Bockwinkel’s

I’m sorry but I have to be honest. I don’t know what this grocery store is trying to be. If it’s supposed to be like a smaller Jewel then the prices need to come down on nearly every item. If it’s trying to be like an upscale store then the product selection must be of higher quality. I’ve tried several times to support the store, but the last time I went in, the cash register attendant suggested I use my cell phone as a calculator when I told him I wanted to put back a large pack of Charmin since I didn’t actually need it in order to meet the minimum to use the coupon. Is it that difficult to just remove it from my bill? I’m not going to walk around calculating my purchases and to suggest that is nonsense.
The sale for mayonaise caught my attention but every single jar had expired ⁵⁄₁₆. It’s just too scary to eat the food from there since the turnover isn’t happening quickly enough.
Perhaps the other locations are successful? I don’t know, but there are many mistakes being made at this store. That’s for sure. I hope they can turn it around… quickly.

Well it’s a very cheap store with all bruised and soft fruit. Nothing is fresh and all fish like salmon and cod and shrimp are sold on expiration date…

Visited my best friend in Chicago and I got food posioning from their chicken! No wonder why it is so cheap… Prepared meals are a NO. Felt like a bad hangover.

Not a fan. Purchased fruits a few days ago, washed them and ate them. 15 min later I had a huge stomach ache. Went there again a few days later, thinking that maybe something else, besides the fruit had caused my stomach ache. Purchased some produce and fruit (and a few other items) and got a stomach ache again. They should really take care of their products or get a new supplier. Not sure what the problem is, but they need to fix it.

This grocery store gave me food poisoning from their prepared meals section. That was the only thing I ate that day so it had to be that meal from this cheap and low quality store. Almost every fruit is bruised and every product that needs to be refrigerated says it is already expired. I highly recommend you go shop for your daily foods at Treasure Island (around the corner in the indoor mall… whole foods (steps away) and Walgreens and target for the small stuff.

This place isn’t large but never has a line. They have a good beer and wine selection which I really appreciate. They have a decent selection of most standard cereals, pasta sauces, etc. Given that Whole Foods is the other major grocery store nearby, it’s nice to be able to get normal yogurt and cereal. I like the deli and love the rotisserie chicken! I’m not super impressed with their produce section, but it’s decent for the size of the store.

This store is so clean, it’s outstanding in that respect. But it’s mind-​boggling that these seasoned grocers have put such a dismal effort into marketing. Store has been only had a small number of customers every time I’ve been there. Typically I’ve noticed they’ve been purchasing only a handful of items, similar to a 7 – 11 purchase — the store cannot survive on that. Their deli is good, except the wings, which are terrible and cold; the cakes and desserts are phenomenal; everything else is what you’d expect from a grocery store. No extra charge for bags and a decent liquor and wine section. Lack of an on-​site butcher is a bit of a pet peeve of mine, so I do not make meat purchases there.
Some friends have complained to me about the lack of sliding or revolving doors and higher prices; not a significant issue with my purchases. The coupons they offered from the outset were a great deal, $ 10 off a $ 30 purchase.
But it’s tough to compete with Whole Foods (not a favorite of mine) which has now morphed into ‘Happy Hour’ Central in this neighborhood, with this section of Streeterville’s dearth of nightlife (just like Mariano’s east side location). I suppose that is the new model for driving revenue in the grocery sector, although it does not seem the case for Jewel, with the lines snaking around the deli and bakery on any given evening. Treasure Island is also a favorite of mine in this area, for its ethnic specialties and hot lunch options.
This is the largest Bockwinkel footprint I have seen since I’ve lived in Chicago, yet the owners seem to be phoning it in. They are out-​of-​touch with their own sector. Are they resting on their laurels? There is just no awareness of its existence and no ‘wow’ factor that makes this store a particular draw. Even the sign they finally installed is not visible from the street corners. Many of the newbies to the area are not familiar with its long-​gone North Michigan Avenue location, which was terrific, and much smaller.
I stop in occasionally, but I remain loyal to Jewel, with its considerable flaws but lower prices. They have put in a lot of effort in adjusting their business to current market demands, with considerable success.

My biggest gripe with this Bockwinkel’s is that there are no automated doors. It’s rare to see a grocery store, especially one this size, that doesn’t have automated doors. It’s probably a bigger issue for me because I like taking my daughter grocery shopping in her stroller and it’s a pain to open the doors. Plus I’d imagine if you’re carrying a lot of groceries, it’s not always convenient to push open doors.
No automated doors aside, Bockwinkel’s is a pretty good grocery store. I definitely keep my eyes peeled on their weekly deals because they are really good. They were selling tofu noodles for 99 cents when Whole Foods usually sells them for $ 2.99!
Overall, pretty good selection of groceries but seeing that it has been open for four months I haven’t been coming here as much as I thought I would.

