This place is awesome. Always clean and well organized, with a bunch of options to choose from. I really like how it always seems like it's well taken care of. It's like if they're always organizing the shelves and cleaning the floor. So neat. I totally recommend it for the great variety of options and the staff, who is always so nice too.
Fei H.
I love the food and wine selection here, and I appreciate that it's so close to my home. However, I'm giving two stars for two male cashiers who have been consistently inappropriate with me at the checkout line. If I could file a complaint to the store manager, I would. I am just interested in paying for my groceries, and going home - I do not need to be flirted with every single time I buy groceries, called "sweetie," and told that "you look young, you look good," every single time I pay for wine and he looks at my ID. I have told the cashier to stop calling me sweetie, but quite honestly I avoid going to the store in order to avoid interactions with this cashier. Another cashier asked me what i do on my days off and to invite him next time i go out. It is unfortunate that there isn't more sexual harassment training for employees and regular customers like myself have to avoid going to the store to avoid getting harassed. I really hope they start taking this more seriously.
M O.
The Andronicos on Shattuck had horrible lines before the pandemic and still does. The Andronicos on Solano is so much nicer. Friendlier service and lots of cashiers. Tonight there are 2 cashiers and dozens of people waiting. There are 8 check out stands. The lady in front of me asked nicely if they could add more checkers and she was rudely rebuffed. Post script: when I got to the cashier I just said hello. Unprompted he apologized for the long lines and was very cordial.
Elizabeth W.
At the Shattuck branch in Berkeley this morning, I was deeply concerned by the breaches of coronavirus safety precautions. One staff member in produce was wearing his mask below his nose, another walked directly by me ignoring the 6 foot protocol. As I was checking out a staff member whose mask was off walked up drinking a beverage and stopped to talk with my check out attendant with her mask down. The woman outside with the carts keeps her mask down continually. I arrived near the end of senior hour shopping. This is the opposite of protecting vulnerable clients. I spoke to the manager and he said the store is okay with the woman outside having her mask off and with masks being worn below the nose inside.
Nancy M.
Safeway is my grocery store during this time of sheltering in place. The produce is always fresh, the variety of meats, the French Bread loaf is so fresh you can hear the crunch, the savory salads are flavorful, a wide aisle of wines, waters, juices and beverages. A modest candy section for the kids. The cashiers have been very friendly. Plus there is plenty of parking. One suggestion: The handles on shopping carts/buggy need frequent cleaning. More salads.
Sydney J.
Always amuses me that people still go here after Safeway bought up Andronicos given that Safeway is so near and has a bigger selection and both this and the regular Safeway carry a lot of the same things. Sometimes you might be able to find something that's sold out at the regular Safeway, though, or the reverse. No self checkout at Safeway Community Markets, but they do have bathrooms- you need to ask staff for the code, and they aren't the nicest looking, with an old and dirty-looking bathroom floor. I got a $1 off Andronicos coupon last time I came here so I went to use it this time, but turns out milk isn't eligible for that coupon; they should really write that on the coupon itself since it sucks to wait in line and then find that out. My cashier today, Ian, was nice though and even still helped the customer ahead of me who clearly had more than 12 items in the express lane.
BayAreaNative 5.
I just knew my favorite Safeway deserves a 5 star today.... but no LUIS in the seafood department refuses to assist me, the cooked crab sections are 8.99 this week. He got nasty and said it was 12.99 and this it is whatever we have. I will be calling corporate on LUI, just because I am a different skin tone of what you like to serve. I deserve to get treat fairly! He refused to assist me and had a nasty attitude. It's time for Luis to find another job, couldn't even look at the picture on the application! I will not be back. Thanks Luis change your nasty funky attitude!!!
Skydancer C.
Community Market? By what stretch of the imagination? Where are the community bulletin boards, the community involvement by Safeway? I have not seen any. It is a 'regular' Safeway store, not nearly as nice as the renovated Safeway on Rose and Shattuck. Prices are ok here, on par with Lucky's. If you stick with the weekly specials you can get some good deals. I most like their bakery, really friendly staff and beautiful fruit tarts. I don't miss Andronicos, I always felt it was a bit of a snobbish place with high prices. I do miss the old co-op, which was truly a 'community market' Safeway should live up to the name they gave their store here and become a true CM. by working with the local community.
Julia Y.
