Product Placement

Yeah — there still seems to be a focus on bulk. When I asked about whether they would sell the half cartons of eggs (six packs), I was told no, but they were going to start carrying the 18-packs. I’m not sure corporate really gets that they are serving condos (urban Safeway guys). So I would request more options in sizes that won’t spoil for singles and couples (since we can shop more frequently).

Also — how about a larger selection of organic produce, eggs and milk? I’d be happy to pay the higher price for this.

I understand the current organization; you don’t want the heavier, larger milks on the top — that would cause more accidents. My gripe with the milk section is the lack of variety. For example, there are heavy cream and light cream, but no regular cream.

Dani-

The cream that you want is light cream. Table cream, light cream, and single cream are pretty much all the same thing (milkfat content of about 20%), just with different names.

really,really enjoy this store but am with TriangleAnon on the 1/2 dozen eggs thing.

I love this store too but they have to train the baggers. The checkers are wonderfully fast but the baggers just don’t seem to understand how to put the products in a bag. It’s still much better than the Giant.

They did have 6-packs of eggs last week, although the pricing is a little off (last week, the 18-egg cartons were more than twice the cost of the 12-egg cartons, and the 6-egg cartons were somewhere in between, don’t understand why).

For the cream, you might also want to try half-and-half, which is half light cream and half whole milk. I’ve heard people refer to that as “cream” as well.

My request in the dairy aisle: ultra-pasteurized quarts of milk. I like to keep whole milk on hand for baking, and ultra-pasteurized keeps much better.

Staff not trained– Assist mgr spent 10 min crediting cashier mistake, baggers walked away mid-bag, no # for cab.

Good selection/deals though.

Give it time — and make sure to let the store manager on duty know of any issues or concerns. When I spoke to them, they were eager to learn about how the regulars will use the store. Although they are tied to a corporate plan, they want to make changes which will facilitate how people actually shop.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and even if it was, noting ran smoothly for a while. The Safeway is the same: it took a long time to get here, and the kinks will take a few months to iron out.

totally agree about the baggers…yesterday I bought 3 half-gallons of milk and juice but my bagger reached for the potato chips first when loading my reusable Whole Foods bag…had to put a stop to that

I timed my deli experience yesterday. It took 18 minutes to get 1 pound of ham and 1 pound of cheese. The employee behind the counter could not stop talking to the other help behind the counter who were all standing around doing nothing.

It took exactly one week for this Safeway to become the Ghetto Safeway…

I found out from the deli counter guy that the honeymoon period has ended, and that management cut deli staff in half. There might be some people working that know they are out of a job in a matter of days. Or not, we’ll see. My deli counter experience yesterday was speedy.

I’ve been in the new Safeway 3-4 times a week since it’s opened and have not experienced the problems with the Deli staff that others have mentioned. In fact, I’ve found the Deli employees to be very friendly and helpful and management called in for extra help when they were getting backed up.

My only issue is with the self-service checkouts. They seem to be too sensitive and break down frequently. Yesterday afternoon (Sunday), only 3 were working and the staff person assigned to monitor those three was running from checkout to checkout helping correct the errors – all while they were backed up 8-10 people in line.

I haven’t had any problems with staff or the speed of my check-out since the store opened. I have probably had 8 shopping trips since then. I agree that it will take time for the staff to become acclimated to the store and their duties. I hope that my fellow neighbors can refrain from calling it now a “ghetto safeway” (David’s comment). I see no reason to refer to it in such a negative way.

Really?! We are complaining about the Safeway? I think it is far superior to the Giant in terms of bagging and service. That Giant has been there forever. It is what it is and if you don’t like it schlepp out to Harris Teeter or over to Whole Foods.

Gotta agree on the deli service. A week ago, we stopped to pick up sandwiches for a picnic, and it took at least 15 minutes (probably 20) to get two sandwiches, even with two people behind the counter. Unreal.

While we’re on it, I’ve also got to say the prepared foods selection is pretty limited for an “urban lifestyle” grocery that was supposed to emphasize just these things.

I don’t see a reason to call it a ghetto Safeway either especially since a nearby store that starts with a G is still open and still holds that title. the Safeway is leagues better.

I haven’t had any long waits and have been about a half dozen times. visited the deli counter once and the seafood counter once and received prompt service both times.

I’ve also not had any problems shopping at the Safeway, and have found the staff very friendly and helpful. It is miles ahead of the Giant!!!

I’ve been shopping there since it opened and last night noticed that things are definitely starting to get worse. The deli is slow and I wish they’d have a number system to make things a little easier. Or better yet, have a computer system you can place your order with and then pick it up before you leave. My old grocery in PA used to have this and it was the best. But I’ve noticed things on sale not being stocked, less produce being stocked, and the quality of produce going down each time I visit. But it’s still within walking distance and it’s still better than the Giant in Columbia Heights. I never liked the other Giant so just metro’d up to the Columbia Heights one. I haven’t noticed any rude employees and they do seem to be working hard, but it seems like there are less and less of them and more and more customers. I’d love to know when things are stocked there so I can better plan my trips.

Does anyone else find it odd to have the large pillar right by the deli? It seems they could have better organized the layout of the store. There’s also one aisle that is really big and the one next to it is really small. Again, just a strange layout for a new store in a new space.

Once I went to the new Safeway to find moldy oranges and berries and bruised apples. Whole Foods has better produce and since produce is probably about 75% of my grocery bill I still go over there. But the Safeway is still great to have around for quick shopping errands.

Still Wishing it was a Publix

I grew up in FLA ANON, and I agree Publix is the ultimate in grocery shopping. But it will be a long while (if ever) before they expand this far North. Publix is a very careful (and privately held) company, that doesn’t make rash expansion decisions. I imagine that’s why their quality (in both product and employees) is so high.