Safeway, as a whole, is the worst supermarket chain in the country and the Strawberry Mill Valley Safeway is a parody of all that is wrong with ever supermarket chain nationwide. The self-checkout machines are as buggy as you can get, the store rarely has any of the sale items for the week on the shelves, especially when I go shopping in the early evening, the store is completely understaffed, and constantly, and I mean CONSTANTLY - with such a lack of cashiers, the Express Lanes are RARELY open during major rush hours and especially on the weekends. I am attaching pictures taken of the closed and unmanned express lances taken at about 10:20 am on Saturday, March 22 and about noon on Sunday, March 23, when lines were going all the way back down the aisles. To make matters worse, Safeway has implemented a new policy that you cannot purchase booze at the self-checkout machines, therefore if you only need a bottle of wine or case of beer, you're forced to wait forever on the pathetically slow checkout lines with your one item, adding insult to injury, especially if the Express Lanes are closed, which is frequently the case. This should be the flagship store of Marin County, as it's right on the 101 highway at the intersection of three of the most richest towns in Southern Marin; Tiburon, Mill Valley and Sausalito. Unfortunately, this store continues to be a herpes store on the community and Safeway brand, from the terrible service, through to the horrible design of what is considered to be the worst parking lot in all of Northern California. read more

See all

What a nitemare. I went in to return bottles today and the (filthy, sticky) machine didn't work, so I went to customer service. While I waited in line, I noticed a sign on the counter stating that Western Union was unavailable. There was another sign next to it stating that there were no quarters available. The signs should have been a 'sign'. There was no one working at the desk, but the lady in line ahead of me had to get the produce guy to work on getting someone to process money orders for her. He make about 5 phone calls and 3 pages, and finally told her they couldn't issue any for her. She stood there for about another 5 minutes counting her money and left. My turn. I asked him about bottle return. He made another couple of calls and pages. In the meantime, I couldn't help but notice the mountain of giant plastic bags crammed full of bottles, and others with cans. There were carts full, too....all stacked and parked behind the desk and down a hallway --- unsightly and disorganized. Clearly there had been a lot of recycling going on. I continued to wait and the line got longer. I went back to the produce guy (who had just chased a cantaloupe across the floor) for help. He paged someone again. PS...The produce guy was the best experience in the whole store. Finally, another guy with a bad attitude showed up and without asking anything, told me he couldn't do anything for me and I'd have to wait for 10 more minutes until the customer service girl came back from lunch. I asked for a manager, and he said he was the manager. Really? A manager who can't process a simple (less than 20 bottle) bottle return? This was not my first time to this store. When I first moved to Mill Valley, I needed a couple of items after Whole Foods and Trader Joe's closed, so I stopped in to this Safeway on my way home. Service was poor, the store looked dirty and the employees were rude. I had a second bad experience there with one of the checkers about a month later, hence my reservation to visit this store again. I had never experienced a negative exchange with a checker before ....a first, and not a pleasant surprise. We don't have Safeway in Southern California, but I had heard about their excellent service and high standards, and looked forward to a nearby grocery store experience. This store was anything but what I was lead to expect. Maybe they need a secret shop from corporate, but I'll never know if they improve. Today's incident was the icing on the cake. I'm done with them. I wouldn't stop there if my fridge was empty and I was famished. I'd rather tough out the hunger pains and wait til Whole Foods or TJ's opened the next day. Truth be told, some of the folks at Whole Foods in Mill Valley can be a little uppity, but they're not snarky, nasty or unprofessional. I don't know about the others, but this Safeway isn't worth the aggravation. And seriously, it's just gross to buy food in a dirty environment. read more

Staff was horribly rude! There were 8 of us and we were buying several things from their deli to take on a picnic. When I asked for spoons the man rudely slammed the tray on the counter and walked away. As I was going through the tray trying to locate 8 spoons, a woman approached me and asked " how many spoons do you think you need"? I explained to the woman there were 8 of us and we were buying deli food. She slid the tray away and gave me a snide look. I have never been treated so poorly! I was a a paying customer. But I was made to feel like a beggar. I would never willingly go to this store again. read more

I've never been to such a slow Safeway. The people behind the sandwich counter could not have gone slower. They literally took over 5 minutes to make each of our sandwiches, which was ridiculous! They did not even care about going any faster even with a line building up behind us. Took us over 20 minutes to get 3 sandwiches. Come on. read more

I really avoid Safeway but sometimes I just make the trip. I tried to find the hours of the pharmacy but the Safeway website is a horrific mess with endless links to things that most people care less about. It would be nice if they had basic useful info on their website. Just terrible! read more

Just slow- so slow... Crawling at the checkouts.. Come on! This never ever changes. I've made many comments to the management and it just doesn't matter . The checkers are nice- but many of them seem to be in some sort of daze or something..they are like robots read more

