Village Market Place

I’m pretty much a regular here. Love the staff. Love the skirt steak, rib eyes, for the grill. Fresh produce, great prices, close to home. The parking lot can be a nightmare so just be very careful of people walking, cars pulling out.

Their prices on dairy and «middle aisle» product are kinda high, although you can get really good deals on meat (4.29 for chuck tender is awesome) and produce so it balances out. As others have mentioned, they do have a very good deli selection and they carry a nice variety of produce as well (as compared, to, say, Marketplace on Oakton). As with similar places, they do have a great selection of Euro foods — lots of different roasted peppers and harder to find «ethnic» items.
Not particularly friendly or chatty people, but I really don’t care about that — if you want to get to know your grocer, this probably isn’t the place — but again, not a star breaker for me.

I don’t know what has taken me so long to write a review about this place, but my mom and I have been coming here for years, and we love it. We have a lot of markets and options for groceries in our area, and this is one of the best!
It’s always full of Eastern Europeans and nice Jewish ladies, in addition to the ones who work there, and once you park in the small, always full parking lot, you’re in for a treat if you appreciate a decent variety of fresh produce and great prices! Some items are seasonal and I almost always see a guy in the aisles stocking all of the incoming goodies. They always have sales and even if you’re on a budget, you’re sure to find the makings for a healthy meal. They have a decent selection of seafood, deli items, and also great prices on meats! (Some of the best lean beef, chops, ground meats, chicken, and try their homemade Italian sausage!)
They carry Marzetti salad dressings, which my family loves; a good variety of dairy items, and we love the hummus! Their frozen section is small, as is their snack aisle, yet they carry Smart pop popcorn, Stacy’s pita chips, and specialty items as well as most standard groceries. I can’t do all of our grocery shopping here, but I can certainly do most of it. They also have a small liquor department but good wines, and the cashiers are always friendly!

Wide, varied fresh produce selection. Seems affordably priced, and they keep on top of it to get rid of aging fruits and veggies so it all stays presentable.
Great values in the meat cooler as well. Weekly deals are an absolute steal, and — like the produce — it all looks and tastes nice and fresh. Their homemade Italian sausage is really good. Nice and salty and spicy (if you get the hot kind), with a perfect ratio of fat to lean. Big deli selection as well.
Special commendation to whomever buys their beer, wine, and liquor. The section is small, only a few shelves, and some sixpacks of beer near the produce, but it’s well-​curated. The American craft beers are nicely varied and in-​season. I was pleased to find an oak-​aged scotch ale there last week. They also have a great selection of beers from Lithuania, as well as some cool flavored vodkas imported from there as well. I saw stuff from the Czech republic and Russia too. Great variety in a limited space.
All in all, color me impressed, and I’m not a guy who’s easily killed impressed (ooh, a blue car!). I feel good supporting this local mom & pop shop over the macro-​markets, especially given the fact it’s cheaper and better in almost every regard.

Ever since I became an «adult» and started to cook actual meals I really like Village Market Place for groceries.
Food: definitely great prices for fresh groceries. This isn’t Trader Joes. They won’t have specialty and «fun» foods with bright quirky labels. Here they have fresh, in-​season fruits and veggies.
Deli: they have the yummiest meats and cheeses. My Eastern European friends all come here for their kiolbassa trays and salads. They even have specialty Russian mayo (to make your Ukrainian salads). The Deli counter ladies (and guys) are super friendly and have always been helpful when I tell them I’m attempting to make stuffed peppers or oliviyeh salad. They share with me their favorite brands so my salads always taste similar to the ones at my friends’ houses!
Things I recommend: I always buy my hummus here because it’s usually a better deal than other places. Sometimes they have really yummy caramel flan (it’s delivered to VMP) and it’s right where the milk is. I also recommend the Dadu ice cream! It’s one of my favorite ice creams– I believe it’s from Lithuania but it’s AMAZING and comes in its own cone.
Be sure to be careful in the parking lot. This place is super packed and my car did get hit once!

Village Market Place is an eclectic small grocery store with several fun surprises.
The produce is regularly good. Both organic and non-​organic options alike are available for the common items every American looks for, as well as quite a few ethnic options that are difficult to find elsewhere.
Additionally, the deli has a wide variety of both prepackaged imported things like uncut Russian bacon, fish, and sausages, as well as a large selection of feta, olives, salads, and cheeses.
The butcher often has lamb and fresh turkey, and a good selection of fresh and frozen fish.
Perhaps best of all — there are several kinds of liquor and chocolate you won’t find easily nearby.
Happy Cooking!

