Rich’s Fresh Market

This place Is so big! I can find from American, Polish, Mexican, and Asian on the shelves.
They have premade food (that taste ever so delicious). The prices are not great but (some things are over priced) the place is store is so big and just across the alley.
I think the staff can use some training in customer service. Hence 4 stars.

I get ads from Rich’s Fresh Market weekly. Their low Unilocal rating was intimidating enough for me to take a leap of faith. Well, I was pleasantly surprised and thought it was a fairly well-​run grocery store serving the Dunning, River Grove, and Elmwood Park neighborhoods.
Yes, their prices on agricultural products aren’t competitive. Some of them items looked fantastic, such as tomatoes on the vine and Aurora apples. Nevertheless, if you take a closer peek at some other fruit and veggies, especially the Asian-​imported ones, I would say «skip them» and move onto other departments.
Selfishly speaking, I gave Rich’s a four (4) star because I found the following items I absolutely LOVE:
— Polish tripe soup at their deli section
— Tymbark juice on sale: four (4) for $ 5
In addition, the public ladies’ room was spotless clean and parking is ample. Otherwise, public transportation is available: CTA #77 (Belmont) and PACE #331 (Cumberland/​5^th. Ave.). The nearest stop for #77 is Belmont/​Plainfield; the closest stop for #331 is Belmont/​Cumberland.

Produce is great. Mostly caters to the polish community. Some of the pricing looked incorrect and done in haste.
What really was disappointing is the unfriendliness and unprofessionalism of the young and I do mean young, girls working here. Just come here if nothing else is open. A disappointment.

Terrible. Bought some fresh, already cut, vegetables and when I took them home and went to eat them immediately, they smelled so bad. I was so angry I packed them up, took my receipt and brought them back. It was only a 2.98 item but there was the principle of selling non-​edible products. Even though I had spent almost $ 50.00, they actually gave me a hard time about returning the item. The first girl smelled it and didn’t think it smelled bad, she called over a second girl who also smelled it and pronounced it ok. I just stood there looking at them saying it tasted awful and smelled terrible. A third girl was summoned who smelled it and shrugged her shoulders and walked away, finally, a fourth girl came over, smelled it, I believe she was in charge of the service desk, and said it did smell funky. She told them to refund the money for the item. I will try NEVER to go back. it will have to be an emergency. If they give you that hard of a time to return something, bought that day, they do not stand behind their merchandise and their customer service was non-​existent. It probably cost me more to return the item, also the time and embarrassment was just not worth it. Stay away.

I’m just gonna list out things I don’t like about this place rather than long paragraphs.
–Always expired foods
–They make their sushi at like 9AM so it already tastes like garbage by lunch, especially dinner.
–I can’t imagine the amount of food they waste on a daily basis. Or they just re-​sticker it. I wouldn’t put it passed them.
–90% of the store is in another language. Even though there are about 100 American flags in the parking lot, this place is anything but.
–Deli is always packed and super slow
–narrow aisles
–never enough cashiers
–Health and beauty aisle is a joke
–nothing is ever on sale
–Everything is overpriced
–Soooo many things don’t even have price stickers on them
–The store is laid out so strange. I wanted some pasta. It took me 20 minutes to find some normal pasta, and then I realized it was in 3 different aisles. Not sure why they do that.
The only reason I keep going back is because I live across the street and I pass by on my way from the Metra when I need something in a hurry. Otherwise I would never go back. One plus is the pizza isn’t bad, especially since it’s super cheap. And the dude who works there is one of the only friendly people in the building.
Avoid it if you can. I wish an Aldi would just open up at the god awful Sears outlet in the same strip.

Not impressed, very strange layout. Juice, water, soda in 3 different aisles. The bakery items looks good, but I almost chocked on a bite of their dry cheesecake! (How do you mess up cheesecake ?)

Other than the produce, couldn’t find anything I needed, mainly because it was all Polish! I didn’t know it was an ethnic grocery store. Still have to go to River Forest Jewel until further notice. Sure miss the Dominick’s.