The pharmacy is a joke. Not even one time have I had a prescription called in and picked it up here without incident. Without fail there is something not in stock or they 'don't have it' then call 5 minutes later and tell me they do in fact have it in their hand. Every person waiting in line is miserable whenever I'm here because it's so painful. I'm not sure how it's acceptable for a professional service to run so horribly. read more

Jay helped me in the produce department today. He made my day and reminded me how inspiring people can be. He was positive, helpful, and enthusiastic. He made me smile. I will go back because of him!! Thank you Jay! read more

I have very bad experience during the storm on Dec. 28, 2010 at safeway. I had car accident due to the shopping cart not properly secured to prevent hazardous. The Safeway manager ignored, the claim no responsibility. Shame on them. It is not right to let shopping cart running a over the place to hit cars and pedestrians and not care for its consequences. I wounder where is the law and justice for that. If was the other way around, I am sure this big monopoly chain would hit me with lots of attorneys claiming all kind of damages. Since I was the one that lost $ 1,000 for car damage. They don't care to talk to me. That is the safeway we go read more

jenn who is pictured above (i did not put that there, btw) is the best bloody damn manager. i loved her, "chop, chop!" that got the staff there going. she also gives good recommendations and answers your questions well. she never bullsh*ts around. service is overall pretty good. the nearby Walgreens sucked compared to this Safeway. i've moved since but i miss this pharmacy. read more

I usually hate Safeway. Despise it with a passion. I'll do whatever it takes to avoid it. However, the Strawberry village location is easily the best Safeway I've ever visited. This location makes the one on Bay Street in SF look like the city dump. Friendly staff, large aisles, large signage to locate the things you need, etc. The sandwich counter rivals Mollie Stone's as well. I ordered the Plymouth Rock, which is like a thanksgiving dinner all wrapped up in a sandwich (fresh carved turkey, Havarti cheese, cranberry sauce, a little mayo, tomato, and lettuce on a ciabatta roll). Throw in chips and a drink and you've got a decent lunch for $6... read more

Not the friendliest place. The staff kind of makes you feel like you are intruding on their little world and they do not want to be bothered. read more

This Safeway is always short checkers. We have come here numerous times and it is always a problem. We are talking 25 minutes in line.

I am SO tired of going to this grocery store -- which has a decent produce department for a major market, and a great wine section, but crummy (low quality) seafood and meat -- and WAITING WAITING WAITING in looooooooong check-out lines. They simply NEVER have enough checkers, period. Every time I go people are really pissed off about it, and complain, but the management always acts like it's a surprise. Pay a little more, go to Whole Foods or Paradise Foods (both within 5 minutes' drive) and be able to leave before you've gone old and grey. read more

I love Safeway as per Vons in Southern California. It should be a great shopping experience, or at least one where you can just shop. Here, be advised to possibly be assaulted by one of the cashiers if they do not like you. read more

Good selection but poor management. Long lines, not even during rush hour! Upgrade to Whole Foods if you can!!

Great pharmacy! But only average Safeway store. The pharmacy runs very well because of its manager, " Jenn. " who takes her job and responsibilities very seriously. The store is OK, but the primary reason we go there is for the super service at the pharmacy. read more

Trying to shop Friday nite@10. Not enuf help ! Long checkout lines. full of employees yet mostly stocking or don't know their inventory. Can't find an umbrella...no one seems to know. read more

I had one of the worst customer service experience at this safeway today. I went and ordered a panini at the deli and had one of the rudest deli guy help me. After my panini was toasted he just left it out on the counter and started helping other people. A few minutes later i had to ask if my sandwich was ready or not and he threw some lettuce and mayo on it and wrapped it up before i could say anything. Since my sandwich was sitting on the counter for several minutes it was almost completely cold. When i mentioned it was completely cold he gave me attitude and told me that it was hot enough. Really? When did he learn how hot i like my sandwiches? Anyway, that experience made me never want to go to this deli ever again. read more

I love Safeway's prices but not too happy about their customer service. It's always insane checking out but today is the worst I've seen it. There are only two cashiers working during a busy time, which happens. However, there are no other employees around to help guide lines. It's a mad house. read more

I am really surprised by the terrible service I just received. I needed a prescription filled and my standard pharmacy, Walgreens, did not have it in stock. I am also covered on my insurance by Safeway. After calling 2 of them I found it in stock at the Strawberry location. It is 6pm, I am in a lot of pain, and they said they could not get it to me before noon tomorrow, even if I drove the prescription that is sitting at Walgreens over to them right now. I kept saying I am really sick and in a lot of pain and they said sorry but we can't help you before noon tomorrow, even though they have it in stock. I am a senior citizen and this is unforgivable. It is going to be a long night... read more

