I've been harassed at this Safeway more than once, despite keeping my head down and not bothering anyone. Last time, the man who was harassing me made it explicit that he'd targetted me because he didn't think I belonged in his neighborhood. I guess he saw me as an agent of gentrification. I wouldn't necessarily blame the Safeway for this, but the cashier went along with it and made a snide remark about me as well. I got out of there fast, because I didn't want to cause trouble. I'd love to hear the story from the cashier's point of view, because I don't know what he thought was happening or what I'd done. I haven't had this problem in any other business in the area. I guess some people think I should be shopping at Whole Foods based on how I look, but Whole Foods is too expensive and sometimes Trader Joe's doesn't have the brands I like, so I keep coming here. read more

Jim B. has a pretty accurate description of this Safeway- it's like a fat person that goes on a health kick. If you've read my review of Whole Foods (or, Why I hate Corn Syrup) you will understand why it takes me about three hours to navigate this grocery store everytime I come, (I'm like that snake video game, trying to avoid corn syrup and transfats in a sea of processed foods) but I can't hate because Safeway delivers. First of all, it's right in my 'hood - a ten minute walk maximum, which is great for me. Secondly, its selection is never that terrible. I can always find inexpensive fresh pasta, and some organic/gourmet items to hold me over until my next WF trip. The worst part about this Safeway is that the ice cream freezer is always frozen over to a complete glacier. Sometimes I feel like I should have brought an ice pick to get some Haagen Dazs out. And I always get freezer burn on my hand afterward. The best part is that every single time, without exception, the cashiers are always warm and sweet. read more

Horrible customer service especially in the mornings!!! Cashier slow and there is ONLY ONE CASHIER. Really? Then I learn the manager comes in at 7:30?! I had to request more cashiers for the long line of customers waiting to buy stuff and get to work on time! RIDICULOUS. read more

Hands down the worst retail experience you will ever have. Produce is just shy of rotting, deli options look like where food goes to die, but the most notable aspect of this store is the employees. Without exception every single person that works here is not only slow and incompetent but they all process a truly horrible attitude. They don't care about their job, customer service or the products but most of all they could not care less about you. No matter what you think you need, you don't need it bad enough to go here. Hopefully eventually they'll tear this abomination down and start over. read more

It's a Safeway. They have food here. The produce is fresh, and the shelves for the most part are well stocked. I'm used to a Safeway in the 'burbs which has a great wine/beer selection. The seafood guy is usually grumpy so don't ask him dumb questions. Asked for lobster tails and he just answered with a "hrumphf." Kinda sketchy at night but I'm not asking for too much am I? read more

Safeway is arguably the worst grocery chain in the U.S. This one in particular is an average Safeway, perhaps slightly better than the one in Mt. Vernon Square. read more

The purpose of a supermarket is allow you to purchase all of your groceries in one place. That convenience should save you time. This Safeway fails in that basic respect. On our visit today, there were no shopping carts. We snagged one from a customer returning it. The handle had an orange label stating "unsafe for use" since the child seat didn't go up. The aisles were strewn with boxes which blocked access to carts in some areas. In the produce section, I observed two employees tossing oranges onto the table top. One overshot and rolled by my feet. The lines were of course long. The customer in front of us did not help by disputing something or other which the checker could not resolve. We bagged our own groceries. To add insult to injury, I ate a muffin from the bakery when I got home which was soggy. read more

It's been a long three year battle with this Safeway. I called the corporate office because of service lines...slow with one cashier. (The managers have no power so complain to Corporate only!)... But not anymore. They have multiple lines open now. Which in itself is a major improvement. The Starbucks is a full service...an improvement. The one are that's always great at this Safeway is the meat selection. Don't bother with fresh veggies and fruits...still lacking. I don't buy boxed food so can't comment on this aspect. I do wish they had a variety of choices though. read more

This Safeway is fine if you want canned goods, pasta, beer, soda, chips, etc. etc. For produce, it's pretty bad and overpriced. I went to their deli and they had absolutely nothing they advertised in terms of sandwiches. They were out of everything. It's like the old Soviet experience where you ask "but what do you have?" not "do you have x, y, z" (Head over to Taylor on 12th and H for a good gigantic sub.) My roommate calls this place "Unsafeway" because he had his window smashed there, when there was nothing visible on the seat. I only go here if I have to, since it is 2 blocks from my house -- though a long walk because of construction. read more