The customer service person really mistreated my 84 year old mother-​in-​law when she wanted to return moldy strawberries. She shops there every week, so she spends money at this store, and has for years. And we would do our shopping there too even though we live in the city. The woman had very nasty tone, told her «this was ridiculous» and more offensive language because she didn’t try to return earlier, even though my husband explained that his mother does not drive, and my husband and I were out of town. «Well, she should have called.» Not quite certain what that would have done. I used to like this store, but have to say when have returned stuff to Jewel or Mariano’s, they don’t even question it. And as we are the drivers, we might not shop here anymore. I just don’t like jerks, and especially jerks who mistreat the elderly! Shame on you, Village Market Place!

Really cheap, really great. It’s close to seasonal, which is impossible to find in Chicago. Not Farmer’s Market or anything, but I go here once a week and the produce does shift with the times. The butcher is sort of amazing, as is the deli counter. Don’t buy your meat elsewhere — you’re getting ripped off. Fabulous fajitas for $ 2.99 a pound, for example, or really, really nice pancetta for $ 4.99. Great olive oil for $ 20 a huge tin. Probably it’s not the place for cat litter and toilet paper, but if you need ethnic staples, you’ll be fine. I buy a lot of produce and extras every week and it’s rarely more than $ 30. Bring elbow pads to knock over old Russian and Jewish ladies if you’re there on certain days — I haven’t figured out their schedules.

Good grief.
I feel bad for having produce markets in my area like Caputo’s, Valli, and Villa Park Fruit Market, knowing that there are less fortunate that have to make due with places like this.
Sorry, people who have to shop here.
You’ll never know spacious parking lots, ample aisles, huge selections, and cheaper prices like I do. Shopping here makes me take back every single thing I have ever complained about regarding the produce markets I normally shop at.

This is our go-​to grocery store. We avoid the chains, like Jewel, in favor of this home spun place. They have a huge fruit and vegetable department, with tons of fresh produce. And the meat counter and deli is outstanding. What we really like is that they have lots of imported foods (Eastern European and Asian).

I love this market, and travel over 20 minutes to get here! The produce is always very fresh, and the prices are great! The deli counter is stocked full of delicious meats and cheeses, and they also have some amazing sausages. I love the fajita meat — both chicken and beef, as well as the marinated chicken kabobs.
Everyone that works at the market is very friendly and helpful. On several occasions stockers have stopped their current task to show me to an isle to find an item I was looking for. I always leave with plenty of food for a very reasonable price, which makes it well worth my drive!

Prices are fair depending on the day. They have a habit of changing there prices on meat depending on when they are busy. That’s the down side the plus is they are helpful wait time is not bad and the food is of a good quality for the price.

Skokie is filled with various Euro Markets, all independently owned. Village Market has cheap boneless chicken breast, and chicken thighs. Reviews ask you to make sure you check the fliers before your visit. I concur, whether you’re using the internet or the paper packet delivered to your front door. What you need to remember, there are many markets in the area. If Village Market is charging too much, you can wait a few days for the price to come down. You could also drive a few miles and eventually some other Euro market will be selling that same product at the price you’re looking for. This is what I love so much about Skokie.
I’d give Village Market 5 stars if they’d only keep the sale prices consistent.
Produce is reasonably priced, and usually fresh. They sell products from all around the world; but most of it caters to Russians and Middle Eastern people. Everything seems poorly organized and I think it’s probably due to the small space that everyone is talking about. It’s like a Chicago corner store on steroids. I can’t complain because walking through a major chain just for 3 items, is not appealing. Especially when they are located in different corners of the store. I do enough walking during the day. Now that I do most of my grocery shopping after work, I don’t want to walk anymore than I absolutely have to.
Everyone that works there is so friendly, energetic and helpful. They won’t ask you if you need help, but they will go out of their way once you make your presence known. Lines are never too long to pay, but they look like it because the distance from the food shelves to the actual registers is no more than maybe 7 feet. Have only two people waiting for one clerk and it looks like there is a traffic jam. Even the clerks at open lanes have to wave people over to their register because you can’t see around the line in front of you in order to distinguish shoppers from others that may be in line to make a purchase.
Coming on a day that there isn’t a sale is no different than a random stop to any other grocery store. When sales happen here, they are better than anywhere else that is a chain. Essentially it’s guilt-​free shopping. Hope you can make the switch from your major chain. If you live locally, it would be ridiculous not to.

Not a fan. There seems to be a hit or miss on variety and more so on the attitudes of the cashiers. I will not shop here again, I’d rather drive 15 minutes out of my way to hit up a crowded Wal-​Mart.

Great prices, usually good quality. Make sure to look at the prices in the flyer online before buying. Close to Northwestern, so we always came here for cheap produce. The deli counter is also great. They seem to have a lot of ethnic products (Middle Eastern? Greek?)