I've been to this Safeway a couple times when visiting LP, and I really like it. It always seems really clean, incl. the restroom which was a lifesaver one night. I guess I've been lucky every time I've been here. The cashiers are nice and I never have to wait long in line. And the Starbucks inside is a nice addition. read more

The Whole Foods of Safeways. Did self checkout so I can't comment on customer service but no lines at 6pm on a Thursday. A pleasant surprise compared to San Rafael locations. read more

This Safeway is the glamour gal of the Safeway crew. The inside has wood floors, a good selection of flowers, a pharmacy, and a large wine selection. They have good cards as well. This is a high society Safeway. The staff is really nice and sometimes someone walks around with chocolate samples. read more

Good prices, nice staff, convenient hours and location. I can get anything from gluten free cookies to healthy pet food to pretty flowers. Thank you! read more

Open 24 hours. This is really the premiere grocery store that isn't a gourmet market in Marin. The produce section alone is overwhelmingly beautiful. I love coming in here... the deli makes great sandwiches. The sushi is bomb. There is always parking. And it just doesn't get more convenient than being open all day and all night. read more

My wife and I do almost all of our shopping here because it is so conveniently located relative to our house. There is nothing overly special about this store. Sometimes it can be difficult to get service at the meat counter. It is often very crowded on Sundays with very long lines despite having most checkout lanes open. But they usually have good weekly specials which makes it very reasonably priced. read more

Definitely the best Safeway I have been to. It very cleaned, well stocked and has plenty of cashiers working. If at all possible, try and go to this Safeway for your grocery shopping needs. read more

When I go to other stores including Whole Foods or Whole Paycheck as we call it, I am reminded of how much I love Safeway! They do have more organic than Whole Foods, more sustainable energy measures and it rocks. The Strawberry Safeway is the best in selection, layout, space and the people like Gordon, Mamie, Melvin, Patrick, Erica, Daicy, Kimbiz and everyone are the best!!! Really super nice people. Love going here. The deli and wines are good. Seafood and meats are excellent. I can not say enough good things about this store. Maybe more cashiers. I don't know why anyone would write a bad review for this store. Love it!!! read more

+4 stars got home late Tuesday night (11pm) and our smoke detector was chirping. Rather then pull out the battery and go to sleep, I did the right thing and hopped in the car to find a replacement 9 volt battery. Not much open late in southern marin, but I was happy to find the strawberry safeway open for biz, heck its open 24 hours! They often have Avocados on sale, but every time they are super ripe, or rock hard. "Patience is a virtue" oh well. -1 star Yesterday we went in to get one of those visa gift cards for a birthday present. The teller said we had to pay cash for it, NO ATM, No debit. We started to walk out of the store, then I thought to buy the rock hard avocados and then get $40 cash back from my debit. Wish the guy could have thought outside the box a bit. Thanks Safeway for staying open for me! = 3 stars read more

I'd give this place 0 stars if I could. The service is bad around the whole store. Every time I go to the deli house end up waiting 10 mins as the staff looks at u and continues to ignore you. Even when asking another employee if they can get me help at the deli takes another 10 mins. Possibly the worst Safeway I've ever visited. read more

This review is for the Strawberry Mill Valley pharmacy. The girls there are the absolute best. I love my Jenn and Amanda just to name a few. I go there obviously because I am in need of care and boy do I get it...They are knowledgeable, patient and kind (kinder than many people are to them!) I moved to Sonoma but still drive down to see my buddies and always will! read more

This safeway is located in a good spot right off of HWY 1. Service can be a little slow as this location does get busy. Typical Safeway with Florist which I have used several times in a pinch. read more

MUCH IMPROVED! PEOPLE ARE RAVING ABOUT THE SANDWICHES! I live near the Strawberry Safeway and used to never go there. Since the remodel I'm there daily. Not only is it much more attractive and has great prices, but they have tons of organic items there now. Many are at a fraction of the price of their competitors, and some of the items are "brilliant" marketing such as organic popcorn, organic Pomegranite soda, and tons more. Today I bought a Tecate 12-pack of beer for $7 - seems impossible. Also Great Wines and Prices! Great Sales! Bakery has Cheese Chile Rolls! NOW FOR THE BEST PART: The Designer Sandwiches are GREAT and CHEAP. They are gut-bombs and Delicious. The deli staff is patient , personal, and helpful. They recently re-did the menu, and some of my favorites were gone, but the deli pros make them for me anyway. The new sandwich concoctions are delicous. Safeway management has hired some great buyers and chefs and they are really trying with amazing prices on everything from wine to ham. Largest selection of cold pomegranate drinks anywhere. I wish they would make the deli better by offering fresh-cut lox, white fish salad, knishes, real hot pastrami , not putting cold cuts in plastic bags, pate... but I guess that is meant to only be back east. I'm probably healthier the way it is at Safeway without the fatty pastrami from the Stage Deli in New York City. read more

