Super Valu

Well I gather this is a vast improvement on the old store — I never went before it was renovated so I cannot compare. It was clean and well lit and seemed to have a nice variety but the two things I went in for they were quite out of !
In fact many of the shelves seemed a bit empty, I’m not sure how long they’ve been open but perhaps they haven’t received a good shipment of things just yet. It’s a bit farther from home than I’d like to walk so I can’t say this will be my usual store but if I’m in the neighbourhood and need something (so long as they actually have it in stock) I have no qualms with hitting up this store !
A solid three star grocery store and I’d like to point out that the veggies looked particularly fresh and well stocked.

I miss you Super Valu

I was one of those people who really appreciated the weird campiness that was happening with the Super Valu on Davie before they very recently changed ownership. They had such an odd mismatch of randomness, it was pretty fun to just wander the aisles and see what you might come across. Even though it wasn’t my main grocery store in the area, I still visited a few times a month just to pick up a few things and check out what was in store. They had a great selection of cheeses/​meats/​bakery goods. Overall the prices were pretty reasonable on most things, and there was always some great weekly sales (although a few things were overly expensive, but it balanced out). Sure it smelled sort of weird, and the cashiers were on the slow side, but the cheap prices and great variety had made up for all that.
When i visited a few weeks ago when the store was looking increasingly more empty (giant gaps in along most of the shelves). Turns out that the store had been sold and would soon be changing hands. I didn’t think too much of it at the time; I assumed it would still be the same store just with new owners.
When I went in there today I was *shocked* at how ridiculously expensive their new prices are on ALL their regular items. There were things on special (although most was just stock from the «old» store that was on clearance). I don’t know how anyone would or could ever afford to regularly shop here now. Most of the other shoppers in the store (myself included) were just walking the aisles with empty baskets, not putting anything in them. Every other time I’d gone before, there were always people who were doing major shopping trips. Not this time. I didn’t see one person who was buying more than 1 – 2 things.
It makes me sad in an area that has so many seniors and students that they would raise their prices by so much all at once. I myself will not be going back there (which is also too bad because it’s 1 block from my house). West Valley Market, Safeway, No Frills, or just a mix of small shops will all take the place of going in again. What a shame, after it had been such a staple in the areas for so many years.

I’ve visited this place about five times after dining on Denman and I do so because I feel like walking after a meal. I’m not opposed to buying the odd item but I visit for the experience. The supermarket itself could be in the Twilight Zone. It’s like time stood still and nothing has changed for decades. It smells like a Safeway from when I were a kid. smells faintly of chemical laden baked goods mixed in with other elements I can’t identify. I remember the «good» cheeses are locked up after a certain time because of shoplifters. Great for people watching. Basically, I go in, look at processed meats, go past the dimly lit aisles, check out baked goods, then candy and make my way out. This place looks like it could be located in a small suburb somewhere in middle America. As much as I enjoy conventionally nice places, I can see the appeal of this place.

In the past 3 days, I’ve been to Super Valu 3 times. Why? Because I’m forgetful when it comes to baking supplies. Please note, the only time I go to Super Valu is when I’m in a jam. It’s as budget as it comes inside. Fluorescent, smelling of stale bread with a pinch of misery, offering sad selections of produce and baking supplies. But, they do have some saving graces. Mostly, they carry organic whipping cream, and that has come in handy more times than I care to admit.
Staff look miserable, but they’re quite friendly. And honestly, I can’t blame them — they have to work in those drab lights, wearing drab uniforms, and ringing in sad and drab orders.

