Safeway

What happen to this place??? I’ve been going here for years since my parents live down the street. I stopped in a few days ago and I encountered the worse clerk ever (African American) in the express checkout line! Mind you, I saw the regular employees who are always nice and seem to always have a smile and look to enjoy their job… nope not this one clerk that helped me during checkout… She just didn’t care at all, had the nerve to TELL me to remove all my items from the basket and put it on the belt… Then what pissed me off was when she threw my items in the paper bag like she didn’t care if anything got smushed or cracked! Like really lady!!! Rude and worst service ever! Apparently she doesn’t enjoy doing her job very well. Please get rid of her!

WSE!!! Worst Safeway Ever!!! Hands down, from awful parking lot– a thousand people who (through no fault of their own, many are new immigrants and have not owned cars before) have no idea how to drive OR park a car, to horrible selection– I stupidly attempted Thanksgiving shopping here. They didn’t have cranberries! Long lines are the norm. And the folks in line, bless their hearts, all seem to have issues figuring out how to use debit card machine, WIC cards, food stamp cards–
Yeah. I WALKED to the other Safeway– (North of this one) rather than shop here. But I DO like the other customers, incredibly diverse clientele and I think the employees (many, not all of them) try really hard. This would be a very hard store to work in unless you speak at least 6 languages other than English: Somali, Amharic, Eritrean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian. They need to hire clerks who speak some of the East African dialects.

This Safeway is really pathetic. It has 3 express checkouts, and 2 regular checkouts. The cashiers are generally pretty good, especially since I would imagine they don’t like their jobs because I am sure the complaints are plentiful. My wife and I will drive over to the Safeway north of Columbia City to avoid this one. We call this Safeway, the shitty Safeway. The only time we go here is during the day when it’s slower and we only need 1 item. The are constantly out of organic stuff, and offer very little on variety. I never even attempted to look at their produce area, because I doubt they would be fresh.
Really, I think the only reason this location is still open, is because in this area, there is no where else to go. They are literally thriving off the poor people in this area. Don’t shop here.

There is absolutely no reason to come here unless you are completely desperate to buy something or happen to be nearby. This location is one of the most ghetto in all of Seattle so make sure you stay armed.
In addition to that, the produce section is tiny, the meats and seafood are less than 25% of what you normally see at a typical Safeway (think a few packages of each type), and they are ALWAYS out of sale items.
If you need to buy from Safeway, just drive up to the one by Genesee or down by Rainier Beach, at least you have a chance of finding what you need in stock. Alternatively, there are a few nearby Asian markets where you can buy certain items for way cheaper.

I live right across the street from this Safeway but I will normally try to travel to another grocery store whenever possible.
When I moved in I thought it was great that there was a grocery store within walking distance, to my dismay, it is this store.
I’ve described how to get to my house by telling local people I live by the BAD Safeway and people know which one I’m talking about.
Let’s break it down:
Selection: very poor, really only one option for several items, if it’s even there. No deli, no bakery, no butcher, minimal amount of produce, smallest beer section I’ve seen in the NW. Only major brands are here forget microbrews.
Quality: very poor, I’ve seen rotten fruits and veggies in the displays and expired items on the shelves, Check everything you buy here closely
Customer service: very poor, the «service» counter is always closed and you have to hunt down an employee to open it if you need something like a money order. Plan on a wait time of around 20 min once you find someone.
Staffing: minimal, never enough check stands open, which results in long lines. You can never find help without hunting. I must say though once you find an employee they are always nice but seem overworked.
Shoppers: generally very low income, long wait times at check out due to WIC checks and few registers being open. Self check not possible. Lots of shoplifting and rude people. Most people are only buying junk food, basic staples, cigarettes, or booze. Be prepared to be judged if you are waiting in line with produce.
Safety: Bad! Do not go here at night the parking lot is a target for illegal activity and poorly lit. During the day expect that there WILL be an incident with a shoplifter and security. Be ready to prove you actually bought your items as you leave.
Even on foot, save yourself the trouble and take the light rail to another store.

I always go here because it’s like 3 minutes away from my house but I don’t like some workers here, they look depress and they are slow. they take their time to ring people up. the younger workers are okay though. also the starbucks inside Safeway suck, they take a long time to make a drink and it doesn’t even taste good. They take their time to make the drink. my sister came in and bought a drink and she was the only in line and it took 10 min. really bad customer service. but Safeway has always been my go to place. besides some of the slow workers, I like everything else but the starbucks.

