Here's an update since my previously "preferred" Pathmark (because of their increased item selection in regard to some particulars: salad dressings, Parmesan cheeses, etc.) is no longer, and this Stop & Shop location is closer and suffices:
****My Experience Since****
I cannot pedantically zero in on anything that I find disagreeable about this location, as I've become a regular grocery shopper here and I find this Stop & Shop agreeable.
Rarely, you'll encounter a rude employee or fellow shopper.
On one occasion, a cart-returner or a front-of-store staff member felt the need to brush up his issuing of directives (Take one from over there!) in regard to my mutualistic appeal to take and use the one cart he was returning for a cart that was already "returned"; maybe the cart he was returning was broken(?). But, I couldn't criticize the man's work ethic, as he was committed to returning that one cart. (Also, there has been a noticeable improvement in the returning of carts. I don't know if people started returning their own carts or the front-of-store staff are shouldering the load left in the parking lot by others.)
On another occasion, I did notice some fellow shoppers disregarding a cashier's gestures and actual announcement that his register would be closed after a particular shopper--with one lady immediate beyond the cutoff point who didn't hear (I guess) the cashier's announcement motioning and then saying, "I don't know what the problem [or hold-up] is," as his line continued to grow.
But, those were two minor, not even noteworthy (I'm just doing so [noting them] to relay how pedestrian the experience of shopping here is), incidents that didn't even reflect the business out of say twenty or so visits.
****Overall****
For the most part, I'm content shopping at this location. They stock the shelves around the clock or so it seems. Finding a bag for fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats is easy. Their hours of operation (6am-11pm every day) allows you to beat the rush to stock up for the work- and/or school-week. And they've even hired a fair amount of employees to assist cashiers with bagging, so you usually don't have to bag your groceries. (I try to help out with the bagging if I can, even though I probably do more bad than good. [Sometimes, the bags stick together.])
(Note: I have not purchased baked goods, seafood, or pharmaceuticals from this location' and I probably will not. Also, I try to avoid peak hours of operation, so that I can quickly go in, get what I need, and get out.) read more