When I used to work backshift at the porn store homeless people would shoplift food from the 24 hour Super Valu and bring it to sell to the manager of my shop (aka the worst person I have ever met in my life). That doesn’t really reflect on the Super Valu itself in any way, but it has cemented in my mind the idea that this particular grocer’s aisles are filled with shifty dudes lookin’ to jack a box of Ritz or a block of that cheddar for resale. Like Hova said, shit is wicked on these mean streets.
I’ve only recently started going there, and hey, it’s not so bad. They have a lot of PC products and I’ve been fortunate enough to hit them up when some of my staples like whole wheat pasta and frozen edamame were on for cheap. I did note that some prices were kinda high though so I’ll probably stick to Safeway for bigger shopping trips.
Oh, and I love that the staff at this store straight up do not give a fuck, this one guy who cashed me out swore a bunch of times when he couldn’t separate a plastic bag for my groceries. I don’t think he was even wearing a uniform and he looked like he hadn’t slept in a week, for all I know he was just some dude who got busted trying to lift some food and they put him to work to pay off his debt to society. That’s my kinda grocery store!

Word on the street is that Super Valu is run by the H.A. Is that why this place is ²⁴⁄₇? Gotta make sure that late night business is taken care of? My late night business is gonna be showing up three sheets to the wind and trying to buy chips at 4am cuz Hamburger Mary’s will be closed, and Denny’s is so far I might fall on my drunken face.
I have come by here a few times since my witness relocation plan had me moved to the West End, and I was surprised at how clean and organized the place was, cuz honestly it looked kinda dumpy on the outside. The prices could have been better, but I guess you have to pay extra for the priveledge of being able to shop at all hours of the day, and night. However, the service has been painfully slow, like we’re talking a lineup of six people in each lane and then they go down to one cashier slow. The rules of lines apply here, so just when you switch lanes cuz the one you are currently in is not moving, the line you switched into comes to a dead stop.
If you’re coming to Super Valu to buy cheese, you best be doin it during the day though, cuz when the sun goes down, that cheese gets locked up. Cheese is a hot commodity, and who doesn’t love cheese? Have you ever been out on the streets late at night and had some crackhead try and sell you a block of cheese? Like a flasher he’ll open his trenchcoat and show you a block of stinky cheese that you knows gotta be worth $ 15? I have. And no, I didn’t buy it. I think I’d rather pay the premium and get my cheese from Super Valu before the cheese gates are closed.

No. There are markets around for cheaper and better service.

stick to the flyer…
pretty much a rip-​off and the super surly employees don’t help much
bad layout and lighting as well…

Pro: They’re open really late.
Con: Pretty much everything else.
The produce is sketchy at the best of times. I don’t know where it comes from or what they do to it, but it almost always looks like it’s had a very rough trip getting there.
Prices are expensive on most things, they make Safeway look like more of a real Super Value.
The staff, oh the staff. I don’t know where others get the idea that they are generally friendly. In most of my experiences at the store the staff are generally surly and half the time I think I’m going to get shanked while having my groceries rang up at the till.
If it’s 2:23pm and for some reason I’m making a lasagna and I’ve run out of noodles then yes I’ll go to Super Valu. For all my other grocery needs I’ll head to any of the other West End stores.

Not really ‘super value’, but you can find some great prices and specials if you are looking. But not enough that I would recomend doing a big shop there.
Agree about some of the staff — they all seem really depressed (and… mature, I thought you were meant to move up from a checkout chick /​scan man /​laser lad. anyway). There are some happy enough staff there.
The whole store does seem a bit dated, unkept and dirty (probably why the staff wear gloves — which are dirty as s**t anyway… I’m sorry, I don’t want those use-​to-​be-​white-​now-​all-​kinds-​of-​brown gloves touching my cereal box or bread. eww. anyway, back on topic).
I do love this place for convienience and it’s opening hours — it can’t really be beaten for that.

I remember this supermarket a year ago… I would’ve given this place a 2 star — the produce looked old, the meat was not fresh and it just seemed like a hand-​me-​down grocery store.
However… not anymore! The last couple of times I have been into Super Valu, there is also a full stock of produce in good condition. The prices are awesome. even better than the usual Kin’s Farm Market that I go to… plus — major bonus point is that they have President’s Choice products which I think is AWESOME (thumbs up to Galen Weston).
On top of it all — there is a CIBC atm if you need cash… can’t complain!