Been here twice. Once during the day and once at night. For some odd reason, I’ve never realized how shady the parking lot is at night compared to the day. Haha. I came here and there’s a few male loitering around. Not the best thing you want to see while grocery shopping.
The safeway itself seemed very nice and definitely can tell it was remodeled. Very clean and organized inside.
The location also is very convenient to the neighborhood but I would only suggest going here during daytime until some type of action is taken outside the store. I want to feel safe shopping at a location for grocery. Not feel like I can get mugged/​jumped at any given time.

Great air conditioning and pretty good selection. I like shopping at Safeway. There is really nothing wrong with the store. The real problem is the neighbourhood around the store. Lots of criminal activity here in Othello. I’ve lived in south Seattle all my life and have learned to deal with the sketchy neighbourhoods and the crackheads, though I feel most people will be absolutely terrified as they step foot into the ‘Hood.’ I can’t possibly give this store a full score given the surrounding environment. Safeway, as the name suggests, is pretty safe. Once you look past the sketchy neighbourhood, Safeway is a great grocery store. Happy shopping!

This place is effing terrible!
The employees are terrible the area is terrible the customers are terrible.
If you don’t get mugged in the parking lot you might get mugged inside by the malt liquor display.
The Starbucks inside is filthy.
Avoid this place like the plague.

This is the closest Safeway to my home. Sometimes I’m here there times a day.
The produce section is my favorite part of the store. There is one produce guy that I really like, didn’t get a chance to catch his name but he is very friendly and will help you choose the perfect watermelon if you ask.
I don’t like the parking lot. It’s unorganized and dangerous.
The check lines are usually hit or miss:
one night, there is a particular slow checker and there was another checker who was able to move faster than him but she was bagging for him. sorry but what the duck? Shouldn’t the faster checker be checking while the slow checker is bagging? Especially when there is only two lines open and at least 6 people in each line with carts full of stuff? I’m just tryna get my milk, lunch meat, cilantro and dip out of here ASAP… I do not wait hella long because a checker who’s capable of moving fast wants to take the easy way out and pack stuff.
There is one checker that I really like, though. if you’re in her line, you won’t be waiting for long.
Another thing i don’t like about this store is the customer service stand. Like do I really have to wait for 8 mins to get someone’s attention?
1.5 stars for the produce boy and produce section and 1.5 stars for the checker.

Worst Safeway I went to by far. What happen. I been going to this Safeway for years. The last three I went to this Safeway, I got a TICKET. Never going to this Safeway again. I rather drive down to QFC instead.

I was born in the old Holly Park Projects back in the late 1960’s and grew up there till I was 3 yrs. old, then my family moved further South to the suburbs. Therefore, I’ve always had good memories of this area, especially this particular Safeway, which btw is the oldest Safeway in Washington state (built in 1964 IIRC). I remember my mom carrying me down those long stone steps to shop at Safeway, then Wigwam and Woolworths, which have long disappeared back in the 70’s. :(So it’s a joy to shop there whenever I get the chance; also I notice the bank is still there, but everything else has changed. Ah, memories…

Spooky parking lot full of spooky people and drivers driving down the wrong side of the parking lot. Store management needs some sort of training to do a better job at keeping their dirty laundry behind closed doors and not out at the front of the store at the check out. Customers don’t want to hear about how Safeway staff make each other cry. Cashiers could also use some training ~ I stood in a «fast» line too long while the she had to verify a sale price before refunding the customer 50 cents. Ridiculous. Zero customer service all around.

I’m giving them alot by this, they had me waiting almost ½ an hour just to check me out, just because someone infront of me handed some sort of papers. They couldn’t checked me out or the people behind me until she had the correct amount. I have no idea what those papers where for but really don’t leave people waiting, you can check people out while the manager or someone else can due the papers for her. It’s called think with your head. Surely enough I won’t be coming back here.