I was scared to go to this Safeway after reading the reviews, but I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of fresh produce available. Yeah, it's not going to compare to Whole Foods or the Georgetown Safeway, but this is nowhere near as bad as folks make it out to be. The only sections that I found lacking were breads and dairy - there were very few healthy/organic options. It took some scavenging to find what I really wanted - Stacy's pita chips - but I was happy to find that they were there. The staff were very friendly. I concur with the reviewers who commented on long checkout lines - it took 15 minutes for me to get through the express lane with only a few people in front of me (including the lady who popped open a Smirnoff Ice and drank half of it before putting it back in the six-pack and onto the floor). Obviously, if you're shopping here it's not because you're looking for the ultimate grocery experience, but I'll have no problem going here for most items. read more

To everyone at the corporate Safeway offices I mean this with the highest degree of sincerity. If you all are going to have a building in the neighborhood with the name of your brand on it and you are going to treat it like it's a corner store save the money and just buy a corner store. There is no one in leader ship who has walked through the doors of this for lack of a better word establishment... Who deserves to have a job anywhere especially not in management. One of the simplest things that a grocery store can do is make sure that the people shopping can actually shop comfortably. Not at this Safeway in the Safeway no matter how many shoppers are in the store there are no carts... The employees can hardly be called employees when they don't really treat your job like it's a job... It's almost like a Clubhouse where occasionally the members of the club are interrupted by customers and then it's back to socializing... I don't know if there's a manager there at any time... And if they are they have the same competency as the drug attic's that will cost you on your way into the "grocery store "... This place is a joke it brings down the property value of any new construction built in the area because this grocery store is not an amenity... It's a waste of time... Safeway I suggest if you are going to have a business with your name on it... You at least ensure that that business can carry out the bare minimum read more

I'm soo surprised more people haven't written a review about this but this store has like 4 shopping carts. you can't go shopping shopping. i understand people keep taking them but aldi seems to have all of theirs right across the street. Maybe they should implement that quarter thing like aldi has. Also, the deli is the worst. I could be standing there at the counter for 5 minutes while i can see them in the back chatting it up. they come out to the front..at the hot foods side.. never looking up.. like trying to avoid eye contact. 9 times out of 10 there is never anyone at the front of the deli. i only go there because of the convenience of the location and not the shopping experience. Ive started doing uber and lyft to Giant or whole foods to take care of my shopping needs. read more

I begrudgingly shop at this Safeway on a regular basis because it's close to my house and its employees have a union. I can run over and pick up some basic groceries while not feeling bad about shopping at a store that mistreats its employees (See: Wal-Mart). It's a nicely remodeled store, usually well stocked and priced much better than Whole Foods. However, a typical visit tends to leave me frustrated and annoyed. Why? The check out lines. They're simply are out of control. A major chain like this should NEVER have check-out lines extending into the shopping aisles on a regular basis. It's just inept and/or stingy management. Sure, you'll occasionally encounter a disinterested, slow cashier, but without fail the store will only have 3 or 4 lanes open. It turns what should be a 10 minute shopping trip into a 40 minute ordeal. On more than one occasion I've walked in to pick up a few items and walked right out upon seeing the lines. I will say that on my last visit a couple weeks ago, I stopped by on a week night and found almost every check-out line open. I was honestly shocked and ran home to tell my wife the amazing news. Who knows if this will become a regular occurrence--if so I'll be shopping here more often. Otherwise, I'll continue to shop elsewhere. read more

Very Nice Had to Pick up some Dinners And Got in And Out Very Quickly, 5pm They Only thing That Took the Longest Was my Decision on what Brand to pick. I was Happy Store looked Clean Etc. I Rarely Shop at This Safeway Because there BUS SITUATION Running up MARYLAND Ave Is FEW And FAR Between. The X8 sucks,,,, If they were to add better Bus services linking Mt Olivet Rd To Maryland Ave This Store Would turn Major Profits read more