I think they have lost touch with the meaning of their company name over recent years. But on a Sunday night at 8, they are open for those last minute «whoops I forgot _​_​_​».
I have never bought any of their produce as it always appears to have arrived on the shelf in a violent manner. But their Non-​Medicated Organic Roast Chickens are indeed a super valu at $ 12.99. I don’t know how this is even possible as the raw ones are about the same price?
There always seems to be a sale on something you don’t need.
Or maybe you do need 4 boxes of cookies?

I have a large list of issues with Super Valu and try to avoid it whenever possible. I don’t understand how it can be so much more expensive than No Frills when they’re selling the exact same products. Service and atmosphere definitely aren’t any better. Their paper ‘sale’ signs make me think that I’m back in the 80’s. Yesterday my check-​out clerk was more interested in chomping his gum and saying hi to everyone walking past, than ringing through our items. Good times.

Open ²⁴⁄₇ so that’s nice. To be frank, because their prices are so high the only things I buy there are few and far between. Do love their French fries though which is a weird thing to say for a supermarket.
I find the clerks there so unenthusiastic, dead slow and just so disinterested in life. They could also improve the lighting in the place. Plus they charge 5 cents for a plastic bag. Sorry, but that’s annoying no matter how eco-​friendly you want us to be.

A West End institution! Not the lowest prices or best selection, but great hours. The in-​house music tends toward 80’s alternative late at night, and if you listen carefully to the PA announcements, they’re sometimes really funny:
«Steve, clean-​up on aisle 3…»
*unseen child cries*
«…ugh… a WET cleanup.»
Another plus: the cashier staff seem to have a low turnover, and it’s nice to see the same familiar faces year after year. They’re also quite tolerant of the occasional tipsy dame popping in on her way home from the local booze can to pick up a frozen pizza or instant potato products.

* 2009 and still going strong *
This supermarket has charm in a communist era Eastern Bloc kind of way. It feels like shopping in one of the old «hard currency» markets in the Soviet Union in the 1980’s:
— Very high prices for basic staples
— Limited selection
— Dim lighting
I’m not sure why, but I actually like the place as supermarkets go. Perhaps it is the nostalgic value of years gone by? Perhaps it is the random interactions between «interesting» people you almost always get to see when shopping here. I don’t know. But I do like it.

Always wary when I go in here. They’ve got the strangest staff ever working here. I am not too sure whether devil-​worshipping dude with the pentagrams on his arms is still there, but no doubt they’ve found someone equally crazy.
Okay… Good points. Best crunchy cheese curls in the city (the no name ones) and the only place that still sells sour team and onion ring puffy snax.

It’s okay for the basic stuff if you’re in the area. It’s almost the only place to shop in the area with lower prices. But it’s no Real Canadian Superstore with the prices at all. And you can get household items like laundry detergent.
However, it’s alright. Usually for fresh stuff and ethnic items we go to the «chinese grocery store» (as my friend calls it) on Thurlow and Davie. It’s cheaper and there is a better chance of getting fresher ingredients.
Now, to figure out the name of the «Chinese Grocery»…

While I am skeptical about the quality of the produce and the meats are bit suspect. I do have a soft spot for Super Value…
Don’t let the name fool you… you will not get a great value. unfortunately you pay the price for the convenience of being able to buy Coco Puffs at 3am. not that I ever have…
I have found myself. years ago… wondering through picking up random groceries on my way home in a drunken haze… why? because I could… and it seemed like a good idea at the time…
The staff are always super nice and the clientele is always colorful and entertaining… not a place I would go for my weekly grocery shop. but defiantly one of the most convenient grocery stores in the downtown core when you need to grab a few things… at 3am… when drunk… and craving Coco Puffs. again…I’m am just assuming that this has happened to someone…