Safeway

Pardon my French, but fuck this place.
Allow me to explain. It was an early morning. It was maybe 445am or 5am I can’t remember. What I do remember is walking into a completely empty Safeway to pick up a much needed Monster energy drink. When I arrived at the check out stand there was a sign that read, «Ring bell for service» right next to a bell.
So I hit the bell. It’s broken. There’s a faint sound coming from the bell so I hit it again. And again. And again. No one is coming to my rescue. I need this drink BAD.
I hit it again and again. Still nothing. I had to flag down what seemed like the only employee in the store to ring me up.
I don’t get a greeting. Or a total. There is no smile. And no thank you after I was rung up.
I know this place has gotten a lot of hate over the sandwich shop lifting incident and now I know why. This is the WORST Safeway in the entire freaking solar system.

I’ve never taken the time to do scientific research on which supermarket is the cheapest, but it just «feels» like I get the best deal at Safeway. It helps that Safeway sells many of their own branded items, and for the most part, I’ll buy their brand over the name brands to save a few bucks.
This store is easy to access because you can enter their parking lot from either South Beretania, Young Street, or Pensacola. There are plenty of spaces for their shoppers.
Since they don’t have a fresh bakery or deli, you don’t get the aroma and «wow» factor that you get at places like Wholefoods, Foodland Farms, or Safeway Kapahulu, hence the 3-​star rating. The store is very outdated and in need of a makeover in the worse way. But that’s not going to happen since this location will soon be closed to make way for the new Safeway that is being built on the corner of Piikoi and S. Beretania.

This Safeway scares me. Both the people working and the people shopping have a serious staring problem. I guess this kinda normal in Hawaii when people are always staring to see if they know you. But it’s uncomfortable for me. Unless I really have to, I don’t go to this Safeway. I’d rather drive the distance and go to the Kapahulu one if I have to.
Unilocal 365 Challenge #99/​365

My main mode of transportation is my feet. I walk to work. I walk to the beach. I walk pretty much everywhere. I mainly shop at Don Q because I can walk there. Its nice to change it up once in a while and go to the Safeway that happens to be right across the street from the elementary school I volunteer at. I’m a bit of a groccery store addict so I can’t help but to always walk in and check out Safeway (even when I have food at my house)
There are always sales going on and everyone working there is really friendly and helpful. There was a sale for hummus going on but no products to match the stickers and the store manager saw that I was having trouble finding it so he helped me try to find it. When it didn’t turn up, he went to the back to see if they had any more left. Unfortunately there wasn’t but still, I appreciate the effort. Another time, I had the lady at the fish counter put more salmon poke in my container after she had already printed out the sticker and she did it with a smile even though it was kind of a pain in the ass since I had approved the amount the 1^st time.
I’ll definitely be back even if its just to browse or buy a couple of things.
Unilocal 365: ⁰¹²⁄₃₆₅

I have been to this Safeway during my stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort. Nothing special about this, very typical, except for their overpriced produce. The Safeway in San Jose, CA has way better pricing…
I know for sure I will not be visiting this Safeway ever again, especially after how they handled the situation about the couple who ate a sandwich and forgetting to pay for it.
The managers who decided to have the couple arrested have no compassion at all, no sense of leniency. Very unwise (from a business standpoint) to not allow them to pay for the product; it’s going to hurt the business in the long run. They were well aware that the couple had eaten the sandwiches, and rather than approach them and ask for them to pay for it, they waited until the couple exited the store just to have them arrested. I bet they were pretty proud that they caught the supposed thieves who stole $ 5 worth of sandwiches and having purchased $ 50 worth of groceries… The managers need to be taught how to treat people better and be more humane! Very, very POOR JUDGEMENT on their behalf.

Let’s get this strait. I always hated this location. Getting a shopping cart to shop is in a weird location, the selection is super limited, and PRICES ARE NOT THAT CHEAP, especially when not on sale. The food selection in the deli counter isn’t that great either. The only thing I would come to buy here is ice, but that’s only if I can’t make it to Costco on my way to Ala Moana Beach Park.
But I gotta shake my head at this location and the sandwich eating incident. YOU KNEW THEY ATE THE SANDWICHES YET YOU WANTED THEM TO COMMIT THE CRIME. Be a man and address the situation prior to them leaving. Stop them from eating, make them pay immediately. Having controlled a retail store myself I understand trying to make a statement saying you won’t stand for criminal activities, but being vigilante about it upfront sends the same message. The staff wanted to see action?
Now you want me to patronize your future store that has been nothing but a traffic nightmare for me? YEAH RIGHT! You build a new Kapahulu store and after comparing it with the Foodland up the road guess where I shop? *hint* they got good poke bowls. You think a shiny new store gonna make me want to go? No. I go for prices and selection, not to be cool.
Boycott is no different from what I’ve been doing from the get go, but then again you earned it before the sandwich event. Make your store and prices better then I might actually use it.