You're not likely reading this because you're looking for a great grocery store to shop at. More likely you're in the neighborhood or planning to be in the neighborhood and are wondering where you can stock up on staples. The Safeway on Maryland is certainly no diamond in the rough, but neither is it a grocery store to turn one's nose up at. It's my neighborhood grocery store and I don't mind shopping here and even find myself enjoying the trip from time to time (as much as one can enjoy schlepping things such as 10lbs of sugar and flour, potatoes, onions and canned goods for cupcakes and soups six blocks in the cold or sweltering heat). Tucked on the Northeastern corner of the crazy intersection of Maryland, Bladensburg Rd, H Street, Benning Rd, and Florida Avenue, it actually took about a month for my housemates and I to realize this Safeway was here, not having bothered to venture much up Maryland and instead choosing to walk over to the Potomac Safeway (14th and Kentucky SE). In retrospect, we're stupid. I hope this prevents you from making the same mistake, for more than the convenience factor. The Maryland Ave Safeway is quite well stocked - the Safeway.com website does not lie when it says that there is a pharmacy, deli, bakery, and even Starbucks in-house. I've never encountered gaping, empty shelves at this Safeway, with the exception of the sometimes sad produce department. However, I chalk up the latter to my unusual grocery shopping hours (8pm - 11pm seem to be my prime time). There isn't an extensive organic produce department, but you can still find tofu, and you're probably going to Whole Foods or Trader Joe's for those things, anyway. Barring the pre-Thanksgiving rush I've also never waited in line particularly long (unlike the Potomac Safeway), and though the check-out shelves/line areas are usually in disarray, the check-out cashiers and baggers, actually everyone, are helpful and friendly. My only complaint about this Safeway is the unusual layout of the store and occasional weak selection. I was hard pressed to find ANY canned beans besides the Goya brand in the ethnic foods section. Another time I couldn't recall seeing canned mushrooms and was about to ask for help when I caught them peering out at me from above the canned tomatoes and sauces, an unusual but perhaps logical choice, yet completely out of eye sight and only offering a sad generic/Safeway brand selection. (Lecture me about my random food choices another day, I know!) I'm happy my days of the Watergate and Potomac Safeways are behind me, and equally glad to never have had to shop at the Wisconsin Safeway. Instead, I'm quite content to buy my cupcake and chili ingredients at this Safeway, and hope that if you live around here you will be too. (An accessibility note for those, like me, without a car - the unusual intersection means that this Safeway is also uber accessible by bus. Also, there is a CVS, radioshack, blockbuster, subway, pizza hut, and wholesale grocery - think bulk household items at prices a little cheaper - in the same shopping area or across the street) read more

I've never seen more than 3 check out lines open and the wait is always very long. I try not to go here if I can help it due to the wait. The grocery store is okay but the check out wait is unbearable. read more

Slowest checkers on the planet. I get better service on the metro. I HATE this place.

This is by far the worst Safeway in the city. There are almost no fruits and vegetables in the store which is just odd. Customer Service is non-existant. Then there are characters of clientele which frequent this establishment in which their are no words to really explain. Hopefully another major grocery store will open near the H street corridor, if not I highly recommend the Trader Joe's On Pennsylvania Ave, or one of the Open Air markets on the weekend. read more

Don't waste your time, go to Giant on 3rd, Harris Teeter on Potomac or the Safeway on 14th.

How does a place like this exist? - Parking lot is like off roading - I felt like I was entering a prison, only dirtier - I'm pretty sure half the produce/fruit was going bad - I've gone a handful of times out of necessity and always question why I came back once I've stood in line for 10+ minutes. The cashiers define incompetence and laziness, there is no reason there should always be a 10+ minute line. - Shut this store down read more

out of all the Safeways I've been to, this one is probably the most ghetto. From just the location (its super close to the bus stop, so there's tons of people just loitering around), the parking lot lines are all faded so people park however they feel like, the staff in the super market all either an attitude problem or they are lazy and don't want to help you and the produce inside just doesn't seem always fresh. It's usually worth driving just another mile away and going to the one in SE side. read more

