Safeway

Early morning last week I was in the store and overheard a manager screaming at one of his employees. I have shopped at Safeway for approximately 30 years but not any more. As a former Human Resource Manager and Administrator I cannot tolerate managers bullying their employees. There are much better ways to handle any mistake, if indeed the boy had made one.
Rosemary W.

I can’t take this place. The meat section smelled «off», and I can’t seem to get anyone to help me find an item. I’ve been here a few times after work, but this time, I’ve had enough.

If I am in the area and need to pick up a few things quickly, this is the store I go to.
The parking lot here is a lot less hassle than the Giant or Whole Foods parking lots in the Kentlands down the street. The store is really in need of a renovation, but they have great deals and every day specials.
Their salad bar is rough, and the hot bar isn’t all that appetizing either. I haven’t had the need to go to the Seafood or Bakery counter, but can say that the produce always looks fresh.
This store doesn’t have the specialty foods that Whole Foods has, and it doesn’t have the updated open look of the new Harris Teeter down the street. I come here when I’m in a hurry to pick up a few things (for a good price!) and dont feel like dealing with the parking situation in the neighbouring shopping centers.

About 12 years ago when I first moved to the area, this was a decent place. In fact I was a secret shopper for Safeway for about 6 mos. I suspect that program ended because now the service, produce quality and frozen item quality has consistently disappointed. The «cycling» of their freezer cases melts and then refreezes their products. It is very difficult to find fresh broccoli. I just stopped in to buy some frozen yogurt bars and zip out. Forget it! One cashier working and about 10 people in line. I gently asked the cashier if he was working solo. He was very polite and said that the other employee was on break and the manager was doing something. He must not have had the ability to call for back up. I placed my items back in the freezer and left. It would have all melted by the time I checked out. It is sad to see this store has gone so far downhill. Their prices are high which would be ok if the quality and service were there, but they aren’t.

Recently purchased produce near expiration date both cut fruit packed by or for Safeway. Packages were bulging with gas from spoiled fruit. Also purchased two bags of romaine lettuce near expiation date. Both were spoiled and thrown out. Visiting Safeway on Darnstown road is like walking into 1986. But much of the produce was dropped off then as well. I will agree with other reviewers that the employees whom I’ve known for years there are friendly.

Consistently slow is the best way to describe this store. I work nearby and pop in on occasion to grab some lunch or groceries for later, and it feels as though there are never more than 2 or 3 lanes open. I’m almost better off going to the Giant nearby or maybe even the Harris Teeter by 370.

This is the closest grocery store to where I work (across the street), so you’d think it would be the fastest right? No, I could drive a 2 miles down the road to the Giant at the Kentlands and be in, out and back in the office before I’m done waiting at the Deli counter at this Safeway.
There are never more than 2 checkouts open, usually only one. There are no self-​checkouts (what’s up with that? Is this the last one in the county without self-checkouts)…not only that, but if you need something from the Deli, I hope you’re ready to wait. Frequently, the lady at the Deli counter will make eye contact with you and then let you stand their for 5 – 10 minutes.
Rotting food! Moldy bread and cheese, produce that is bruised, old and also moldy.
Don’t go here.

Still stands… What a dump! Went in today against my better half to get some rolls and orange juice. The self serve rolls were lacking severely and it was apparently clear that the bins that held the rolls have not been cleaned in… Probably years! They were disgusting. Variety was poor. Also needed orange juice and found no single serve packages. Had to navigate the fridge to get a decent expiration date. For a change, 3 checkout lines open instead of the usual 1 or 2… I felt lucky. Only waited a few minutes. Will happily continue to drive to wegmans or Harris teater for my mainstream shopping needs.