I love this store for the convenience of location, location, location. I have my First Hawaiian Bank on this corner, and I can enter/​exit from 4 sides!
I usually end up with my flower/​balloon needs here. There are some cool floral department sales people that have never failed to help me find the perfect gift.
I always stop in for a drink/​sandwich/​pit stop.
This is the Safeway in the news recently for arresting a woman for eating her $ 5 sandwich before paying and trying to leave without paying. What made it sensational, is the Child Protective Service took away her infant for many hours. All the facebook hype and pilikia (worries) followed.
Personally, I know that the quality of the sandwich here is not worth getting arrested for. Now if you were at the Kapahulu branch and had one of their gourmet deli sandwiches… Now that’s a great sandwich that would be hard to resist eating. Next time lady, please pay first, and don’t give my Safeway a bad time.
Besides, when the new super humongous Safeway opens a block away, you know this one will have to close. :-(
Stay cool, keep your shorts on, and don’t forget to pay before eating.
Unilocal 365 Challenge: ⁷⁷⁄₃₆₅

I’m quite familiar with this store as one of my friends worked here for several years in the pharmacy. I was his personal chauffeur or he honestly believed I was lol. Didnt bother me much because he was the only fool to trust me (un licensed) to drive his cars. My driving has improved over years so I drive there legally now :)
The store in general is a good grocery store. Usually very easy to get in, find what you need and check out. Workers were always friendly and the shelves were always stocked for the most part. The only thing I dont like about this place is the parking lot. Parking here is hectic at times and the exit ways throw you right into traffic. Other than that this is a good place to shop.

I have a many options of where to shop close to where I live. I actually pass a Foodland to go here. I like this location because of the parking and selection. There is a giant Safeway closer to me, but I really hate fighting for a parking stall.
The pharmacy at this location is also great.

Today was such a weird day at Safeway. I had my 8 month baby in my carrier strapped to my stomach, my five year old daughter sitting in the shopping cart and my seven year old pushing the cart with me. Everyone looked at me like I was an alien.
I walked by one man who said «Whoa you’ve got your hands full.»
Another man smile and said «Wow that’s a lot going on there.»
And oddly enough, the one that made the biggest impression was the one who stood in the middle of the aisle and failed to notice me standing there with three kids waiting for him to get out of the way. After a very long day of working and not nearly enough coffee I’ll have to be honest in telling you that I almost lost it. My daughter had two packs of fajita seasoning in her hands and I mentally pictured myself throwing them at him like ninja stars.
Can you imagine the headlines?
MOTHER OF THREE ASSAULTS ELDERLY MAN WITH FAJITA SEASONING: Man in critical condition and soon to be served with flour tortillas!
But as I have to be a positive role model for my children (drats!), I waited patiently for him to move. Three hours late (time becomes exponentially increased with each child) we finished our grocery shopping. I love this Safeway because it’s convenient and the size is small so it doesn’t take me forever to get my things. I’ll be sad to see it go when the new Safeway is build across the street. BUT I will be very thankful for the larger aisles because I can’t promise you that I won’t hurt that old man next time.
Can you imagine the headlines?
MOTHER OF THREE STABS ELDERLY MAN WITH BANANAS: He may go lickety split and scooped with neopolitan ice cream!
Unilocal 365 Challenge: #13/​365 (The Man In The Aisle)

The Good:
*I like this safeway.
*Big parking lot.
*Convenient location.
*There’s a flower shop connected to it.
The Bad:
*exiting the parking lot is a bit of a hassle
The Weird:
*Many of the customers here walk realllyyyyy slow. So… I’m usually hesitant to back out of my stall with slow moving people around.

This current location will soon be replaced with a newer larger Safeway across the street and back a block, but there is something about this one that is really great. Maybe because I always used to go here from small kid time or the large parking lot.
But, the part I like most is the selection, variety of choices and fresh produce and meat products. You can find a few choices of most products which is always a plus. I also find their produce fresher than most markets. The only frustrating thing is that they have some products (grapes, cherries, etc.) already bagged in 5 lb. quantities. I personally don’t need a thousand cherries and I’m not one of those people to open up a bag and stick 2 lbs in another one! For that reason I end up paying quite a bit for some prepackaged products. On the flipside, I think less handling by the stranger next to you picking their nose and touching the fruits is a good thing. It’s more sanitary when it’s bagged for you.
I will miss this location when the new one opens, but it’s time for a facelift and fresh hardware. Bring it on!