You’ve burned me for the last time, Othello Safeway.
I’ve put up with your unsafe parking lot, overcrowded and cramped aisles, low quality produce, and horrifically long check out lanes for nearly 2 years now. But I’ve finally had it and will be taking my precious grocery dollars elsewhere.
The straw that broke the camel’s back was this: I came here on Sunday evening August 11^th at about 10 pm. As soon as I walked in I was greeted with the crowds and only 3 check out lanes open. When I finished, I headed to the express line with my hand basket of 11 items. As I finally approach the belt and am able to put my hand basket down, the cashier informs me they are moving her to one of the other already open lanes and the customer directly in front of me will be her last. I turn around to the 5 or so people in line behind me and inform them that she’s closing and we all have to jump behind the 5 – 10 customers in line in the other 2 lanes. The lines are so long at this Safeway that the front of the aisles are impossible to pass and they wrap into the produce and deli departments. I was so angry with my absurd additional check-​out time that I considered setting down my basket and just walking out.
Instead, I will not be returning. Yes, this is my neighborhood Safeway and the closest grocery store in walking distance. But no, I do NOT have to put up with a Safeway that is small, cramped, low quality, unsafe, and an overcrowded and understaffed zoo.

Was it remodeled? Doesn’t seem like it but it probably was atleast once since the 90’s. This place is as old as your parents… my-​mom-​used-​to-​walk-​here-​from-​Beacon-​Hill-​as-​a-​kid old, if ya get mah drift.
No matter how much this neighborhood continues to evolve, the demographics appears to be a staple. You will see blacks, asians, somolians, hispanics, etc. It’s also why I sort of like it: diversity; melting pot.
I usually come here at night when it’s cooler out and get some basic munchies and/​or breakfast goods (milk, cereal…) and utilize my Station re-​used bag. When I’m feeling uppity or have better time for other goodies, I head to PCC past Seward Park (and soon the new PCC in Columbia City).
You gotta love it, though. It’s been around the block and always busy. The staff seem generally good.

This has been remodeled!!! This is seriously one of the worst Safeway locations I have ever been to. It looks run down on the outside and has an awful parking lot. For some reason, people never know which way to drive or even where they can drive. It is a miracle that I have never seen a pedestrian get hit by a car in this lot. Along with that, the clientele it attracts act a little O.O.C. Almost every time I am there, people are yelling or chasing each other. Why?
Also, the selection is so limited. As if I have to point this out, but the produce is rarely fresh, there is no meat or seafood counter but you *can* get prefrozen packages of salmon dyed red or two choices of ground meat. And you can forget gluten free or vegan options.
Living near this store, it’s easy to grab and go a carton of milk or a premixed salad if the lines are not too long. I would never, ever drive out of my way to come here. (Like, ever.) I prefer the Safeway on Rainier by Ross.
Saving graces? Great customer service (the cashiers and grocery baggers are always really nice), and the attached Starbucks. The End.

Never again. I went to this safeway because I needed something the Rainier Beach one didn’t have. As soon as I went in the parking lot I knew it was going to be a terrible adventure. The rows for parking are one way but people don’t quite get that, they just barrel through the rows in whatever direction and speed they want. I had to honk and yell at some idiots for sitting dead in the middle of a lane while they had a conversation with someone, then they had the nerve to get upset with me! Finally after parking far away from people, I made my way in, got what I needed and left. As I walked to my car, I was almost hit by another car. The final blow, that car that got upset with me for honking parked next to me and got so close to my door, I had to enter my car through the passenger side…
Never again.

This is going to be a quick review because it’s a grocery store. You can’t say that much about it unless you write about every single visit.
So yes, this Safeway is in the ghetto. Rainer Valley to be more precise. It’s been here for as long as I can remember, like when I was 4 years old and I went to the store all by lonesome self because I wanted to buy dog food. Long story.
Unfortunately, there are customers who you would rather not interact with and sometimes people causing trouble but hey it’s that kind of neighborhood. Location is convenient for me though, I just walk across the street.
The store is fairly clean but small so I can’t always find what I need. The staff are friendly and since I go there so often, they remember me and we always chit chat a bit.
Lastly, you can’t really hate on the store just because some of the people that live near by go here as well are ignorant. Blame it on the neighborhood, not the quality of the store. I admit that I rather go elsewhere (like my regular Fred Meyers) but it’s right there and when I’m short on time, it’s very convenient.

I go here if I have to. It’s simple.
There’s another store a few blocks away that is far superior, so why would I?
It’s been remodeled, I’ll give them that.
The staff are really nice.
The selection, however, is somewhere between expanded mini-​mart and grocery so for me, in my ‘one stop shopping mode’ it’s no good.