Go here if you enjoy standing in long lines, limited food selection or if you want to be annoyed by the patrons/employees. I live in walking distance but I go out my way to go to the Giant on H st & 3rd, the Walmart on H st or the other Safeway on L st. Anything is better than this maryland ave location. Aldi's offers better produce than this Safeway. They don't offer self-check out, people always loitering in front of the store making it hard to exit. Be on the lookout for expired food and fruit flies all around the produce section. Butcher section seems to be always closed. The only good thing about this store is maybe the Starbucks. Better store options around do your self a favor and don't step foot in this store. read more

If I could rate this store a -3 I would. There's ALWAYS a line due to lack of cashiers. Come to this Safeway if you don't have anything pressing to do after. The drive to the Giant on the end of H is so worth it... Ignore the sketchy ppl hanging around the entrance and you'll be just fine. read more

Rasheeda's attitude was horrible in customer service ! Very rude not to mention not knowledgeable of companies rules. Through the holidays you would think service would be a little delightful! She needs to re attend customer service classes ! Will never return again read more

I pretty much agree with the other Yelpers. It has gotten better and it's MUCH better in customer service than the Giant up the street! Wow! I'm amazed at how courteous and friendly the staff is here. I go here to stock up on normal items. No specialty shopping here for sure. But, weekly grocery shopping, stuff for standard dinner, etc. good to go. Don't expect the best in produce, but dont' expect the worse either. Lines, hit or miss. They can be very long and agonizing, but they are generally good about opening up more cashiers (generally). Unlike Giant, when you finally do get to the front, the cashier is friendly. read more

I've been shopping around for a grocery store in DC that I like for awhile now, and by far this Safeway was the worst: the prices are ghastly for what they offer; the limited produce section is rotting; the store layout was unorganized; and the lines were super long. Plus it had a funky smell. To compare prices to the Safeway near the Potomac Ave metro station (not too far from this Safeway), my husband and I spent $120 on the same food here as we did $90 over there. Ridiculous. The produce section did not even have lettuce. Lettuce! I guess people who shop here don't make salads? The produce section was also at the end of the store rather than the beginning, as one usually sees when going through a grocery store. It was just odd that one would have to go through the bakery and meat areas to get to the rest of the store (this probably was what attributed to the smell as you enter). As for the lines, there were only three open when I was there on a weekday evening before a holiday, and each line extended into the aisles. None of these lines were express. read more

If I could give this place zero stars I would. It takes at least 15 minutes to check out of the express lane, the Starbucks doesn't accept mobile payments and rarely makes a drink to my satisfaction and the deli workers are not only incompetent but rude and move at the speed of molasses. That being said, avoid this place like the plague. read more

Ah, yes, the notorious "Unsafeway." The Approach: Located at the edge of beautiful Trinidad, be prepared to dodge pedestrians in your car if approaching from the north on Bladensburg. The pedestrians in this area seem to have an allergy or fear of the bounty of crosswalks that could be utilized readily and instead prefer to impede traffic or endanger themselves. Upon arrival in the parking lot, I could not help but notice the amount of refuse all around. The Store: When I first went here, they were out of Safeway cards, which, if you don't have one, ensures that you pay an even more exorbitant price for sub-par groceries. Fresh produce/meat selection is mediocre. With all this being said, it could be worse. It is a large grocery store with decent hours, which is a plus. However, in terms of what's in the area, this is really the only choice. read more

This Safeway actually hires people with disabilities, and treats them likje crap. If The ADA knew a little about this they would shut this place down. The staff is not trainned to deal with the norm, why would we as people send the disable. The staff customer service is like a bad dream (horrible). Dont worry when the street car come please ship them out! Buy and the store manager Albert actually told us that he does not have time to talk to the public. Albert is a (acting) store manager.... get (acting), but what I would like to know is the manager that he's replacing train him to act as rude as he did before hanging up the phone of a customer. I know that Albert isnt aware that my weekly shopping pays for some of his toilet tissue. Get it , he is an A WIPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

In all fairness, the prices are okay and the store itself is not horrible. That being said, instead of walking to this nearby store and saving money and the environment, I generally drive to the other side of the city to go to another store. The customer experience in this store is horrible. You should mentally prepare yourself to stand in line at the cashier for at least 10 minutes, maybe more if you go during dinner time. You should expect to walk past a watchful security guard's gaze and under a metal detector when you leave the store. You should expect to be asked for money at some point when you reach the entrance of the store. You should expect to not be able to find your favorite soap or body wash since they under lock and key at customer service. I will say, all of the cashiers have been very polite, especially since they are under a lot of pressure since there are not enough of them. But still, this is not a store you want to visit if you plan to leave in a happy mood. read more