I try to avoid coming here because I don't like paying an arm and a leg for basic groceries. If we have to compare Safeways, I'd say the one down the road by Rose St. promises fresher and higher quality ingredients. The issue I have with this Safeway is that I've found 1) the milk starts to smell funny a few days before the expiration date 2) the fruits are very expensive and not all that special and 3) the salad bar sometimes has wilted or rotten leaves and 4) the beer selection (though I'm no expert) leaves much to be desired. Regarding the salad bar: Since the purpose of the salad bar is to provide fresh grab-n-go ingredients, I feel let down that one bin of fresh leaves cannot be maintained. I do like their bakery counter though. I've bought two cakes from them for friend's birthdays and had them decorated beautifully.
Joaquin M.
The staff are rude, especially at the deli. Cashier's hate their jobs. Security is sketchy, will follow you around. Elitist atmosphere. Gross experience.
I would give this place zero stars if I could. I haven't been in here since they changed it to a Safeway. I went to the back to get a sandwich. Ask the girl behind the counter if they have gluten free bread for the sandwich. Very rudely she says no! I ask again, because I'm like that. So your telling me you have no gluten free bread for people's dietary restrictions . Once again very rudely she said no and turned away from me. I'm like ok.. so I go to the salad bar, the lettuce is wilted. Everything else is mixed with exerting else. I'm thinking for being 11 am this salad bar should be looking a lot better. I did up just getting some fruit. Went to the cashier and once again met with rudeness. Not a hi, not a good morning nothing.. Worst Customer Service ever!! What happened to Andronicos and the nice people that worked there.. I'll stick with my Whole Foods..
Al L.
When the Bay Area Andronico's markets were sold to Safeway, it hoped to maintain the character of Andronico's while incorporating the Safeway product line. These stores were renamed Safeway Community Markets. The Safeway weekly ads are honored here. This Berkeley location, along with the Solano Ave store, Los Altos and San Anselmo are the only four Community Stores in the Bay Area. Safeway was having sale of short ribs and since I needed about 8lbs, I decided to come here since they still maintained a meat department where the products are displayed for sale instead of being packaged for sale. At the meat counter, I didn't see the short ribs. A butcher asked if I needed help and I inquired about the short rib. He said they didn't have any in the case at the moment but he could get it for me from the meat locker. I told him how much I needed and he went got the slabs of short ribs and he trimmed and cut them to my size I wanted. He packaged it and I was on my way. I'm glad Safeway maintained the meat counter and butchers from the days of Andronico's. It is nice to see the products on display and select the items that you want to buy. I was totally glad I came here to get my short ribs. Also, the cakes in the bakery appear to be carryovers from Andronico's. They are different than what you will find at a typical Safeway.
Olivia G.
This is truly a terrible store. When they switched from Andronico's to Safeway they said that they would keep our favorite items (had me fill out forms requesting things they no longer carried). but no, most of those items never materialized. The produce is Terrible. I mean, terrible. Yucky cheap coffee. And the worst part about it is that (maybe to seem like they are fancy) they charge higher prices than the Safeway down the block, for the same items. Why would anyone want to pay more for their dunkin donuts coffee beans if you could get them cheaper at the Safeway down the street? it makes no sense why anyone would go there. Clearly they are understaffing because despite paying higher prices, there is no one there to bag groceries. This is just a smaller size Safeway with less selection and higher prices. Why? Go to Monterey market or berkeley bowl for your produce. I hear they are going to try to rebrand back to Andronicos, but I doubt it will work.
Andre P.
This has been my local store for the last 15 years, shopping here few times a week... the customer service gone bad here. Sometimes you get Ok treatment and sometimes the checkers make you feel like they do you a favor letting you to shop there. The other day stopped by for groceries with my wife and my child, among other items we had a bottle of wine, the cashier ask my wife for ID, I said I have my ID but cashier said everyone in the party must have ID, none of us look underage, clearly we are a family... my wife walked to the car and brought her ID after that the cashier sold us wine but didn't ask nor checked my ID. I inquired why they are so particular about who to ID for buying wine, Shamara was not polite in response and called manger describing him my request for explanation in a laughable manner in front of me. The manager told me that they ID everyone in the party (which was clearly not the case) and the cashier was standing there and grinning in my face. Was cashier biased against Asians or just had a bad day but there must be a better and polite way to communicate the store rules and enforce them for all instead of just picking at random people cashier didn't like.
Mutant O.
With Safeway transitioning back to Andronico's, the weekly shopping is now a wonderful adventure. Inventory has been relocated with no forwarding address, and best of all, many of the shelves have been restocked with all manner of interesting packages in odd shapes, colorful names and labels. (Coconut coffee? Herbals supplemented chocolate drink powder?) I was absolutely delighted to find beans from Seattle coffee roaster Ladro. Now I can have my favorite brew at home, without the carry-on shakedowns by TSA for transporting four pounds across state lines.