I like grocery shopping. I always have. I don’t know why. Anyway…
Bockwinkel’s is a welcome addition to the neighborhood. I live one block away so it’s certainly convenient for me There was a time, in a post-Dominick’s world, when the grocery options in my immediate (i.e., close walking distance) neck of the woods were Walgreens and 7 – 11. Now we have Whole Foods, Target Express, and Bockwinkel’s. I’m all about the more/​the merrier.
Now Bockwinkel’s isn’t as nice as Whole Foods, or as practical as Target Express (what if I need milk AND new potholders?), but I have shopped there twice and got what I needed to get… with a $ 10 off coupon to boot. Prices, coupon aside, were reasonable… some items were a little higher than expected, some a little lower, but most seemed about on target to me. Also, Bockwinkel’s carries the laundry detergent I like… normally I have to drive to Jewel or a regular Target to get it, so I was happy to find it at a store a block from my apartment, at only about 50 cents more than what I pay at Jewel (not a big deal in my book… considering I’d spend more than 50 cents on gas driving to Jewel).
I will say that the produce section is not all that. Not terrible, but could stand some improvement. My guess is that the store doesn’t have a lot of traffic flow, at least not yet, so some things are going bad before they are sold. So you may get lucky and get bananas that are not one day away from starting to brown… or maybe not. However, when I went in for spinach, mushrooms, green peppers, and carrots… it was all fresh. I guess you just have to cross your fingers and check the dates on things. That kind of stinks, but hopefully this situation will resolve itself.
If you live in the ‘hood, check it out… and don’t forget to go online and print out a coupon!

Have officially given up on this store. Went to use my $ 10 off coupon and threw it away at the store. Went for carrots — all molded. The yogurt «special» of 3 for $ 5 was a joke. You can get this same yogurt for $ 1 per container at other nearby stores. Seems as if the coupon was only to bring prices down to normal levels.

This is my first negative Unilocal review. I am inclined to praise great service and outstanding organizations. It takes a lot for me to write something negative — especially because everyone has a bad day one in awhile. However, I had a very unsettling interaction with the OWNER of this new grocery store in Streeterville a couple of weeks ago. His attitude and actions were abominable. I confess that I ordered some pasta from the deli and began eating it while roaming the store to see what they carried and how it was laid out. It was my first visit. I was wrong in not paying for it first, but certainly had every intention of doing so. I simply had not eaten all day and the weight/​price had been affixed to the container. It must be frustrating to observe this, knowing that some customers don’t follow through with payment. However, his approach to me was unnecessarily rude and alienating. I cannot imagine that anyone working for this man would ever consider that a friendly, service-​oriented approach was valued. Such a shame because I live across the street and had been looking forward to a more convenient stop for food and wine. Not that Whole Foods is inconvenient. I predict the store won’t be there for long, but I will never again step foot in it while it is.

Disappointing. Have tried it numerous times out of convenience, but the prices are terrible. Do yourself a favor and head to the Target Express, Whole Foods, or Trader Joes instead. All of Bockwinkel’s products seem to be marked up above normal retail prices. Like literally all of them. Not sure how they’ll survive at this rate, in an era of fewer SKU, high value discount grocers. Needless to say, their alcohol prices are also pretty ridiculous.
On the positive side, some of their sales mark down items to «normal» prices. Additionally, their meat is sometimes priced OK — I’ll pick up their salmon, tilipia, cod, and pork chops occasionally.

Disappointed. Most of the grab and go food here is of cheap quality.
Tried the beer cheese soup-​tasted like drinking liquid spray cheese. The wings from the deli are inedible, salty and off-​tasting. You have to shift around the salad bar greens to avoid wilted leaves. The store has an eerie atmosphere due to the quiet radio and lack of business. The prices are higher on many frozen and fresh items than whole foods-​whole foods! For the quality and price i’m better off popping into ⁷⁄₁₁.

Was going to make a trip to Jewel but decided to stop in this place since it’s right across the street from me. I was pleasantly surprised to find everything I needed to make it through the week!
Also, it wasn’t busy at all which was actually really enjoyable compared to having to deal with a ton of people at Whole Foods. I wasn’t completely stressed out for the first time while trying to get my grocery shopping done.
I hope this place can make a name for itself and stick around the neighborhood considering there is a ton of competition.

I recently visited Bockwinkel’s to pick up something I knew Whole Foods would not have.
While I was there I also bought three items that I was going to get at Whole Foods assuming they would be cheaper. All three were cheaper at Whole Foods. Parchment paper was $ 5.99. It was 4.49 at WF. Three Brothers Sidekick beer was $ 10.99. It was $ 8.99 at WF. Frontera Salsa was $ 4.49. It was $ 3.99 at WF. Needless to say I was annoyed when I got to Whole Foods and compared the prices to find I had spent more. I haven’t been back. If Bockwinkel’s isn’t in the neighborhood to provide a less expensive alternative to Whole Foods then why are they here?

