Hartman’s – Your Independent Grocer

I LIKE this place! It has a small town feel to the layout, plus, interesting items I can’t find in other stores. Yes, they’re a little more expensive… I don’t mind paying for the convenience of having a full grocery store four minutes from my house! I’m very fond of the checkout crews, too. A very eclectic bunch! I have only two suggestions… a better selection of locally roasted coffee (why settle for commercial coffees?), and, perhaps a better selection of meats available.

The reason why these guys are so busy is that there are few other viable options downtown Ottawa for grocery shopping. Well actually you have a couple of good option on Rideau but that’s quite far unless you have a car. They place is huge and they have a lot of variety and I suppose all the traffic keeps product turnover high — which is a very good thing.
However the layout here is a total mess. You can never find what you need in a logical fashion. The place is always dirty (likely due to traffic) … but most importantly the place needs a huge makeover. I have to expect a very nice ambiance from Independent stores now and this locations fall short in some areas.

prices are not the best. they usually HAD good people in customer service, but not anymore. she simply did not care to direct me to the right aisle. .so I left my cart and groceries behind and shopped somewhere where I am appreciated.

Horrible prices, Pathetic selection and variety, and you will be lucky to get your produce to check out before its gone bad.
Seriously this place is the worst. My dad use to work in grocery stores through high school and university and even worked for National Grocers in their marketing department for ten years after, and his first time in Hartmans he could not believe how bad that place was! I thought he was over reacting but after my third trip there I called him and told him he is right! It is horrible!
First the prices! So expensive! I dont buy any where near the amount I bought while living other places in this city and spend close to the same amount. Also I feel like in the last few months it has become even more expensive as I still buy the same items but my bill has been about $ 10.00 more each time. Also when they advertise sale items or «great deal» items they never show the original price so unless it is something you buy regularly you don’t know what deal you are getting.
The selection is also horrible! Unlike others I don’t seem to see empty shelf’s often but I do find that the variety of brands carried is very limited! There are definitely items I have gone in hoping to find but can’t because they just dont carry them. I am a picky eater too so it is never anything that far off or unusual so it just doesn’t make sense to me!
Lastly though, and the one thing that really made me switch stores was the produce! You will be lucky to find any sort of decent produce in this store and if you have congrats! Everything is in an okay state when you buy it (but you know while buying it that other stores have nicer produce in stock and it just kills are part of you inside), and if you don’t use it that night well tough luck because it probably will have gone bad by the next night. If you have to shop here at least go to Herb and Spice for produce and pay like an extra dollar for items that will actually last for more then 24 hours.
Also I once went to buy some yogurt and the yogurt I like to buy had all expired the previous day! How was this still sitting on the shelf!!! Unacceptable!
Honestly can not wait for Sobeys to open in the area. Hartmans needs the competition!

I shop here randomly because it’s so close to home. The place has underground parking for free when shopping which is a plus, they also have good hours. I find everything I need here but I also find prices higher than usual. I’ve spoken to people that have worked there before and they seem to be paid bottom dollar, that sucks.

Worst grocery store ever. I’ve been to better stores in developing countries.
I’ve seen most of their cheese selection expired, and been lucky enough to have bought their prepared cheese which is moldy.
If there’s any guarantee you get from Hartman’s, it’s deplorable service, mediocre selection, and high prices. Oh, and you’ll spend more time in line than you will shopping. Enjoy!

Ohhh, Hartman’s. I appreciate that this store is close my house and work, but it’s definitely not one of the better places to do your groceries in Ottawa.
First of all, the layout of the store boggles my brain. Have you ever tried to go get bread there? Don’t, it sucks. And everything is ridiculously overpriced, but I guess I have to expect that due to its location.
Staff members seem to be nice to customers, but at the same time they kind of act like they hate their job. On more than one occasion I’ve heard employees complaining to each other. But… can I blame them?