This place is awesome. Always clean and well organized, with a bunch of options to choose from. I really like how it always seems like it's well taken care of. It's like if they're always organizing the shelves and cleaning the floor. So neat. I totally recommend it for the great variety of options and the staff, who is always so nice too.
I love the food and wine selection here, and I appreciate that it's so close to my home. However, I'm giving two stars for two male cashiers who have been consistently inappropriate with me at the checkout line. If I could file a complaint to the store manager, I would. I am just interested in paying for my groceries, and going home - I do not need to be flirted with every single time I buy groceries, called "sweetie," and told that "you look young, you look good," every single time I pay for wine and he looks at my ID. I have told the cashier to stop calling me sweetie, but quite honestly I avoid going to the store in order to avoid interactions with this cashier. Another cashier asked me what i do on my days off and to invite him next time i go out. It is unfortunate that there isn't more sexual harassment training for employees and regular customers like myself have to avoid going to the store to avoid getting harassed. I really hope they start taking this more seriously.
The Andronicos on Shattuck had horrible lines before the pandemic and still does. The Andronicos on Solano is so much nicer. Friendlier service and lots of cashiers. Tonight there are 2 cashiers and dozens of people waiting. There are 8 check out stands. The lady in front of me asked nicely if they could add more checkers and she was rudely rebuffed. Post script: when I got to the cashier I just said hello. Unprompted he apologized for the long lines and was very cordial.
At the Shattuck branch in Berkeley this morning, I was deeply concerned by the breaches of coronavirus safety precautions. One staff member in produce was wearing his mask below his nose, another walked directly by me ignoring the 6 foot protocol. As I was checking out a staff member whose mask was off walked up drinking a beverage and stopped to talk with my check out attendant with her mask down. The woman outside with the carts keeps her mask down continually. I arrived near the end of senior hour shopping. This is the opposite of protecting vulnerable clients. I spoke to the manager and he said the store is okay with the woman outside having her mask off and with masks being worn below the nose inside.
Safeway is my grocery store during this time of sheltering in place. The produce is always fresh, the variety of meats, the French Bread loaf is so fresh you can hear the crunch, the savory salads are flavorful, a wide aisle of wines, waters, juices and beverages. A modest candy section for the kids. The cashiers have been very friendly. Plus there is plenty of parking. One suggestion: The handles on shopping carts/buggy need frequent cleaning. More salads.
Always amuses me that people still go here after Safeway bought up Andronicos given that Safeway is so near and has a bigger selection and both this and the regular Safeway carry a lot of the same things. Sometimes you might be able to find something that's sold out at the regular Safeway, though, or the reverse. No self checkout at Safeway Community Markets, but they do have bathrooms- you need to ask staff for the code, and they aren't the nicest looking, with an old and dirty-looking bathroom floor. I got a $1 off Andronicos coupon last time I came here so I went to use it this time, but turns out milk isn't eligible for that coupon; they should really write that on the coupon itself since it sucks to wait in line and then find that out. My cashier today, Ian, was nice though and even still helped the customer ahead of me who clearly had more than 12 items in the express lane.
I just knew my favorite Safeway deserves a 5 star today.... but no LUIS in the seafood department refuses to assist me, the cooked crab sections are 8.99 this week. He got nasty and said it was 12.99 and this it is whatever we have. I will be calling corporate on LUI, just because I am a different skin tone of what you like to serve. I deserve to get treat fairly! He refused to assist me and had a nasty attitude. It's time for Luis to find another job, couldn't even look at the picture on the application! I will not be back. Thanks Luis change your nasty funky attitude!!!
Community Market? By what stretch of the imagination? Where are the community bulletin boards, the community involvement by Safeway? I have not seen any. It is a 'regular' Safeway store, not nearly as nice as the renovated Safeway on Rose and Shattuck. Prices are ok here, on par with Lucky's. If you stick with the weekly specials you can get some good deals. I most like their bakery, really friendly staff and beautiful fruit tarts. I don't miss Andronicos, I always felt it was a bit of a snobbish place with high prices. I do miss the old co-op, which was truly a 'community market' Safeway should live up to the name they gave their store here and become a true CM. by working with the local community.
