I come here specifically for the baked goods, they're so good! They also always have unique drinks that many other stores don't carry! Staff are always friendly. The store is retro styled which is cool, however due to being in downtown Victoria there are often sketchy people in and around the store but that doesn't really bother me. Highly recommended trying the baked goods, they're often sold out! read more

The Market Stores - Donuts - Grocery Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

I really liked the people who rang up my purchase. They were very nice. And it's great to have grocery stores in an urban area. This place also has a nice selection of imported food, organic food and speciality goods- like gluten free items. The only negative is that it is very very expensive. Much more expensive than any other store I've been to in Victoria or Vancouver- save for small specialty health food stores. I assume they have guards by the doors because of the number of homeless folks in the area. So that's something to take into consideration. read more

This market sells LAB GROWN "MEAT" with no regards for people's freedom to choose or their nutritional needs & health. When I called to complain, Cayle in the fake meat Dept told me to not shop there anymore if I was going to complain. BE ADVISED that fake food lacks nutrition & will eventually cause serious health issues. For a disabled person like me, it is deadly. Humans cannot survive on fake food. The disregard for human life is deplorable & Cayle's dismissive discard reeks of narcisstic abuse. I am thoroughly disgusted by his response & this store's disregard for the natural human right to know what's being sold to us. SHAMEFUL. read more

Very good selection and friendly staff Good deals Very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, good read more

I bought five packs of lean ground beef today and it was all brown on the inside very weird looked like someone tried to hide the fact that it was on the older side read more

This is a fantastic store! Great products, mainly Island sourced. Very good meat and fish counter... great produce and a wide selection. I'm a private chef so I know quality. Most of the staff is friendly. Pricing is VERY competitive... better than the big chains ... read more

Unbelievably overpriced store. They triple prices. It's blatant price gouging. Rude staff as well.

This grocery store reminds me of IGA. Nothing fancy but it has all the the things that you would expect from a grocery store. There is a meat department, a deli section and etc. The store looks a bit old and run down. But none the less the store was very clean and neatly organized. We came at around 6 pm on a Saturday and it was busy. Prices are definitely at the higher end here. Parking is limited. read more

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Nice local grocery store. Excellent fresh produce, meats and cheeses. Conveniently located with friendly and helpful service.

Dining out on Vacation can get expensive. And if it wasn't for all the walking we did during our recent trip to Victoria, it can be hard on your waistline. During our trips together, Gayle and I always find a local grocery store, but provisions and then kick back at the Hotel. The nice folks at the Magnolia recommended that we walk over to The Market on Yates. Otherwise, this Tourist might have been tempted to walk into the nearby 7-11 and call it a night. Yes, it's a little bit pricey here (especially considering Loonie - Dollar parity) and like other places in the Pacific Northwest, terms like Local, Sustainable, and Organic are thrown around loosely. At the same time, we were pleased with the convenience, selection and the friendly service. In particular, the choice of Canadian and other cheeses were impressive and it was fun to pick our dessert from their Chocoholic Bar and try out some cold cuts from the Butcher Counter. If we had more time and hunger, I was ready to test out the sweets from the Bakery section, and try some hot sauces off the Hall of Flame. read more

The Market Stores - Grocery Near Me - Victoria, British Columbia

Simply put, the employees are consistently unpleasant. Doesn't help that everything is overpriced.

Why is it titled "The Market Store"? It's The Markey on Yates. This review is full of BUT: I used to love this place but I really only ever went to the bakery. The berry cheesecake square, Dutch brownie, and the cheesecake brownie square are the BEST OF THE BEST...BUT always sold out. I have had to walk away from the Deli from being ignored more than three times BUT the Yam salad is good though and they have a huge selection of options from samosas, sausage rolls, chicken wings to pasta salad, sea food salad and soups! Other than that, the store is a bit dirty, the bulk buns are WAY over priced and bins are always left open and become stale BUT the Italian bun is amazing. It is a bit a pricey BUT they do have deals here and there that are not so bad. The meat./seafood counter does have a good selection of stuff BUT I find it expensive. read more