Gosh, this store is awful.
I used to go in there because the meat is cheap, but now I just buy whatever’s on sale at Loblaws Isabella to avoid setting foot in this place.
The management or supervisors or whatever you call them are always bitching at their employees.
I waited in line once for an «override”(Whatever that is), and there were 3 supervisors right there, and the cashier kept telling them to come over, and none of them came. then like 5 minutes later, one of them came and snapped at the cashier for interrupting them.
like, stop talking and help the lines go smoother.
also, the management will also refuse to follow the Price Accuracy thing. In that they will put a price on something for $ 2.99, and then it will scan at say $ 5. and when you get it confirmed it’s wrong, and you ask for it for free, they will give some lame excuse why they don’t have to follow this, and will just give it to you for the advertised place.
Also, DO NOT eat anything in the deli. They’re known for selling 6 month expired meat back there.
Also, back in 2009 I bought some Ryvita crackers from there and there were maggots in them.

There are better grocery stores, but this place isn’t so bad that it would make me want to travel another grocery store farther away. The place is small and definitely gets a lot of traffic. Being small the downside is that the selection isn’t amazing and the store gets really crowded during busy times. I’d be ok with the crowds if the aisles were not so narrow.
The positive aspect of Hartman’s is that the produce section is good. I’ve rarely been disappointed by what they have available. Service can be good. I’ve asked for help and the staff has made efforts to help me locate items. Unfortunately, there are times when service is not so hot.
Prices can be on the high side but not ridiculously so. Not much more to say about that.
If you use the self-​check out, avoid the machine closest to the door and carts if you can. If you purchase too many groceries the machine will ask you to call an attendant after every scan. I have no idea why. A staff member suggested that it had to do with weight, but I think that machine is a bit wonky.
If you drive, they have a small lot. It is rarely full as I think most people walk to the store.
I could go to another grocery store, but this place isn’t so bad that I really feel the need to go to a different store.

I thought Hartmans had improved: the horrid elevator music had been replaced, most employees actually tried to be helpful and nothing had scanned incorrectly in a while (I was still often was met with empty shelves on advertised sale items, however). I toyed with the idea of updating my review and adding a star. I took a star away instead.
I tried to use a perfectly legitimate coupon obtained online directly from Kraft’s website. The cashier barely glanced at it before saying, «we don’t take Internet coupons.» Surprised, I asked «Since when?», to which the cashier replied «We’ve NEVER accepted them.» Interesting, since I’d used them MANY times before at Hartmans without an issue. When I asked at Customer Service, the response was a curt: «We’ve NEVER accepted them, so they should never have been accepted before.» So… the staff is so incompetent they accepted a bazillion coupons they weren’t supposed to? Well, THAT doesn’t invoke a lot of confidence!
I emailed Hartmans, asking for clarification of their coupon policy, since it contravened the Loblaws Group of Companies’ (which includes Your Independent Grocer) posted coupon policy. Ten days later, I received a response from Loblaws’ head office that they «can confirm that printed coupons from websites… are accepted» but that they must have the expiration date and address. ALL coupons I try to use do. They further went on that they have «addressed this concern with the store manager and they will be taking the appropriate actions.» I don’t believe for a second that will do any good. Hartmans seems to do as they please, knowing they’re the only grocery store in the area and can get away with it.
With the refusal to adhere to their coupon policy and the fact that you can’t use credit cards to buy gift cards (only cash or debit), this is the very last straw. I’m going from avoiding Hartmans to a full-​on boycott — I’ll never EVER darken Hartman’s door again unless it’s to buy smokes or fill a prescription. I’ll go back buying groceries at the Loblaws on Isabella (even though it’s far less convenient), where they have no problems with Internet coupons, accept credit cards for ANY purchase, are rarely out of stock on advertised items and they’re a lot more helpful — not to mention polite and friendly.
I’d much rather go out of my way than waste any more time or money on Ottawa’s Worst Grocery Store.

I shop here because its the closest to where I live. It is crowded, expensive (its often cheaper to buy my food staples from a convenience store), and the produce is kind of sketchy.

I went in there and the whole front smelled of air freshener. It was all I could do not to throw up. Never shopping there again.
It may have actually been being sprayed by the wine rack. Nonetheless, I’m still not going there.
The store is usually filled with questionable people due to its proximity to downtown.

I have seen the staff at Hartman’s making an active effort at improvement recently and it shows. They have new shirts to help make it easier to find them, (bright blue). They also seem to smile more. I haven’t had to go hunting for a basket in awhile, so definite improvement there!