I try to avoid coming here because I don't like paying an arm and a leg for basic groceries. If we have to compare Safeways, I'd say the one down the road by Rose St. promises fresher and higher quality ingredients. The issue I have with this Safeway is that I've found 1) the milk starts to smell funny a few days before the expiration date 2) the fruits are very expensive and not all that special and 3) the salad bar sometimes has wilted or rotten leaves and 4) the beer selection (though I'm no expert) leaves much to be desired. Regarding the salad bar: Since the purpose of the salad bar is to provide fresh grab-n-go ingredients, I feel let down that one bin of fresh leaves cannot be maintained. I do like their bakery counter though. I've bought two cakes from them for friend's birthdays and had them decorated beautifully.
The staff are rude, especially at the deli. Cashier's hate their jobs. Security is sketchy, will follow you around. Elitist atmosphere. Gross experience.
Restaurantji Recommends
I would give this place zero stars if I could. I haven't been in here since they changed it to a Safeway. I went to the back to get a sandwich. Ask the girl behind the counter if they have gluten free bread for the sandwich. Very rudely she says no! I ask again, because I'm like that. So your telling me you have no gluten free bread for people's dietary restrictions . Once again very rudely she said no and turned away from me. I'm like ok.. so I go to the salad bar, the lettuce is wilted. Everything else is mixed with exerting else. I'm thinking for being 11 am this salad bar should be looking a lot better. I did up just getting some fruit. Went to the cashier and once again met with rudeness. Not a hi, not a good morning nothing.. Worst Customer Service ever!! What happened to Andronicos and the nice people that worked there.. I'll stick with my Whole Foods..
When the Bay Area Andronico's markets were sold to Safeway, it hoped to maintain the character of Andronico's while incorporating the Safeway product line. These stores were renamed Safeway Community Markets. The Safeway weekly ads are honored here. This Berkeley location, along with the Solano Ave store, Los Altos and San Anselmo are the only four Community Stores in the Bay Area. Safeway was having sale of short ribs and since I needed about 8lbs, I decided to come here since they still maintained a meat department where the products are displayed for sale instead of being packaged for sale. At the meat counter, I didn't see the short ribs. A butcher asked if I needed help and I inquired about the short rib. He said they didn't have any in the case at the moment but he could get it for me from the meat locker. I told him how much I needed and he went got the slabs of short ribs and he trimmed and cut them to my size I wanted. He packaged it and I was on my way. I'm glad Safeway maintained the meat counter and butchers from the days of Andronico's. It is nice to see the products on display and select the items that you want to buy. I was totally glad I came here to get my short ribs. Also, the cakes in the bakery appear to be carryovers from Andronico's. They are different than what you will find at a typical Safeway.
This is truly a terrible store. When they switched from Andronico's to Safeway they said that they would keep our favorite items (had me fill out forms requesting things they no longer carried). but no, most of those items never materialized. The produce is Terrible. I mean, terrible. Yucky cheap coffee. And the worst part about it is that (maybe to seem like they are fancy) they charge higher prices than the Safeway down the block, for the same items. Why would anyone want to pay more for their dunkin donuts coffee beans if you could get them cheaper at the Safeway down the street? it makes no sense why anyone would go there. Clearly they are understaffing because despite paying higher prices, there is no one there to bag groceries. This is just a smaller size Safeway with less selection and higher prices. Why? Go to Monterey market or berkeley bowl for your produce. I hear they are going to try to rebrand back to Andronicos, but I doubt it will work.
This has been my local store for the last 15 years, shopping here few times a week... the customer service gone bad here. Sometimes you get Ok treatment and sometimes the checkers make you feel like they do you a favor letting you to shop there. The other day stopped by for groceries with my wife and my child, among other items we had a bottle of wine, the cashier ask my wife for ID, I said I have my ID but cashier said everyone in the party must have ID, none of us look underage, clearly we are a family... my wife walked to the car and brought her ID after that the cashier sold us wine but didn't ask nor checked my ID. I inquired why they are so particular about who to ID for buying wine, Shamara was not polite in response and called manger describing him my request for explanation in a laughable manner in front of me. The manager told me that they ID everyone in the party (which was clearly not the case) and the cashier was standing there and grinning in my face. Was cashier biased against Asians or just had a bad day but there must be a better and polite way to communicate the store rules and enforce them for all instead of just picking at random people cashier didn't like.
With Safeway transitioning back to Andronico's, the weekly shopping is now a wonderful adventure. Inventory has been relocated with no forwarding address, and best of all, many of the shelves have been restocked with all manner of interesting packages in odd shapes, colorful names and labels. (Coconut coffee? Herbals supplemented chocolate drink powder?) I was absolutely delighted to find beans from Seattle coffee roaster Ladro. Now I can have my favorite brew at home, without the carry-on shakedowns by TSA for transporting four pounds across state lines.