First, it is so cold in the store it is beyond ridiculous. Just left and was in jeans and the sweatshirt I brought (in July) and was literally painfully cold within minutes. Doesn’t make you want to stay. Second, poor layout. Meats scattered apart, aisles narrow so carts can barely cross each other, some counters in the front so out if the way you don’t know they’re there. Lastly, definitely not the place I’m running to for staples because the amount of very foreign products far out numbers the American staples. I love ethnic food and being able to but it in the neighborhood, but entire rows of food products written in a foreign language is way too much. Can’t buy an English magazine or newspaper or body product (lotion, etc). Only bright spot in a pinch will be the produce, otherwise it’s back to Caputo’s I go.

After all the months of waiting and Chicago Trib article reading — I’m sad to note Rich’s is not what I expected. Many Trib articles stated that this was going to be as beautiful as Mariano’s selling middle-​tier products similar to Jewel for example. My favorite statement in another Trib article stated this was going to be a place for all!
Not only does look and feel of the brand need redesign but the item placement layout does as well. My spouse and I have tried to give Rich’s credit by understanding that it has just opened but from what it already presents it is not a store for all. It’s positioning itself to serve a primarily European community.
As one reviewer shared — the store is primarily serving to the European community. Not a bad thing but if everything previously shared about the store pointed to being similar to Mariano’s Jewel even a Whole Foods — Rich’s current presentation and offering is a far reality from that. If it is going to serve a particular community then it needs to also have been clear about that.
Regardless even the organic staples are expensive — a gallon of organic milk at Rich’s is ridiculously priced in comparison to Mariano’s. Turn off.

Rich’s has a great wide selection of products but I have to give them one star because of the bakery. I bought a cake on the 4^th of July which is a high traffic time. You’d expect their baked goods to be fresh but the cake I bought had mold growing inside. It wasn’t just on the edge either. That is a clear sign that they are using old nasty ingredients. Unfortunately, I didn’t see until I took a few bites and got to the middle. Disgusting.

Ugh, down to 2 stars. I’ve shopped here a few times and grocery bill consistently comes out a little on the ridiculous side– generally $ 30 – 40 more than Caputo’s for similar items.
Also, the store is laid out a bit strangely. Took the time to make it all the way through and walked by coffee in at least 3 different aisles. Pre-​packaged bread was in two aisles (I opted for their baked bread, but it’s nothing to write home about). Confusing dairy layout, too. I’m no lazy bum, but too much walking back and forth.
With great excitement, I also bought their prepared apple crepes. They were pretty gross and I had to throw them out.
Bread and deli meats– meh.
Quick update 7÷6÷15: Also, bought their storemade guacamole on ⁷⁄₂. Should have been more diligent in checking labels– wanted to eat it on ⁷⁄₄ and saw that it was prepared ⁶⁄₂₆. No longer edible. Bye bye $ 6. Also, bought bread with a ‘sell by’ date of ⁷⁄₅. Super moldy by ⁷⁄₆. Other things seem to have a strangely short expiration date. Like the meat. On the last trip, we spent $ 180 (way more than we’re used to… talk about sticker shock) and about $ 30 of that landed in the garbage, because it went bad within a few days.
A bonus here, which deserves recognition, is the great assortment of Polish foods. But even with that, I cannot endorse this store, because I don’t trust the freshness of the food they sell.

Nice looking store but poor quality meats, over ripe vegies, extremely over priced for mediocre products. I will stick to Mariano’s where quality is number one, customer satisfaction is number one, and friendliness is number one.

