it's not. And every time I have shopped here there are pricing errors. Every time. It's nothing big, like celery rings up at $1.29/lb instead of the advertised $0.89/lb, but it happens every time without apology.
So, if you're just into things that look good and lack substance then this place is for you, Kanye. If you're just a good Middle class American shop somewhere else. read more