If you grew up in the DC metro area, you were indoctrinated at a young age as to what grocery store would be «yours.» In our family, it was always Giant. But that’s not the reason I absolutely DETEST this Safeway. I tried shopping here since it was closer than my nearest Giant, but didn’t last more than 2 trips. Now I only shop here if I absolutely HAVE to get something since it’s the closest grocery store to me, but even then it’s under protest. Not only do they never seem to have what it is I want, but checking out has consistently — and I mean CONSISTENTLY — been a nightmare each and every time. Why in the world do they not have self checkout??? I DON’T WANT TO CHAT WITH THESE CASHIERS and yet that’s what they apparently must do to earn their paychecks. And slow??? The worst. Absolutely the worst. And every cashier there is worse than the last one you had to endure. Besides that, EVERY time I’ve had to ask a question the people who worked there were clueless — or worse, they gave the wrong answer if they had an answer at all. If negative stars was an option, I would gladly give this store as many negative stars as I possibly could. So unless you were raised as a Safeway loyalist, or unless you just happen to enjoy incompetence in action, STAY AWAY!

i go here cause its not crowded– otherwise they really need to upgrade this place. renovations please.

I have three grocery stores within walking distance of my house: This Safeway, Giant, and Whole Paycheck (oops, I meant Whole Foods). I used to swear by Giant but my wife insisted Safeway was better and as usual, she was right. Not only is the store friendlier but the prices are much better. Of course, you have to shop the specials but that’s pretty normal.
This location does not have a self check out lane which would be nice. I’ve been impressed with how low employee turnover is. I’ve been buying seafood from the same guy for so long that we’ve become acquaintances and the cashiers and managers have mostly been there for a long time, too.
The store is always clean and parking is easier than at the Giant. Overall, I’d say out of 10 grocery store runs, 7 are to this Safeway, one is to Shoppers so I can buy beer and wine and a few groceries, one is to Aldi’s for cheap basics, and one is to Giant for convenience (just because I happen to be up there at the time).

Decent sales if you use your Safeway card & even more off if you download the Just For You app. The staff is usually friendly, but the worst part about this Safeway is that there’s ALWAYS a line & there’s no self checkout. I was there last night at 9:00 pm — there were only two lines open (and one was a 15 item or less line). I had about 20 items and waited in line for a good 10 – 12 minutes before it was my turn. The other bad thing about this Safeway is the produce. Many of the apples we buy from there are bruised or mushy. The bananas are either super green or super yellow — no in between. This Safeway is about 2 minutes from my house, which is why we continue to go, but if we have plenty of time, it’s worth the drive to Harris Teeter about 7 minutes or so from there.

Stopped in at 6:45 this morning to get bagels. The bins were empty (not from selling out, they hadn’t made them yet). Donuts? Nope, not yet. Pastries? Nope, empty.
What grocery store in this country doesn’t have donuts/​bagels/​etc. out by 7 a.m.
Also, I noticed that Laughing Cow cheese was on sale for the Club Card price of $ 3.99. I just bought some at Harris Teeter for $ 1.99, not on sale. Stacy’s Pita chips, $ 3.79…a full dollar more than Giant or MOM’s.
I turned around, put my basket back on the stack, and left. No need to do business here.

As a California native, I’ve come to rely on grocery shopping at Safeway. The store carries many of the brands I like, including the Safeway brand. And I score great savings from using the Safeway shoppers card. I was a Safeway shopper while I lived in Santa Clara, CA and San Francisco… and Safeway was the primary choice while my husband and I lived in Washington, DC… it was conveniently located just a few blocks from us and we were happy to take advantage of the same deals and brands that we had offered to us while living in San Francisco.
We found this Safeway. Same, spacious layout as other Safeways, especially in the produce section. Same deals and brands that we’ve become accustomed to. We came here on a Saturday night and it wasn’t crowded at all. The store is located in an odd spot off Darnestown and its main entrance isn’t obvious from the road.
One thing to note is that this location doesn’t have self check-​out, which we’ve also become accustomed to and appreciated because we could get through more quickly. Hopefully, this store gets on board with the self check-​out for customer convenience. Safeway isn’t Harris Teeter… but it’s cheaper and carries more of the mainstream brands that I’ve relied on. I also recommend their bakery… bagels and pastries are delicious! (Chocolate chip cookies not as much though…)
I’m still a Safeway loyalist.