Update: A few months later — I am downgrading Rich’s Fresh Market to 4 stars.
Overall, still good — but I am becoming disheartened by their produce department, which now has higher prices and lower quality. I’ve been finding too many over ripe items, brown & wrinkled greens, things past their prime. Hopefully this will improve, but sad to see :-(
When you walk in the doors at Rich’s, you’ll be greeted with the aroma of deliciousness! And the store is a beauty. Spacious and well lit, and jam packed full of international goodies as well as American staples — all at reasonable prices. You can get all of your weekly grocery shopping done here, and pick up some amazing beer, wine or liquor — and sit down to a perfect espresso drink and some lunch, too!
High points:
Produce section is well laid out, with a fantastic variety of fruits, veg & greens — including lots of fresh herbs, Asian, Hispanic & tropical items.
Deli: The deli area is simply insane — be sure to see The Wall of Sausage! Massive selection behind the counter of European and American deli favorites. It may get busy, but the deli staff seems efficient, clean and organized — and very polite, to boot. And if you prefer to self-​serve, along with clearly marked & nicely priced sliced deli items in vac bags, there are tons of easy to grab and go nosh items — perfect for work lunch, or even an impromptu picnic in the nearby Forest Preserves. We saw a gazillion types of Pierogi, Ushka, croquettes, stews, soups, snacks, all packaged neatly in clamshells and ready to eat. And the cheese & meat variety — in the self serve area alone — will have your mouth watering: half smoked chickens, goose liver pâté, fabulous smoked string type cheeses from the Czech Republic, tubs of fresh sheep milk cheese, logs of goat cheese, balls of hard grating cheeses from Greece, Bulgarian feta. More than I could possibly list here. And if you are a sample person? Oh the samples!
Bakery also delights, this isn’t your average supermart bakery full of dayglo cake wrecks. It is a real, honest to goodness European style bakery, right there in the store. Lovely loaves of fresh pumpernickel, rye, poppy seed cake, cookies, donuts, and an enticing array of freshly made European cakes, cookies and dessert treats presented in the glass case. Caution: you may gain weight just looking at the vast expanses of sweet and savory baked goodness.
Beer, Wine Liquor: Fantastic selection of beer, heavy on European brews, many from Eastern European countries, very reasonably priced. Oodles of specialty liquors and wines, and if you want to give the gift of Vodka, look no further! There is vodka in gun decanters, logs, birdhouses, artillery shells — and even in fabulous crystal decanters. Fun to peruse & fun to wonder about the display of single serve «go cups» … Hmmm!
Café, Buffet: Plenty of comfy seating, and pleasant, young staff serve up correctly made espresso drinks, freshly squeezed juices, baked goods, sandwiches, pizza (wood burning oven!), sushi and a hot food buffet in the north end of the store. This in-​store food court is good enough to be a destination in itself, reasonable prices, delicious well made food, ample seating and fast service make this café a standout even in a neighborhood packed with great dining options.
And did I forget? Groceries! The rows of grocery aisles are more than just standard American fare (tho that is there, too). Epic selection of lovely honey from all over the world, teas, jellies, pickles, sauces, grains… As the store just opened recently, it seemed like aisle organization was a little hit or miss, but for the most part, items were easy to find — and fun to look for.
Meat department featured great prices, and made on site sausage and ground meats. Along with the traditional cuts of meat & poultry, there was great depth in ‘snout to tail’ type parts. Butchers were helpful and friendly, too.
Checkout went smoothly for me every time I have been there, and I have been very impressed with the polite & smiling cashiers that take the time to treat you as a person, make a little chat or joke as they check your order out.
This place is huge, do plan to go back a few times to see and experience it all.
My only small disappointments:
With so many ethnicities and cultures well represented, I could find little or no Thai, Indonesian, Japanese & Chinese grocery section, so I still have to jaunt to Caputos or Jewel or HMart for spring roll skins, rice noodles etc. Also — I wish that they would carry a better selection of pita bread, preferably the wonderful local pitas from Chicago’s Al Khayam bakery — that I also will make the extra trek to Caputo’s to buy.
But overall? Can you tell? I love this place.
It’s not Dominick’s — but it is something much, much better!

Worse than the domobicks that used to be here. The store was clean and neat. Everton as well arranged. Went around 330 in the afternoon and the store was packed with people but only 4 registers open. Waited in line for almost any min while multiple price checks were called and unanswered. The cashier got fed up and just gave their product away for free.

The store was neatly arranged and they had a lot of products the downfall to it was that some of the items were not in places that the aisle referred to, also most items are a bit overpriced so that will a part in my shopping experience there

Went to the store first Saturday they were open. I was most impressed with the produce and bakery. Huge selections, reasonably priced, super fresh and delicious. You need to know your prices as can goods, cereals, etc are pretty overpriced. This will be my go to store for some but not all yet. There were problems checking out with the system but the managers were awesome and did their best.