Wayfield Foods

Wayfield Foods gets a bad rap in metro Atlanta because they’re usually found in mostly black neighborhoods. It’s the «black» supermarket and we all know that the black man’s ice isn’t as cold as the white man’s ice. Right?
I’m not here to paint a picture of Wayfield being as good as Kroger or Publix. It isn’t. Wayfield is what it is: an it-​suits-​the-​purpose, meat and potatoes kind of grocery store. Most of the customers that shop at this location, including myself, shop there out of convenience. It’s the closest grocery store to where I live.
Wayfield isn’t bad at all but it’s a notch below the other chains I mentioned. You can find most of what you’re looking for but not as much in terms of variety. The major brands are here, but they may not be in as many different flavors. For instance, I like buying the Michelina frozen meals sometimes. Wayfield sells them, but they don’t carry my favorite (the stir fried rice entrée) but they do have some of the others. At Kroger, however, I can find all of the Michelina frozen entrees. The same is true for Zatarain’s frozen dinners and so on. The prices aren’t close to being convenient store bad, but there aren’t as many good price-​gouging sales either.
This store gets crowded, especially on weekends and at the end of the month. If you go during those times, expect long, slow lines and people walking around inside trying to sell their food stamps to you. Also, if you’re a guy carrying a bookbag, store employees will usually make you leave it at the customer service desk. I hate this practice because whenever I finish shopping and try to retrieve my bookbag the person who’s supposed to be manning the desk is gone. Then I have to stand there like an idiot waiting for assistance just to get my stuff back. Other than that, the store employees are personable and do a good job.
Overall though, I’m rating this Wayfield location three stars. It’s no frills but it is reliable and I’m so used to shopping there that I already know what it has and what it doesn’t. Also, one other convenience is there are usually neighborhood drivers (mostly senior citizens) who will drive you home for cheap if you’re willing to pay them. They aren’t employed by Wayfield but most of them are good people and if you don’t have a ride their services come in handy. Just be careful. I know which ones are cool because I live in the area.

I stopped here with a friend to look for some meat to cook for Easter. I was not at all pleased. This was not the dirtiest store but not the cleanest store either. Think not as bad as Piggly Wiggly or Jitney jungle yet not a Winn-​Dixie or Ingles.
There was a slight smell when we entered. It was freaking packed with customers. I was surprised, but it dawned on me that this is the only grocery store in the immediate area. For that reason it should be the cleanest damn store around! I assume that many customers patronize this location because they have no to little means of transportation. With that being said and from the look of the parking lot and the long lines, there is no reason why a store that gets plenty of revenue can’t make sure that this location is clean, safe, well stocked and staffed. The wait in line was too long. But there were not enough registers open. I am sad that some of us still have to deal with this type of nonsense due to our financial situations!!! It does however make me realize how fortunate I am!
I hope to never have to come back here again! But my friend got a ham at what she said was a reasonable price and they had a good deal for their cases of Tilapia. If the store was not in such poor condition then I would have gotten me a one.