It seems ridiculous to write a review for a grocery sore. But I have never been to a slower grocery store in my life. Regardless of the day, time, or season there are at least 20 people waiting in line to check out. The cashiers are incredibly slow and understaffed. It's actually mind blowing. read more

if i didn't live 1 block away, i would never go here!!! the customer service is god awful, the lighting is disgusting, there is ALWAYS a line and i've never seen cashiers this slow.. EVER. the produce is over priced an on the verge of spoilage... Despite Aldi having 1/4 of the check out lines as Safeway, it's a million times faster, brighter, and much cleaner than this Unsafeway... read more

The best thing about this Safeway - convenient location. -Always grab a cart before you enter the store. - This store is notorious for scanning incorrectly. Always review your receipt before against your ad/coupons before you leave. If it scanned wrong, you're supposed to get it for free. They ignore the policy even though it's posted on the customer service window, but if you call the corporate number on your receipt, they can add the refund to your card. If you're using the Just 4 U coupons or anything loaded to your card, print the savings list from your account before you go to the store and take it with you and bring an ad to the register. It makes it easier to deal with the scanning errors. -The cashiers tend to be very slow. -The store usually has low stocks of produce and frozen specials. -Customer service line is long & my experience is that after you stand in the line for things like incorrectly scanned products, they will not help you if there is no manager in the store. Once again, call corporate for assistance. -On the positive, Safeway has great deals if you use coupons and load your card with the Just for you coupons and specials before visiting the store. - The cashiers always ask if you need assistance with your bags. -This is one of the few Safeways that has more live cashiers for checkout than self-serve registers. read more

Last night I was rung up by a rude young man, named Brandon. I showed him a bottle of Tylenol, and before I could speak, he said sarcastically, what am I supposed to do with this? I said I need this from the behind the customer desk. As he went to get the Tylenol, I put my pink bag by the groceries and waited for him to come back, he finished ringing me up, took my money, gave me my change and receipt. Then proceeded ringing up the next person. I said excuse me, y'all don't bag up anymore, he said you didn't give me your bag when I started ringing up your groceries, I said I didn't know I had to do that as soon as I got to the register and plus I asked you to get the Tylenol, but clearly you see this pink bag sitting by the groceries. And yet he still did not bag my groceries. My son and I did. I told him he needs better customer service. Instead of the sarcasm and popping your head, you apologize for the confusion and help bag groceries. read more

I got a better impression than the reviews had given: it was quite clean and even a bit better-looking (in terms of decoration, flooring, etc.) than the average grocery store. Certainly low variety, especially in produce - but they did have basil and cilantro, which I had wondered about since I plan to cook with them later. And as mentioned elsewhere, it does have some stock of specialty items (I hadn't expected seeing Better Than Bouillon). The cashier was prompt and helpful, and there were plenty of lines. I'm going to have to go elsewhere for some stuff (like chili paste), but this is a decent neighborhood place for the staples. read more

I avoid this place. The last time I walked in (about a week ago), I walked right back out as it smelled like rotten fish by the front door. If I have to get something I can't get at CVS or Aldi I drive to Teeter. read more

Moldy burritos. I bought two of the exact same product today. Microwave burritos. I've bought the same product many times at this store before and had no problem. Today, I nuked one of the burritos. Took it out of the microwave. It stank badly. I looked at it and it was moldy. This was not apparent when it was frozen. I threw it away. Nuked the other one. What are the odds that it would also be moldy? It also stank coming out of the microwave and was moldy. I called the store. No answer. I tried a different department. The meat department. A guy answered. I told him what happened. He suggested I bring my receipt into the store. That's not why I'm calling, I said. I'm calling so you can pull the product from the shelf. "I'll look into it," he said. "Wait a second, you don't even know what product I'm talking about." "Sure I do, it's cedarville." "No it's not, that's not what I said. I said cedarlane. How are you going to look into it when you don't know what I said?" "Oh, ok." I'm willing to bet that if I go back to the store tomorrow, the burritos will still be on the shelf. read more