Giant Eagle

I try to shop if off hours so there are less crowds but if you come here early in the day the stockers are miserable turds who could care less your trying to shop and dont EVEN ask them where something is. You would think ya asked them for their first born. Selection of certain things is getting smaller and smaller. Most of the time they dont even have the items in stock that they have coupons for in the monthy mailer. The craft beer isle is the only one that is always packed to the gills. Guess they know what the biggest markup in a grocery store is now. Too bad the schmucks who pay this for beer dont…

I try not to frequent this particular grocery store, even though I grew up right around the corner from it and still live within a few blocks’ walk. Maybe it was my youthful ignorance, but I miss Tops. And even Finast. Those were the days. Anyways…
I still stop in now and again to pick up one or two things on my way home from work, or if I need something very specific that I know one of the smaller chains around here isn’t likely to have. And every time, I regret it.
I always leave at least mildly annoyed for one reason or another, but my biggest issue is this: WHY DOES THE PARKING LOT/​ENTRY AREA ALWAYS SMELL LIKE RAW SEWAGE?!? Like, always. I dare you to go there and find a time when it doesn’t smell like 7 people just took a dump in front of the door. Dead of winter, gale force winds — doesn’t matter — the stench prevails. And I’m supposed to feel good about buying my food there? Food that I eat? Nah.

I like to call this store the 7^th Circle of Hell. There are almost no positives to shopping here, except for the fact that I live two blocks away. If I didn’t, I’d probably never step foot in this place.
If I could make a comparison that many locals might understand, this store is to the Giant Eagle franchise what the Steelyard Commons Walmart is to Wally World. It seems to be the red-​headed stepchild of the franchise. It’s in dire need of being razed and rebuilt. It suffers from serious neglect in nearly every aspect: Construction, layout, stock, shopping carts, organization, available merchandise for sale, quality of food for sale, etc.
First, the parking lot: It’s a total free-​for-​all. People do not drive in the correct direction or park within the lines. Pedestrians take their sweet time moving so you can back out of a space, with no regard for the world around them. It’s difficult getting in and out of the lot and pulling onto Bunts, especially if a train happens to have stopped traffic (it’s right next to the tracks). There is frequently at least one person asking for money in the lot; look out for the older white man with glasses and a beard, usually wearing an Indians shirt, giving you a sob story about how he has to get to work for an emergency shift and needs bus fare, or he will lose his job.
Next, the actual store. When was this thing built, 1869? It needs a makeover, stat. The entrances and exits make no sense; after certain hours, you can only use one door. The store is ancient, with large poles right smack dab in the center of the aisle holding up the ceiling. This store is a lot smaller than most Giant Eagles, yet they attempt to pack the same amount of stuff into it. The result is a lot of very narrow aisles, with the aforementioned poles down the center, and tons of displays of items clogging up your path. Forget trying to maneuver with a cart, especially when it’s busy. Also, due to its small size, this store lacks some of the amenities that other locations have, like a floral department, a large greeting card section, day care, dry cleaner, liquor store, etc. The bathrooms — OMG. Don’t even think about it. And the fact that they’re sandwiched between the seafood and meat counters is scary. Even the carts are ancient and broken-​down here.
The availability and quality of the merchandise are also big problems. Don’t get into any routine of buying the same items, because this store will suddenly stop carrying your favorite items at any moment. Shelves are frequently empty, but this store also has a terrible habit of stocking during peak times, and the employees get aggravated that they can’t maneuver their load of boxes around customers and hog the aisles. Don’t expect any of them to ever offer to get something off the shelf for you if they are in your way; expect rudeness instead. I have encountered expired meat and dairy products on many occasions, and the produce section is awful. The bakery is practically non-​existent and usually out of decent bread options.
The clientele can be interesting. There is a senior center across the street, and another senior community nearby. Not to knock the seniors, but some of them have a tendency to expect the world to stop turning and attend only to their needs. There is one woman who is there every time I go in there, wreaking major havoc with the entire staff. They must cringe every time she walks in there. This place actually made me start to question if I am invisible, because people just drive through me with their carts as if I am not even there. Seriously, every time we go in there, we steel ourselves for the experience as if we’re about to run a marathon.
The staff is a mixed bag. There are some really nice cashiers and baggers here, but a few people I try to avoid. They seem to hire a lot of developmentally challenged people, all of whom are nicer, more helpful and friendlier than the non-​handicapped staffers. However, baggers are rarely available. I just expect to do my own bagging here, and most of the cashiers express gratitude as if this is the most rare occurrence in the world. People, help these cashiers out and bag your crap if you can, please. Do you have any idea how much wait times increase when the cashier has to stop what he/​she is doing to bag your stuff?
About the only good thing I have to say about this store is that the pharmacist here is excellent. I have had to call on behalf of my elderly parents and myself at times, and he is amazing at his job. Prescriptions are always filled on time, and they always look up your insurance. If you need a refill, they call your doctor promptly on your behalf.
If you’re in need of a quick item, I recommend avoiding the store and heading to the GetGo across the street. They have a lot of items there without the hassle and aggravation!