I am happy to shop at Safeway. It is not an easy business. The employees are great, sometimes the newbies do not show up and they are understaffed. They try very hard and I appreciate the service I receive. read more

This is my normal market as it is the most reasonably priced grocery store near my home. Pros: excellent selection of products, always well stocked and organized. Good sale prices. Open late. 5 stars for everything except the service. Cons: the majority of the staff have really poor attitudes. It's like they can't be bothered to say anything to you while in the check out line. There is one cashier who even says absolutely nothing when I ask him how he's doing!!! I know you heard me ask, buddy. They also rarely help you bag your items. If self-bagging is the norm here, they should say so. Tonight I was bagging my groceries as fast as I could, but was still holding up the line behind me. Neither the cashier nor the other employee standing nearby helped me. They just stood there talking about non-work stuff as I struggled. I felt better when the other customers in line looked equally amazed at how obnoxious the "service" was. At least we all silently bonded over shared eye rolls! read more

The bakery is large but not the best selection of fine pastries. The day I was there they had one person working the counter and she was very busy decorating cakes. If your in a hurry and want something quick I would recommend this bakery. If you are looking for something special this probably isn't the spot! read more

I must say that the operations at the Strawberry location are just awful. Management is not too good either. Often special sale items are not on the shelves. It is sometimes difficult to get rain checks. Recently one "Manager" refused to give me a rain check claiming that although the item was not on the shelf, the dept. was closed for the night, and he couldn't issue me one because he couldn't verify that the item was not in the back. On a separate occasion a week later, a different "Manager" expressed annoyance and made me wait 10 minutes for a rain check. Watch your grocery receipt closely at this location. I have regularly caught errors on my bill. Customer Service desk can take forever, and often times no one is there or close by. If you have 15 minutes to wait there might be someone to help you. FYI.... the Just For U online coupon system doesn't work at this store. Tried it multiple times, so it is not just learning the system. At least half of your items on the list do not show up discounted on the register, especially if you try to add items to your card while you are shopping there. When this happens they then charge you full price and then make you go to Customer Service to take care of it. And since Customer Service usually takes forever, it just adds to the bad experience. Try the Mill Valley Safeway instead. Just for U has worked flawlessly for me at that location and Customer Service there is great. The Self Checkout system at this location almost always has a problem. You have to ask for a cashier to override the checkout. If the store is busy you have to wait 10 minutes for a cashier to help since they are assisting so many that are having similar problems.... kinda defeats the purpose. During busy times you spend more time in Self-Check Out than in the express lines. The produce is fair at best. The bakery is mediocre and they skimp on all the delicious things that you like on many of the deserts...(the one at the SF Marina Safeway is SO much better....in fact, everything at the Marina Safeway and even the Western Addition location is so much better. Both very well managed and run). Much better at Safeway Mill Valley too. Don't buy alcohol at the Strawberry store. A few cashiers ask for drivers license and then enter your personal information into the Safeway data system without your consent, including date of birth, etc. stating that they have to do so under California Law. If you care about what they are doing with your private information you would be wise to object. You have to bring your own grocery bags at this location, you get charged $.05/bag. Sometimes they forget to ask if you need a bag and just add it to your bill. Only some of the cashiers offer to bag the groceries if you bring your own bag. If you bring your own bag, it is best not to use the Self-Check-Out. It will not recognize most bags that you bring....and then guess what....Again the system shuts down and requires a cashier to override the system. All in all, the operations at the Strawberry location are about as bad as you can imagine. I live in Tiburon and after years of bad experiences at Strawberry, I now mostly go out of my way to the Mill Valley location or Whole Foods on the other side of the freeway. They are so much better. The great news is that Paradise Market is opening up in Tiburon at the nearby Cove Shopping Center in May!! Say goodbye to Safeway?? read more

The very worst place to shop! Whoever designed this store has never been grocery shopping....layout is terrible. They made big isles and cluttered with displays. Parking lot is an accident ready to happen. Absolutely no customer service.......long lines with maybe 2 checkers on duty. Went in today to return some broken scissors and waited for 15 minutes .....no one came to the counter. Not even after I approached the manager. He called for someone but no one came. The guy in front of me had been waiting a lot longer. I just left when I saw the manager take off his apron, walk by us and go to lunch! How's that for management! I now do my shopping at WholeFoods and their prices are better on a lot of things. Believe me, Safeway is no bargain! read more

Moved to Mill Valley 2 years ago from Larkspur, this particular Safeway is AWFUL. It's dirty, nonexistent managers, more than half the staff could care less... and they do not update sales stickers, so those of us who buy sales, and use reading glasses, are constantly being gypped because of small print, misplaced labels and so forth. I finally realized that by default, the store makes out and the customer eats $1 or $2 bucks per visit, a hefty windfall for dysfunction and ineptitude. read more