Pay N Save Grocery

Pay N’ Save grocery is the closest market to me and after just a few visits they know me. Very friendly cashiers and it is a family business. Open 8am-​midnight (or later). Excellent selection of ice cream, its-​it, beer, champagne, etc. Convenient to Dolores Park. Great for liquor, milk, onions, and the basics. Lower prices than Bi-​rite.

Love this place, only complaint is that ice cream is freezor burnt 90% of the time…

Extremely rude. Mislabel their products and refuse to honor the label. Very slow. Would rather starve than come here again.

I’ve been going here for the past couple of years for my late-​night Häagen-​Dazs coffee ice cream cravings. A couple of weeks ago I showed up without my credit cards and a little short on cash – the classy gentleman behind the register let me pay what I had on me. This evening, when I tried to pay him back, with a smile on his face he said «you can get me next time,» which I guess means never. The neighborhood suddenly felt that much cozier. Thank you!

This place comes in clutch when you go to Dolores Park and forget to bring beer.
Pros: this grocery store has a huge selection of beer and other liquor. Very close to Dolores Park (about a block and a half away)
Cons: there was a guy watching us the whole time. I mean I gettttt why. But it was uncomfortable.

I’ve been a regular a my local corner store for years now. My girlfriend & I love Three Twins Mint Confetti ice cream, and they always had the best stock. I haven’t quite figured out whether it’s their freezer or their delivery boy, but ice cream from Pay N Save rarely had the already-​been-​melted-​then-​re-​crystalized that most other stores have.
I felt like I became friendly with the tall guy with the dark hair who seems to always be there, every evening. I shared some good moments there — 4^th of July, Superbowl, last episode of «How I Met Your Mother». It was a comfortable extension of my home; a part of my community.
I keep using the word ‘was’ because I’ve noticed a change in the past couple weeks. There’s someone new behind the counter. He looks more like a crook than a friendly neighbour. I feel unwelcome in my neighbourhood now.
Prices have gone up; a pint of my beloved Three Twins is now $ 6, but hasn’t changed at the Three Twins shop on the other side of market st.
They even claim to be charging 75 cents for a credit card transaction. I don’t know what they’re paying their credit card processor, but I can’t imagine it’s anywhere near 12.5%.
Worst of all? Their Three Twins ice cream isn’t silky smooth anymore. It’s crystalized and nearly unpalatable. This is inexcusable. It’s like they’ve stopped caring altogether.
I’ve given them the benefit of the doubt. Maybe it was just an off night, or maybe the stock of ice cream they got last week just wasn’t good. But, sadly, it’s been consistent for too long now.
I’m sad. Now, I’m going to have go over a hill to fillmore st to get some reliable service.
Update: The ice cream has become more consistent and the credit card fees have disappeared. The shopkeepers are friendly again, and Pay N Save has gone back to being my favorite local stop.

awesome place! Vegan options! Great family!

Pay N Save isn’t but it’s a catchy theme/​gimmick. the usual gourmet foods/​deli items, wines, microbrews at the top or over the reasonable reasonable price range.
shelves neatly stoced. save a trip to whole foods. pricing similar…
buys:“Califia” california lemonade (2.49)
–puresqueezed, homestyle
–has pure cane sugar, 34 grams of it: too sweet
will not repeat…

Over the years I’ve gotten to know the incredibly sweet family that owns Pay N Save, and have seen them pour a lot of love into their business and the community they serve.
They stock many local favorites (Straus yogurt, 21^st Amendment beer, Three Twins ice cream), as well as a fair amount of organic /​vegan /​otherwise healthy options. Of course, they also carry corner store standards, because sometimes, only Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups will do. Pay N Save is pretty much everything to everyone.
If you’ve just moved to the Dolores Park area, this should be your new everyday grocery store.

Best corner store in the city with the kindest, most friendly service. It’s always a pleasure to stop in here.

$ 19 for a case of water…

YESS! cheap prices and great service.

A quick and convenient corner market. The prices are cheaper than Bi-​Rite, especially if you need something basic like tissues or a soda.
Also, you’ve got to love the fact they resell Kirkland items from Costco.

This place is awesome as a local neighborhood market to go to for emergency household/​food needs. It has all the basics and a lot of randoms, too… however, the name Pay N [Save] is kind of a let down.
Although I know this place is family owned and the guy behind the counter is always really nice, this place is pretty costly. Just bought a small bag of chips and a diet Dr. Pepper for $ 5, ouch!
I often come here during my lunch break to get a little snack, but have been noticing that it is definitely more of a Pay N Lose store. I don’t think this place will be in my budget for much longer, even for the occasional stop in.
Morally, I would love to support this awesome local Mom & Pop business. Economically, I’d rather shop at Safeway.

This is a great corner store, mainly because the people are so friendly. They also have a fairly good selection, but the space is limited so they can’t have everything you heart desires.

Greatest liquor store in the history of the world. Adorable and affordable.

I’m loyal to this corner store just because of the super nice guys that work there. I feel good about giving my money to this place. They’re so friendly!
Great beer selection. Hit this place on the way to the park!

An example of a very cool «shady from the outside» liquor/​convenience store. Lots of convenience items and an excellent array of weird soda beverages. I discovered «Double Cola» out of Chattanooga Tennessee here. The guys behind the counter are really friendly and seem to be a well integrated part of the Mission.

Not only is the family that runs this store super nice and friendly, but their stuff is cheaper than the other two convenience shops a block away. I live in the neighborhood and this is one of my regular haunts for last-​minute chips and ice cream and various other trashy reality TV vittles.
These guys are aces in my book; they’re usually the first store to open and the last to close, and getting your goods here won’t make your wallet cry bloody tears like Bi-​Rite will. (But I still love you though!)

Okay, this place may just be the best «scrungy on the outside» neighborhood convenience store I’ve ever been into. Way better than my local, and I feel like I’m pretty lucky with that one.
Watch out for the weird floors with ramps — it’s like you’re in a damn game of Chutes and Ladders — especially tricky if you’re a) wearing heels b) not paying attention because you’re distracted by snacks and pancake batter in a can a la Cheez Whiz (!!) or c) you’re drunk. Any one of these three may describe me at any given moment.
The selection in here is fan-​flipping-​tastic and the prices reasonable to boot. We stopped in to pick up some contraband snacks before heading in to The Roxie, but they have just about everything you’d need for a spur of the moment picnic in Dolores Park — wine, cheese, crackers, salami, pancake batter in a can, a la Cheez Whiz.. .