Deliberately game me more than double the amount of meat I asked for at the counter. The old lady whispered to the other person to "give me all of it". I've been shopping here over a year, not going back. Root Cellar on Cook is just as close and significantly cheaper and better quality. read more

Worst bakery experience ever. Ordered a cake a week and an half in advance. Went to pick it up and snotty young woman informs me they have my order but since the decorator hasn't been in for a couple of days they don't have my cake. But I can take the two day old one in the case. Manager comes with excuses - well, I told the staff not to take orders. No apology, nothing (except half price for the manky cake in the case). Since this was for a party, had to take the manky replacement and another cake. Snotty young woman boxes them and shoves them at me. No sorry, thanks, nothing. If they knew they couldn't complete the order, could have called to let me know. Nope, obviously too much thinking/work involved in this. Never ordering a cake here again. Definitely would not recommend going here. Although the bakery items are not bad, staff and customer service are horrible! read more

I live in downtown Victoria, and do not own a car. Market on Yates is within a 2 minute walk of my building, so that is where I shop most of the time for better or worse. The Good Produce area carries good quality stuff, with a large organic section if that's your thing. Meat is good quality. They have a nice little bakery too. The muffins are some of the best I've tried in Victoria. It has a small free parking lot, although in peak hours it can get very full. There's a second parking lot at the back on View Street. Self checkouts are excellent, and easy to use. The Bad Meat is all behind a case, and sometimes there's a line of people and you have to wait for staff to become available. They also tend to give you more meat than you asked for, always by a small margin. It's good quality but slightly overpriced. The Ugly Pricing overall is ridiculous. For vegetables and fruits it's similar to everywhere else. For meat, slightly higher than you'd pay elsewhere but it's good quality so I don't mind. There are many things I just refuse to buy here out of spite for the pricing. As an example, their precooked chickens were previously $9.99, and recently the raised the prices to $11.99 Peanut butter 2 KG jar was previously $11.99 (still way more than walmart, save on etc), now it's $13.99. Frozen vegetables that would cost $2.99 or $3.49 at Thrifties, Save-on etc, cost $4.49 here. Basically, if it comes in a package, you're going to pay 25% more for it here than you will anywhere else. Summary I'm grateful to have a supermarket within walking distance, but I will be looking forward to Save on foods eventually opening at Pandora & Cook eventually.... It's been announced for years, and the building looks to be almost finished. It will be good to have a real grocery store downtown. It's hard to know how much of Market on Yates has been affected by the carbon tax. Looking forward also to October 2019 when JT will be turfed, and Canadians will get a relief from this idiotic climate plan. read more

Phenomenal phone in delivery service!!! Thank you to all the staff for professional, courteous and efficient service. Sue read more

You will never shop here again. We have been regular customers shopping here and will NEVER return. The way they reportedly handle their customers and handle their food products are disgusting. This is how Market on Yates abuse and treat their employees ... Jacob a previous employee posted his story in November on link below. Scroll through ALL the comments from previous employees, their horrific experiences and you decide (read how they handle their fish and meats) Absolutely appalling! www.retailaction.ca/donations/fundraiser-jacob/ read more

The Market on Yates Is conveniently placed around many apartment complexes. I shop here for convenience and quality meats. If it wasn't for the meat department I would frequent Safeway a lot more. Staff at the meat department are excellent, they are happy to help you and answer any questions. As for the cashiers I feel like an inconvenience to them when I come through the till. As you approach any till the entitled hipsters who work at the at this end of the store will fail to greet you and sometimes won't even acknowledge your existence. As they "serve you" they will talk amongst each other and ignore customers. On a few occasions I have gone through a till to see two girls standing side by side whispering in each other's ears while covering there mouths as to hide what the are saying. Seriously, THIS SHIT MAKES ME HATE THIS FUCKING STORE! Do your job. On many occasions I've had my bags so shittily packed that they ripped before I could even walk half way home. Also, some dense employee thought it would be wise to place my refrigerated cheese next to a hot fucking rotisserie chicken, I'm sure you can imagine my cheese was melted... So, long story short. Market on yates has a great meat department with tons of selection, but I dislike the entitled hipster staff at the front end of the store. read more