The absolute WORST grocery store around. Horrible fruit and vegetable section, the bread is always out, the meat section has stuff expired sitting on the shelf, and the lines… well, don’t get me started. If you like quality for the same price, you’ll go to their competition.

One sentence. The cashier got me so upset that I went into labor! That right as in had a baby. I was checking out with a WIC coupon. Which I know can be a pain and nobody likes doing them or being inline behind either, well nobody like using them either. Anyway the cashier, who I’d gone to many time before with the coupons argued with me about whether or not an item was allowed. The same item she had checked out for me in the past. She refused to even scan it to see the the computer would let it go through. The line had to be closed and all the other customer moves to a different line, while she straight argued with the supervisor who told her to scan the items. She still refused. I can’t for the life of me understand why that kind of insubordination was tolerated. after the supervisor checked me out, with the items in question, which scanned just fine and were clearly listed in the allowed items book, I was driving home and started having contractions. My baby was born hours later healthy. I sent letters to the store and the headquarters and haven’t heard one word about. If the cashiers are going to argue with customers to the point where they go into labor, if someone had a heart condition and was through into a heart attack? And they don’t even have the manners to contact me in response. This happened in December of 2013, I have not been back to this store since and try my best not to shop at ant giant eagle when possible.

The people that work here are absolutely miserable. Go to Rocky River instead. They’re always pleasant.

Wow, does this store lack space. However, they really use every single inch to their advantage. It is seriously like U-​boat commanders dictated how to use the space — every inch is packed with stuff.
Store is well organized, even though it is crowded. They carry all my favorite Giant Eagle standards. Beer selection is good, considering the lack of space.
Checkout (a pain point for me in most stores), is usually pretty quick, and they usually have more than a couple registers open. They also have plenty of self service checkouts.

Meh. It’s Giant Eagle. This particular location is kinda smallish and run-​down. It’s definitely in need of some remodeling/​upgrading — which I have heard is probably soon in the works. The produce isn’t really great nor is the selection very good. I buy potatoes and sometimes mushrooms here and that’s about it. Heinen’s is my go-​to for produce usually — much fresher and higher quality.
We don’t buy meat, dairy or produce at Giant Eagle in general just because the quality is better elsewhere and we prefer organic milk and eggs. But for regular stuff — stuff that we would buy anywhere — cereal, tortillas, chips, crackers, peanut butter, flour, sugar, and on and on — the prices are generally much better at GE than elsewhere.
Couple this with the Fuelperks and doubled coupons which are 99c or less, its hard to beat GE for standard stuff. Also love the Fuelperks on every $ 50 spent on gift cards. Stop here for a Lowe’s or Amazon gift card before dropping cash there, and you’ll get free gas before you know it.
Nothing too special but it serves a purpose and is relatively cheap so this GE is A-​OK for me.

I heard deli meat is pretty bad for you and your colon. It also helps to abstain from it when you have a grumpy person cutting it for you. An old coworker once said that when they watched the movie The Wrestler, Mickey Rourke’s character reminded him of me. Specifically the scene in which he is working the deli counter and cut himself and then cursed out the customers. I guess I could see where some of the comparison is but I don’t like seeing blood and I wouldn’t do that. I could understand where he was coming from. His back was against the wall and cutting the meat was symbolic of the world cutting into him. Giant Eagle charges too much than they trick you into buying gas from them too. And to continue on, I have been shopping at that 7 – 11, now Moon’s corner store for years and they put that massive Get Go across the street. That is the last straw! I want Tops back! Or Finast! Or Fazio’s! Or Pick N Pay! Or Reni Regos! The hell kind of name is Giant Eagle? Miniature Sparrow would be nice. Sparrows are such underrated birds. They tough out these tough Cleveland winters and stick together. I love when they puff up.