I tried shopping at Hatrtman’s a couple of times. It’s on my way home from Carleton and I hoped it would offer an alternative to the Beechwood Metro I usually frequent.
But Hatrtman’s is equally expensive, if not more. It’s a smaller store but deceptively so, so you can usually find a good selection (beats the Metro on Bank), however I can’t justify these prices.
Bottom line: run in for that quickie item if its convenient but rule it out as your regular grocer.

Was hoping for some good eats for back at the hotel however old over priced produce and a lot of other reasons will have me not darken their door step again.

This place is lame.
A quick scan of all the other reviews says exactly what I figured, it’s lame and overpriced.
The selection of food is questionable. Some times they have what you want, and most of they time they don’t.
They also don’t have a bulk section. Is this an ontario thing or is it just Hartman’s that doesn’t ‘do’ bulk?
The produce is pathetic. Old, wilty and expensive. Considering I can get an organic version of most of it for the same price a block away, it’s ridiculous.
I also have to comment on the staff. In fact, it was a horrible interaction with a staff member that made me write this.
I got my staples this morning with a cashier that was not present. Slow, not paying attention and waited FOREVER before hitting the right button for me to pay with a card.
I had forgotten to grab milk so I decide to go back and the got distracted. I wanted some lime juice and I asked one of the employees, however just as I asked I realized it was on the shelf behind him. But by then I had already asked. He told me «it was seasonal» and then I asked why I could see it behind him and he told me «it must have been a fluke». No sir not a fluke.
Anyway, I shop here because it’s the only place near me, not overly by choice.
Hartman’s gets two stars for these two reasons:
They are a block away from my house.
They have a wine rack.

This was one of my daily stops when I worked on Bank and Somerset. I came by often to grab lunch or pick up dinner or dog food.
Expensive? Very. But I liked that it was small and had a really good produce section. That being said, it didn’t have a big variety of products since it’s pretty small, and it was definitly more expensive than my Nepean Loblaws.
Service can be good, but it can also be awful. It gets crazy busy here around 5 p.m. and some of the cashiers have their heads in the clouds, or think it’s more important to compare nail polish colours with each other.
The good? They have great to-​go meal options including fresh salads, sandwiches, chicken and more. I always thought these options were reasonable price-​wise.

I’m a pretty huge fan of PC products so I try to go to Loblaws whenever I get groceries, Hartmans also carries PC products and takes PC gift cards if you were wondering. It’s a fairy big store with a ton of selection, a deli, a bakery, a seafood section and a very big produce section. The employees also seem friendly most of the time and have always been willing to help.
So here are my problems with Hartmans: it’s really expensive, everything here is more expensive than the other Loblaws I’ve been to. For example, the laundry detergent here is a good 2 – 3 dollars more than it is at Metro/​Loblaws, the Sunlight detergent I buy here is $ 8.99 and it’s $ 5.99 at Metro.
Also the self checkouts are a nightmare, but the lines at the human checkouts always seem to be so long (hmm, wonder why). I came here and bought about 20 items and literally 1 out of every 2 items the machine decided to say «please see an associate», or something.
I guess if you also really like PC brands this is a good place to go to seeing as the only Loblaws close by is really small, but expect to pay more, and for the love of God don’t use the self check outs.

About the only thing Hartman’s has going for it is the location. The store is overpriced, understocked and has a terrible selection of produce/​meat.
The store it large, but it is almost all prepackaged food. If you want anything fresh you’ll likely be out of luck. Sale items are constantly out of stock and no one knows whether they will restock before the promotion ends. If you want anything organic you’ll be limited to about organic 2 half aisles and for some reason they never have organic eggs.
Hartman’s has a captive audience and they know it. If you don’t have a car to drive out to the suburbs you’re likely stuck shopping at Hartman’s. Whole Foods is supposedly opening a download location in 2014. Sure they’ll be overpriced but at least the selection will be better.

So I have to say that lately, Hartman’s has been have some pretty wicked sales. Maybe it’s because a lot of people were complaining about their prices, maybe it’s because it was the holiday season, who knows. All I know is that every week I’ve gone for months, they’ve had meats on sale for a few bucks, a boatload of Oasis juices for 3 for $ 5, and those PC brand chips that seem to have an unlimited amount of savory flavors and only cost 99 cents. Thanks, Hartman’s! Now my boyfriend and I are addicted to all of those chips, and all we drink is juice!