There are two reasons why I ever go to Market on Yates: 1. The English candy. I am addicted to those licorice sorbet things. 2. If everything else is closed. Market on Yates is more expensive than the other grocery stores out there and the produce is often rotten. I have actually seen rotten produce and informed the staff... who did nothing about it. They just don't care. I guess people will pay full price for rotten fruit. I have accidentally bought expired items and returned them, only to find it still being sold days later. I have seen people rummaging through the bulk bins with their hands (to be fair this happens everywhere in Victoria). A lot of the staff is surly for some reason, especially at the deli. Market on Yates sells some interesting items but in general it is not a good value and the rotting produce and expired items are just inexcusable. read more

I have officially experienced the expired dairy phenomenon!! I asked if they had any other small cartons of skim milk other than the entire shelf full that was expired. After checking in the back, the guy I'd asked replied, "Nope, that's all we've got." read more

My local market. I don't do all my shopping here but I do stop in at least once a week to pick up a few essentials. Prices are reasonable. Meat counter is fantastic. Always lots of staff. The only complaint I would have is with the bakery. We had a craving for some pain au chocolate after returning home from France. The Markets pain au chocolate doesn't even come close. The chocolate filling was hard not a ganache. The pastry was tough. The cookies I have tried were tough. But when it comes to meat and vegetables The Market is great! read more

This local market I like - too bad it is all the way downtown. If you are downtown and have paid for parking - make sure you pay because the parking gestapo is watching your car. Maybe get another car? That's a thought. 20 dollars? That is ridiculous. Their service is exceptional and I like feel of it. I've only been there once and I felt comfortable among the locals (those that are regulars). The Italian garbanzo beans were good. I might have bought salsa last time I was there I cannot recall but I wanted to take some time before I yelped and yelped about everything. read more

I was visiting here for the 2019 WJC and this place was the best local market I've ever been to. All local markets where I'm from in the US are dumpy, in bad parts of town, or shady--this place is none of that! I love the decor and layout of the store, very clean and easy to navigate. I was absolutely shocked at all the counters for fresh food, it's much better than any chain I've been to. I loved the variety of foods here from a variety of different countries and cultures. Their samosas are to die for. read more

It's hard to rate a grocery store. Coming from living in the US mainland, it's impressive how wide and varied the selection is, and it's quite nice that the bakery and the deli and such are open the entire time the store is, which is fairly-late. It can be tough to park, and irritating to drive in the area, but it's a perfectly-functional store with a good variety and reasonable prices. It's a little twee in places, like the individually-labeled tiny organic potatoes, but so it goes. I'd take that any day in exchange for being able to get wine gums, berbere, squeaky cheese curds, nice baked goods, tons of meat pies, bulk dry goods, the usual natural and trendy foods, etc., all at one place, open 'til 11pm. read more

I feel somewhat similarly to Christine and have also experienced the expiration date phenomenon. And I also have a keen addiction to Liberte Yogurt, Sour Cream, Creme Fraiche...yeah the whole shabang. No-one comes close to the selection of Liberte products as well as the price. You can routinely get Liberte Plain or Vanilla for $2.99 in the big yogurt containers! And this is going on a tangent a bit, but get yourself some real maple syrup, fresh berries and Liberte Plain for breakfast...gaaaa. good. Now, why I rate a little higher than Christine is I am also and avid Avalon fan, especially their chocolate milk. Oh jeepers, it's special. Nothing beats chugging Avalon choc milk after some exercise. I'm drooling. And lastly, I like the way their meat section is set with nothing pre-packaged and a very good set of choices for tonnes of meats. Moving to the not so great, their bakery is a joke. Almost all of their products are not made in house and are frozen products distributed by whoever and made in an industrial bakery in Minnesota. Seriously. I'm only partially making that up. Anyhow, if you are after awesome yogurt, awesome milk or good meat, the Market is super. Otherwise, not so great (their avocados blow). Fortunately for the Market, dairy and meat make up a massive part of my diet. read more

