Safeway

This place would be OK if they ever had more than one cashier working at a time, I’ve seen the line go about 30 people deep without ever opening up another lane… They have 15 or more checkout lanes and I have never seen more than 2 open (and that is only if someone finds a manager to complain), usually only one… Meanwhile the other employees are wandering around not doing much of anything. The sad part is, it’s the same at both Safeways near me, so unfortunately this is not an isolated occurrence.

I’ve been going to this Safeway almost every other day for the past decade because I can grab my milk/​bread/​toiletpaper and GTFO via self checkout pretty quickly unless I get trapped behind some senile batfart trying to buy dented cans of cat food with A&P coupons. For basics, it’s well stocked. Produce is okay, beer is the usual mix of corporate swill with a couple corporate craft beers thrown in. I have to say that while the Belle Haven shop has a dozen checkouts, never more than three are open. This place usually has most of them open during prime time. Really nice pharmacist who remembers your name. If I were just reviewing the pharmacy, I’d give it five stars. Problem is, I’m not.
The reason that rating gets dragged down is because every time I go in here, they’ve gotten rid of one thing I like and replaced it with three things I have no freaking use for. Chinese chrome vases? Twelve flavors of hummus? Six kinds of flavorless turkey lunchmeat and NO corned beef or pastrami? Who asked for this? I can deal with the fact that they never have white meat in the fried chicken hot bar. I can live with the Safeway branded slop because it’s cheap and it hasn’t made me ill. I can deal with the middling selection because the Belle Haven Safeway is pretty well stocked. What’s irritating is that they’re always out of the ONE thing I want, but have TONS of the other, horrible things I don’t need.
I like those organic biscuits, which they’re always out of. It’s in the refrigerated section next to the THIRTY OTHER KINDS OF BISCUITS NOBODY BUYS. They’re always out of the kosher half sours in the refrigerated section, BUT THE WALL OF HORRIBLE MOUNT OLIVE PICKLES REMAINS UNTOUCHED AND GATHERING DUST. They stopped carrying natural casing hotdogs, BUT HERE ARE THIRTY KINDS OF HORRIBLE TURKEY HOTDOGS THAT I CAN’T EAT. Do I sound like an angry crank who shakes his fist at clouds? I don’t mean to. The service is pleasant and if you get there before prime time, it’s not a complete nightmare of people blocking aisles while trying to figure out what flavorless slop they’re going to try and feed themselves. And it still beats the one on Route 1 that has 12 AISLES WHERE NEVER MORE THAN TWO ARE OPEN AND NO SELF CHECKOUT. Once I stopped being angry and just looked at this place like a pretty well-​stocked 7/​11, it’s actually quite pleasant. Just try not to run over the legally blind old folks hobbling back to their late-​model Crown Victorias.

I have to confess I’ve been having a few issues with Safeway over the years. The produce isn’t always fresh. Breads from the bakery are dry and tasteless. Store brand deli salads, sides, and soups lack flavor. Fried chicken from the deli department tastes too salty.
Overall, Safeway’s pricing, regardless of whatever is on sale or not, is overpriced when compared to similar products purchased from Shoppers Food Warehouse, Giant, and Harris Teeter. And contrary to what surveys of grocery store pricing for the region may say, Safeway’s, based on what I have seen and purchased, are the highest in the Washington, DC area.
In order to get the most out of the «Just for U» offerings in the weekly ad, I have to either cut out the requisite coupons or go to the Safeway website and have the coupons I plan on using «electronically uploaded» to my Safeway Club Card account. Wouldn’t it be easier to just upload all of the sale/​savings items for everyone who possesses a Safeway Club Card? It sure would save a lot of time by avoiding the use of scissors with the paper ad and point-​click time on the Safeway website.
This reviewer is awarding a two-​star rating. Every time I go shopping in this Safeway, I feel as if I am in a dungeon. The sales floor’s overhead lighting leaves much to be desired.

I call this store the «baby Safeway» and I love it! No it doesn’t have everything but it is a fast in… fast out NEIGHBORHOOD store. The people who run this store understand that the people who live in the area want a small town «feel» to services and they provide it. This is the only Safeway I shop in and I am very happy with their service.

The Solviet Safeway is our local Safeway. It’s charming unless you need saffron or shallots or you know more than one brand of TP.
The Safeway in Belle View is shut down until March 2013 — so our local tiny Solviet Safeway is more crowded than usual. As soon as the Belle View Safeway opens back up, ours is next for remodel. Since there is less space in Hollin Hall, they are going to put in an underground parking garage. Will update my review then, looking forward to it, I needed saffron this week.

Great service and convenient.

Often referred (endearingly) as the Soviet Safeway or the Socialist Safeway (for not having things), this place has been a staple in the neighborhood for years and I quite enjoy coming here. It’s quaint (and literally small) and cozy for a grocery store, but nestled off the beaten path in a quiet neighborhood. It’s always had what I’m looking for and the staff is AMAZINGLY polite and helpful. The one thing I do wish is that they would FINALLY decide where they want to put things or start keeping maps at the door. For almost 20 years I’ve been coming into this place, and I have (with astonishing regularity) had to relearn product placement.
The staff keeps this place at 4 stars.

So It’s been about 4~5 years since I’ve been to this Safeway (previously this was our neighborhood grocery that our family frequented for 15+ years).
When I walked in, I was so shocked at the whole make-​over that had been done to this grocery — it used to be this very run-​down, 70’s and antiquated looking grocery with the not-​so-​good selections. It has definitely become a new place — organized shelves (ha…), chic, brown interior and the floral area that actually has fresh flowers.
One thing that hasn’t changed though is the friendly staff. I kid you not, there were a couple people that recognized me when I went in and asked me what I’ve been up to since high school (well clearly a lot has changed!!!). It was such a hoot to stop in and chat with the people that go way back. It was also a good feeling that there was consistency at this grocery store… those people can speak about this town — who comes in to pick up the sunday paper, who gets the roses every week, who storms before it closes to pick up that jug of milk. They are the living history of this neighborhood.
Alas, the selection is still less than average due to the size and the price isn’t so attractive. But, for the sake of traveling back to the good ol’ times and of course for convenience, I’ll go back every time I visit my family back on the east coast!!!

This Safeway is too small to be anything other than a glorified 7-​eleven. I am a fan of Safeway but not this one. I have yet to come out of this store with everything on my list. The selection of Organics products is well below par. Well worth the extra five minutes to shop at the two other area Safeway markets. Please close this store so I will not be tempted to go in… and be disappointed again.