I am writing a review for the actual restaurant store that is a physical walk-in warehouse shop, as opposed to a cyberspace Webstaurant store, which is online only and is run out of the warehouse next to it.
This address is intended for the local stop-and-shop store, and not the internet warehouse. I realize they may be under the same ownership, but it is important to distinguish between the two because online reviews belong elsewhere as far as I am concerned, since they are not helpful to local customers looking to use the store, which is completely different from the online experience.
Unlike the website, the physical store has lower prices, and is a self-serve warehouse type place (like BJs for restaurant items--eh, but you don't need a membership). They are open to anyone, which was nice to know since we love cooking but don't own a restaurant. They're right on Phila Pike, though you have to drive past one warehouse to get to the parking lot for the store warehouse behind it. There is no big obvious sign, it took two adults looking to find it.
I got a 12" x 18" silicone/plastic cutting board for under $7, and the same item is more online (though still more than 50% off the price for items of comparable quality at any other store you can imagine, and if you're looking at Williams Sonoma or the like, it's more like 80% off). I was awe struck by their selection of cutting boards alone; they had them up to 3' in length, all kinds of thicknesses (I think up to an inch or so), and every color of the rainbow. It was really cool.
I did note one item that was slightly higher priced than online. I bought a Mercer M18360 Hell's Handle spatula turner on Webstaurant.com for $10.67 and felt thoroughly ripped off by the $11 shipping charge to my home, an hour away. Had I known about the store then, I'd have waited for my next Lancaster trip. When I visited, they had the same item (along with many other Hell's Handle products I did not see online) and it was about $14, but no forced shipping.
I wish we'd had more time to wander and look at everything. We could not find barware products (shakers, jiggers, long spoons, etc.) but we didn't ask on that one, so hopefully there is an aisle I missed. They have pretty much everything offered online in that warehouse store--canned goods, spices, industrial equipment, takeout containers, janitorial supplies, etc. etc.
The staff at the checkout was a bit rushed but friendly. They seem to cater more to their commercial clients, which I understand, but they were friendly enough to us buying for household needs.
This store is now on the list for our Lancaster trips, and will be visited each time we go. I recommend it if you are from out of the area and touring and want a little shopping, or if you're more local and like to get deals from the area. read more