Can't wait till something better moves closer. This deli is always an absolute free for all, never tries to help who's next. Randomly don't bag things. And really expensive things that really shouldn't be. read more

Unfortunately I have to return once and a while for the odd item. If I had an alternative I wouldn't be going back. One evening I went in to grab a steak. We were short one steak for our family get together BBQ. As I walked to the till with the steak in my right hand, I raised it to my chest pocket. I was intending to swap it to my left and grab my credit card from my breast pocket. A security guard came up behind me and accused me of trying to steal the meat, put it inside my jacket. Lol. I suggested that he should have waited for the full transaction before he made that accusation. To which, he responded with a camera snapping my picture and telling me to never return. I informed him that if it was entirely up to me, I never would return. Now I only go if it is an absolute emergency. The security staff are too quick to judge. I don't need that nonsense. read more

If you find yourself visiting Victoria, and wanting to stock up on some groceries, this is the perfect place. We had a kitchen in our suite so we decided to pick up some basic items like bread, sausage, cheese, soup, apples, yogurt etc. It's pricey but what isn't in this neck of the woods. They have all the major departments like deli, meat, produce etc. It is a well stocked grocery store and the closest to downtown hotels. The olive artisan loaf was great, as well as the European cheeses and the roasted pepper soup (that you heat yourself). We were sure glad we found this spot. read more

We did our normal stop at costco before finding a local grocery. Had we found this one first, we likely would have skipped Costco! The selection was impressive whether you are carnivorous or vegetarian. Meats to sweets that will knock your socks off with mouth watering flavor and textures that veil soothe the savage hunger beast! read more

I really like this store. Perfect for us as visitors in search of picnic fare. A great selection for a small, local market.

Hurray for the supermarket being open until 11! =) Has a good selection of food. Fruit was fresh and sandwich was yummy. Found out that they deliver over $25! Supermarket was clean, no complaints. They also took my AmEx which was nice. read more

Great market by the condo we were staying in. They have an awesome meat & seafood counter plus a great deli section. We found everything we needed. read more

They recently fired my friend BECAUSE HE HAS EPILEPSY, he was SO excited and reliant on that job and you just fired him for something he does not have control over, while he was just being honest about his health to you, you acted like you understood then fire him that night with no explanation, i'm so appalled by this. this business disgusts me, there is no way that is legal. read more

Had the worst treatment today at the seafood counter. I was polite and cheerful but Anne treated me with only sarcasm. Made me feel like a total inconvenience instead of a customer. I let it go but left there feeling like I'd been kicked in the guts. It was bad enough that it prompted me to sit down and write this review hours after the fact. I have shopped there off and on for years. Won't be returning. read more

Great little market with a large selection of homemade sausages, gigantic variety of smoked meats and salmon as you walk in. Then you walk in deeper and they have a nice variety of fruit and veggies and a HUMONGOUS variety of desserts. Definitely a one stop shop for all the neighborhood condos and vacation rentals although prices are a little higher than a normal giant supermarket further away. read more

This 5 Star Review for the Market on Yates extends only to the Butcher Counter. If I were to review the entire store, I would have to down grade to a 4 as there really is an issue with removing expired products from the shelves. However, 5 Stars it is for the Butcher Counter and the staff who call it home. I will not buy lean ground pork anywhere except at the MOY. The freshness is always amazing and I am almost reticent to say that it's amongst the city's cheapest for fear they'll raise the price, but it really is amongst the city's cheapest :) Everything that we have tried from this Butcher Counter is beyond reproach. From Turkey sauages to chicken wings to the extraodinary lamb chops and the seafood medley(only eaten by my husband) there has not been a disappointment at the table! And the biggest bonus....there is such a variety that even when stumped about what to make for dinner, one can come up with a culinary creation truly restaurant worthy by first stopping at the Butcher Counter and letting your imagination run wild from there. Way to go MOY for making your Butcher Counter a destination of choice for me at least 4 times per week!! Please please please please please keep up the great work...and don't raise the price on your fabulous ground pork :) Many Thanks!!! PJ xo read more