The store its self is great but let me tell you about the employees: not to friendly especially in the morning … they really need to be taught good manners … I walked in an said hello an the lady rolled her eyes at me an I thought that was really rude.

WORST PRODUCE EVER.
I bought about $ 40 worth of produce and had to throw out over half of it within a day: moldy peaches (not the neo-​folk group, hipsters), pale tasteless watermelon, a rotten onion, juiceless lemons, etc. This Giant Eagle certainly looks nicer than the one nearby on 117^th, but I wouldn’t trust either. Worth the drive to Whole Foods, Heinen’s, or Trader Joe’s.

This Giant Eagle is the closest one to my house and although it’s not the nicest one I’ve ever been in, it’s clean and organized and the staff doesn’t look at you like you have a third eye when you ask for help. Can’t complain.

Better than average Giant Eagle, and extremely close to my apartment. I feel as though I’m cancelling out some of the negative aspects of a huge chain supermarket like this by «reducing my carbon footprint» — walking there and using my own bags.
I like the layout of this Giant Eagle a lot; it seems to make sense (not like the one on 117^th — ugh!). The people are friendly but a little too schmoozy. I’ve had to wait a few times for cashiers to finish up their inane conversations with shoppers before tending to me. Which sort of defeats the purpose of an express line, but whatever.
I’ve done the self-​checkout a couple of times and it was acceptable. But only when I have like 8 items or less. I will never do the self-​checkout where it goes down the belt, etc. That’s too nerve-​wracking for me, especially since I take forever! (Yep, I’m the person you probably don’t wanna be behind in the U-​scan.)

Ok near my home we shop at Giant Eagle ALL THE TIME; great store.
This Lakewood location. Well they have a hot bar that you purchase items by the pound; decent but expensive way to get lunch. Well they are setting up one morning (around 11a) — I go a little early to get something when it is fresh out of the kitchen and 300 people have not poked through it.
Well one of the serving spoons fell on the floor, off of the cart that the setup person was pushing around the bar. Right in front of me the guy picks the spoon up off the floor and sticks it in the mac and cheese… OFF THE FLOOR, RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. Like 1 foot away… I was standing next to him I said something to him and he was looking at me like I was crazy??? I told a manger and he said that the guy was a temp and he will talk to him (not really good enough but whatever)… he is not a temp this was three months ago and he is still there, and I still think about it. AND I DON’T buy off the bar any longer. and I have told others…
Now I am telling everyone on Unilocal; don’t go there as there is no assurance that the food is safe and the handling is proper.

I almost feel bad not giving this Giant Eagle five stars. As far as product and prices goes, you’ve got to shop around. Obviously different stores do different things better.
What I really love about this particular one is the people and the service. My boyfriend and I typically don’t stock up on groceries. Seriously, we can go in a couple times a day, easy. So it’s safe for you to assume that the staff there would get to know us. That is an understatement. We are on first name basis with several employees, have been invited to a going away party and have been facebook friended by one. There have been times when certain employees will see us waiting in line, motion for us to get out of line and ring us at an unopened register… almost making us feel uncomfortable. We moved several months ago so this location is not the most convenient, but we are so loyal to them. How can we not be?

This is where I do most of my grocery shopping, because I can literally walk there (when it isn’t 5 below, mind you). It’s your regular Giant Eagle, with good meat, produce and wine selection, plus other stuff you only buy on payday, like small bags of gourmet coffee for 11 dollars.
But this particular Giant Eagle gets the thumbs-​up because they’ve started carrying Toledo’s own Buckeye Beer. Don’t get all excited, it’s not as good as anything the Great Lakes Brewing Company makes (it’s more like Pittsburgh’s Iron City Beer). But it’s a taste of home with a cool label, and that’s all I need.

This Giant Eagle shares a lot with the Lakewood Winking Lizard. It is on the corner of Bunts (w140th) and Detroit.
It was formerly a Tops. The Giant Eagle was previously located on the south side of the intersection and it is now a big, vacant building.
It is large, clean, with a nice staff.