This Safeway is located next to Kaiser Medical Center or behind McKinley High School. sorta LOL This Safeway is sorta limited with parking. but you normally can find parking on the non-​rush hour times like after work, etc.
Staff are always cooky looking, never greet you, but if you ask a question they will answer you. Seems way better stocked with products then some other Safeways I’ve been to. The cashiers always seem to take their time, what they need to do is hurry the fuck up:) okay. That is all, I’m just sayin:)

If money were no object or if my military commissary privileges were revoked, I’d likely do all my grocery shopping at the Beretania Street Safeway. As it stands, we do our day to day shopping at the Hickam Commissary, but we like to buy our fresh seafood from this Safeway’s awesome seafood department.

This is review is mainly for the floral department at Safeway… I remember when I was a little girl my parents would go here after we picked my mom up from work and do our grocery shopping and oh it was so magical for me. I was one of those kids who prefer grocery shopping than anything because I get to choose what snacks and drinks and etc. Ooohhh the power of it all when my siblings would see us come home and there was nothing in the bags for them :) Yes I had the inns.
But just recently I had the best experience of my life at the floral department. My mom and I was on our way to my aunties coronation ball and we needed to get some flowers on a sunday evening. Most floral shops are closed by then and I remember one of my cousins got her floral arrangements from Safeway… So we were there and June the florist was such a good help.
June was suppose to be done for the day but she patiently helped us and got her charm going on. She mentioned that she was gonna have a new floor at the new location and she insisted that we visit her and yes we will. She is just amazing at what she does and you can tell her love of it!

I’m writing this review only because I’m moving to AZ. If not, I wouldn’t give up my favorite spicy ahi in Hawaii, c’mon they only make one tray a day. Okay, here it goes… this Safeway and only this one has the best spicy ahi in Hawaii. Fresh not frozen, consistent, and $ 15.99 per pound. Yah Fresh Catch is the bomb, but for some reason, this one tastes better. There I said it. Now go out and get it. Don’t forget the sake!

Sorry Emi… but I’m not a fan of this particular Safeway. It’s the closest one to where we’re living but seriously, this is the hobo Safeway. I always feel like it’s sketchy here at night and I don’t like how there’s weird peoples hanging out in the parking. I saw this hooker and her john hanging out one time in the car together… at least that’s how it looked to me. I do like Safeway but unless I’m only getting one thing, I make a venture out to the Manoa one. This one gives me the creeps and people get all crazy in the parking lot trying to get the closest stall. Oh and the other day, there was this guy trying to get around me and another cart… I was like seriously dude, just go around but I guess he didn’t see me because his toupee was falling down all over his eyes and his shades were ginormous!
PS. They do have good fries here… I give Safeway that… well this one anyway.

Safeway’s Club Card deals are THE BEST! I always get their «Eating Right» frozen foods, which are their version of Lean Cuisine… they’re super yummy and always 2/​$ 5! Their produce is always fresh and colorful and I’ve never seen this store in any disarray.
The employees are also very friendly and helpful — I really like this store because of that!

This is an old school Safeway. It’s smaller, which is good for me since I’m walking home anyways and any less walking on a hot afternoon is always welcome. One additional bonus? I found they have some of my favorite Reser’s (
) products here. Their flower store isn’t too bad either. the prices are slightly higher, but it’s convenient. It was really blustery that day and the lady working there was really helpful wrapping my flowers for the walk home. It’s a nice neighborhood grocery store where the employees are friendly. Make sure to have your Safeway Club Card on the ready. Also, did you know that you can get United Airlines Miles from using your Safeway Club Card? Just ask a cashier. Additionally, you can go to their website and load coupons onto your card as well. Cool yeah?
The parking lot can sometimes be a bit busy for some reason, so be alert when walking through there. They do have a guy sometimes monitoring the parking situation, so if you’re parking there and going someplace else be aware.

I bought flowers for my friend for her birthday here today. SUPER affordable: $ 20 for a dozen short-​stemmed pink roses in a super cute round glass vase. You have no idea how much of a relief this was after I nearly fainted at Fujikami Florist up the street — where arrangements pretty much START at $ 30. I just needed something simple and pretty, and this totally did the trick. And while I was there, I picked up some potted daffodils for myself — for $ 3.99! Gotta love it.
Grocery-​wise, I’m not totally in love with this Safeway, especially since I live closer to the Kapahulu megastore, but if you work in the Kaka’ako area, this place is really convenient in a pinch — apparently for flowers, as well as for food!