I love this place! A friend once said, it’s the only market that you leave feeling more relaxed than you walked in. I think it’s true.
Village has a great produce section, which is our main reason for going. It’s a good all-​around store if you like fresh veggies and ethnic food. The prices are very good, though organic options are not generally available.
This is not a place to go for everything under one roof, but it’s our mainstay for the things we usually cook.

The Village Market seems to be a mom and pop store — which is very nice, however, the times that I have gone in to purchase my favorite popcorn for the drive home, (this is the only store that sells it on my route home); the cashiers haven’t been too pleasant. It often seems that I am bothering them. I don’t ask questions. I pay with cash. I try to be invisible, however, they don’t engage me as a customer. It’s like they know I’m not a regular so they don’t make the investment. I’ve gone in at least 3 – 4 times to purchase the same thing… and still no reaction.
The store is oddly arranged, but I guess if I continue to purchase my popcorn then I’ll get used to things and perhaps they will of me.

Would give 5 Stars but there were out of the oranges and cheese I went there for. But for everything else its a 5 star place althought it does get crowded but hey who cares its nice, cheap and friendly. We go there all the time and love it. The parking lot is my favorite. It’s like shooting craps.

This place is almost too much for a simple Aquarius like me.
First, the downside, and why I can’t give five stars; the parking lot is way too small and totally insane. Subtract ½ star. How busy, you ask? Think Old Orchard on the Saturday before Christmas. Think five free, legal spots near Soldier Field, half an hour before the Bears/​Patriots playoff game. Yes, that busy. I was in a line-​up of 5 cars, 3pm, Martin Luther King Day. Yes, I know many people had the day off today (I didn’t!), but geez, folks! When I saw how crazy the lot was, I told myself, forget this store, just get out of here and go back to Jewel. But a spot miraculously opened up before me, so I went in.
The grocery carts are located outside the door. It was raining today. All the carts were wet. Subtract ½ star.
You can’t locate carts in the entryway to the store because there are racks of produce. Mostly apples, today. It was an obstacle course getting a couple fujis.
This store was busy and packed. Carts everywhere, all kinds of different languages spoken, lines at the delis, lines of people picking over fruit.. . guys, it was a little overwhelming.
Holy Freakin’ Simon Cowell, the produce is inexpensive and gorgeous. It’s January. A red pepper at Jewel costs $ 2.50. I bought a big, beautiful red pepper here for $.99! I don’t even need a red pepper. I just wanted to pay a dollar for a nice one in January. And carrots…cucumbers. .. bagged lettuce. Would you believe, they had bagged carrots and individual carrots? If you only wanted two, you could buy two!
I did want two or three bananas, but they only had bags of eight. I’d have had to make banana bread in a few days. .. no bananas for me today.
There are Kosher foods, Arab foods, Polish foods, Indian foods, items with languages I didn’t recognize. A big deli counter. A big meat section. You could buy fresh feta, different kinds of olives in big vats, pastrami, and some cuts of meat I hadn’t even heard of before. Somebody must want them, I guess. Greek yogurt. Organic products.
Gluten-​free products.
How do they all this stuff in a store that doesn’t look so big from the outside? I was reminded of Dr. Who’s TARDIS — the outside was a small, plain English telephone booth, but the inside was the size of a couple football fields, because the two existed in different dimensions. Maybe that’s it. .. the parking lot is in one dimension, and the deli section is in another.
Friends, I have to tell you, I was a little overwhelmed. I probably need to make a couple more visits to take it all in. I got everything I wanted, including a bottle of wine, for $ 21.25.
Jewel, it’s all over between us. Oh, I may occasionally be back for a few items you carry that others don’t, but your produce sales no longer entice me. I’m a Village Market girl from now on. .. as long as I can find a parking place.

How have I not written a review here? I must have. Oh right, cellphone reception is non-​existent on their store for tmobile so I can’t check in.
So before getting it, you should probably know that parking here is a bit of a pain in the ass. During rush hour it’s going to be hard to get out after grocery shopping, and the parking during busy hours is pretty crammed.
I probably shop here once every 2 – 3 weeks. They are awesome for what it is. The produce is incredibly cheap and pretty good quality, and they also have a wide variety of ethic foods. For such a small location, the variety is huge. Notably there is a lot of Russian, Polish and middle eastern stuff here. Also for the fans of Ratners frozen stuff (a must for anyone who’s never tried), they have a non-​tofu (mostly potato) veggie burger which I cannot seem to find at most other grocery stores (including the awesome kosher jewel). Beats the hell out of every other easy veggie burger.
They also have some nice breads, decent prices on meats, and have a pretty decent wine selection too since it includes some rare imported stuff — look up sometime and check out the unicorn liquor or whatever that crazy stuff is.