What an awful example of a Safeway. First, let me say that my family and friends who are stuck shopping there (no other nearby grocery store) call it the UNSafeway. The parking lot is full of panhandlers and thug-types. Cars race past the front of the store and patrons have to take great care to get back to their cars. Security is no help-they're too busy on their cell phones or nowhere to be found. So if you are lucky enough to get to the cart area in the front of the store, you are rewarded with a filthy area, full of debris and nasty carts that look like they've never been cleaned. Who wants to put their food in those things?? You at least count on the cart hand wipes once you enter the store to keep your hands from the grime, right? Hope you weren't holding your breath because they rarely ever fill them. Even the container that's SUPPOSED to hold them is dirty. Honestly, no joking here.
Once inside the door, there is a hot food steam type counter that has food all around it on the floor no matter when you visit the store. Do they ever just sweep up here??!! The deli and hot food counter are nearby and you can always count on waiting 20+ min for help while ONE person goes back and forth between the sandwich counter and the regular deli counter.
To be fair, the food shelves are decently stocked and clean. The produce area is on the cleaner side but could be larger with more selections. Meat section??? Hit and miss. I did recently witness a disturbing occurrence in the meat section when an employee (could have been a courtesy clerk) was putting back packages of meat and laughing while telling other customers that the meat was just from someone who had tried to steal it and had stuffed it in their clothes. Really, so the next person who buys that package of meat gets a product that was down someone's pants or tucked next to their dirty, sweaty body?!! And how long was the meat out of refrigeration? Did it fall on the ground? Someone clearly instructed this employee to put the meat back for sale. GROSS!
If you need to use the restroom facilities, I suggest you just wait till you get home. They are disgusting. Honestly, no better than the dirty gas station variety. Usually out of soap and no towels to dry your hands. Soooo, where do employees wash their hands here?? Do they bring their own soap? Do they wipe their hands on their pants?
When you finally get through this mess of a store, you are met with extremely long lines, with just a couple lines open. I have on more than one occasion, in the evening, been in a line that extended the FULL length of a grocery aisle to the back of the store. With all this stress at the cash register, you will find the one shining star of the store. The cashiers are almost always friendly and helpful despite the deplorable store conditions. How they stay upbeat is a mystery. This accounts for the one star I'm giving.
The worst news of all there is no where else to go in this area. Maybe that's why the store is so bad. They have you over a barrel. My best suggestion is to get on Highway 4 and make your way to the Willow Pass Store. It's about 10 minutes away and a much cleaner and safer shopping experience. At least the store name won't be so terribly ironic. read more