I give it a year. Maybe 1.5 years.
To little fanfare or marketing this chain I’ve never heard of opens in Streeterville just downstairs from home. A newish Whole Foods is nearby and is almost constantly mobbed with people and action. The prices at WF may not be for everyone, but they’re for enough people to fill the damn place.
Contrast Bockwinkel’s which is almost always forlorn and near empty. I’ve only stopped in a handful of times for «dis-​n-​dat» but what I’ve noticed is not too great produce, not too great prices, some bordering on ridiculous ($ 10 for a 4 pack of Red Bull, which is $ 6-​$ 7 everywhere else, even gas stations!), and a kind of larger 7 – 11 feel. It’s just plain strange. I don’t get it, really I don’t.
Some other reviews have mentioned the cheapish and goodish prepared foods and daily specials, which I’m sure are fine but I haven’t tried.
For not bad prices and much nicer stores visit Jewel on DesPlaines (NOT State) or Mariano’s in Lakeshore East.
My crystal ball on 1÷8÷16 says Bockwinkel’s will be gone by 6÷30÷17. Mark my words…

I gave this place a fair shot and unfortunately it was terrible. Almost everything is overpriced by a few dollars and the produce rotten/​moldy within 1 to 2 days. Extremely disappointed and the customer service wasn’t very good either. I’ll continue to go to Mariano’s and whole foods even though they are further from my home.

I’ve stopped by this place a few times to get a freshly made sandwich at the deli counter and I love how they make it every time. It’s fairly affordable, matching the price of some far less quality products at ⁷⁄₁₁ and other stores in the area. For that I give them five stars.
They get five stars for friendly and always there to help you find stuff employees as well. Today I walked out without buying anything and an employee asked what I didn’t find and mentioned that they have a form where customers can request certain items in store– great feature!
Now, the reason that I’m giving only three stars– their prices. In fact, the three stars are an average I got by giving their prices zero stars. Today I decided to go grocery shopping in the area and avoided whole foods because there’s no doubt they’d be the priciest option. I chose bockwinkels for the above mentioned reasons yet I ended up walking out without purchasing anything. I reached for grapefruit bits that cost 1.29 in target (1.99 here). I then reached for a jacks pizza which costs 3.99 (and today 4 for 10) at target, and 5.99 here. That’s twice as much for the same product that I can (and did) get down the street at target. Hopefully they adjust their prices, I know they just opened in the area and are probably still figuring out how they want to run their business. If not, target will continue to get the revenue from people who will very quickly catch on that they’re paying twice as much for the exact same product.

Took a tour of the new Bockwinkel’s today on Ohio Street here in Streeterville — much like its proximity to our apartment, the prices fall about halfway between Whole Foods and Jewel-​Osco.
Some of the fresh vegetables and packaged hamburgers/​chicken parts are certainly prettier and less expensive than Whole Foods, but I stumbled into a few items — boxed pastas, frozen pizzas, some favorite condiments and ethnic fare — that were inexplicably more expensive. (My favorite Tuesday night, go-​to frozen pizza, Gino’s East, was a full $ 3 more than I can find it on most places. And a one pound box of DeCecco Fusilli pasta was a full 30 cent more than «The Jewel»).
Unlike Whole Foods, their $ 6.39 salad bar is all veggies, with just a smattering of proteins, including large chunk tuna, boiled eggs, «krab» and sliced (dry!) chicken breasts. There’s also a soup bar of about a half dozen different simmering offerings, but you have to flag someone down from the deli to portion out your cups, bowls or quarts.
The deli has a HUGE offering of sliced meats and cheeses, including most Boar’s Head products, as well as pre-​made salads and pastas. The much talked about Juicy Italian Beef sandwich ($ 4.39) will only be available on Mondays — and Friday’s famous «Domesticated Tacos» are also a hit at only $ 1.99. Unfortunately, the deli worker couldn’t tell me what makes the tacos «domesticated»…I assume they’re simply well trained.
Overall, the place is crazy clean, the staffers were very friendly and the layout was comfortable and very bright. The selection was certainly better than Treasure Island, mostly cheaper than Whole Foods and logistically closer than Jewel-Osco…here’s to a long future in Streeterville.

Welcome to the neighborhood Bockwinkel’s!!! Your arrival was long overdue. This place is cheaper than Whole Foods yet seems to have a similar level quality of items to Whole Foods. The meat looked great. The salad bar was fresh and varied. Produce was impressive. There seemed to be more aisles of stocked items than the ones’s at Whole Foods. A dozen eggs were $ 2.19, which I have not seen in Chicago for quite some time. And by comparing this to Whole Foods, I am by no means trying to disparage Whole Foods because it is great — it is just a little bit pricey, which I think everyone can agree on. I see myself going to Bockwinkel’s on a regular basis. And to think that a year ago there was pretty much no grocery stores and now three have opened up. Treasure Island sure is in trouble.