So, I don't quite get this. This is a grocery store in Victoria supposedly for locals in the neighbourhood to shop. And how many of these reviews are written by local Victoria people? Two out of nine. That's right. I agree with Penelope F. At this grocery store, you will find rotting produce that has seemingly been out for days. The staff response when you tell them this? Indifference. I don't mind paying for premium quality groceries, but notice I said premium, not fake-fresh supposedly organic but rotting for several days freshness. This said, there are some redeeming aspects about this store. The seafood and meat section is excellent. Great selection of freshly baked pies and desserts, the best blackberry pie I have ever tasted - and you're up against some pretty steep competition! read more

You can buy a $1.00 cup of coffee from the vending machine and sit outside and people watch and enjoy a busker perform while you drink it and check out their weekly flyer for specials. Selection is good for pretty well all categories of food, but I found the prices for most things on my list to be on the higher side of moderate. There was plenty of staff working the afternoon I was there, so I found the service to be quite adequate. The downtown location was very convenient and what I really liked for me is that they have free delivery in the evening if make your purchase before 2:00. read more

I purchased a loaf of Yates Market Baked-on-site sourdough bread, however, when I opened it at home it was raw and of course doughy in the centre. The next day I returned it, in their original Yates Market bag, but without the receipt. The sullen cashier showed little interest and referred me to - "her" - the next lady at the next cash. With no smiles or greeting the first question I was asked was - "do you have a receipt?" "No", I replied - "but it is in your Yates bag and definitely your product." After a few back and forths, she relented, but of course with the caveat that "next time" I had better bring a receipt. I offered to speak with the Manager, but was informed they would demand the same evidentiary piece of scrap paper that would prove I didn't buy this elsewhere and was simply trying to rip off Yates. Okay - I get it. I understand the need for a receipt, but not when ALL the evidence points to it being your product, under-cooked and returned in the original bag. This is as good a time as any to note that the lack of friendliness at this store, speaks strongly to what appears to be a significant number of complacent, I don't want to be here employees. I suggest management might want to rethink who they hire, or even better, how they treat employees. Yates Market needs to recognize that although they are not in the best neighbourhood, where street people abound, many good customers take the time to drive to their locale - except you can take me off that list. read more

After living within walking distance of this store for 10 months let me assure you a longer walk will pay off in more ways that one. Lower Imperial weight prices are everywhere with the Metric price (and the one on your bill) in much smaller script in the corner, almost as an afterthought. Wrong ticket prices and items in the wrong place are rife. Personally, i was running into this on almost every visit. Invariably the price charged at the register was higher than the ticket price. And if you had the nerve to call them on it, a full blown drama ensued. When i mentioned at the checkout that the price of an item actually had a lower ticket price, a call for assistance was made. The people behind me groaned. When the 'help' arrived they couldn't find the product. I actually had to show them where it was. The 'help' then decided they didn't know so they went to get someone else. This person told the 'help' to go to the office while they took the original tickets off the shelf. As the 'help' never came back i asked if we could get a grocery manager to sort it out. He could not find the original ticket and price as they had been removed. So after 15 minutes of watching the staff fumble through this drama and the grocery manager finally telling me there was nothing he could do about it, except pay the higher price, I left the store with no groceries at all and it will be a long time before i return for some cheap entertainment. I don't blame the staff for this behaviour. I blame management for this. You have a crap boss, you have crap staff. Not surprisingly, this store does not want to hear about any problem(s) you may have. You can only talk to the store manager by appointment and e-mails from their 'info desk' are returned with little more than than a 'blame the staff for your problem' form letter. If you really want talk to the store manager and let him know what you think, here's how: Matt Smith 250 381 6000 yates@themarketstores.com but don't expect too much, he's probably very busy marking up 'thrifty' products to help pay for the nice auto he parks at the rear of the store. you can't miss him. if he wore a white shirt you could show movies on his back. read more