Hy-Vee Food Stores

Hy-​Vee is too expensive for me. I prefer to support local businesses and local farmers first. Customer service and support is awful. I’ve mailed two requests to various store managers and now months later I’m still waiting on a response. Too me, that’s not an example of a «friendly smile in every isle.» I expect better from Hy-​Vee!

This is about the gas station across from the main food store. All the employees don’t seem to care about you or about the products they are selling.

This place is gorgeous. The selection, the amenities. I want to come here every day! Wow!

This review is mostly about the prepared foods section. This department seems like it is managed by someone who doesn’t care about food and maybe started working here after leaving a school cafeteria job. How anyone could walk past that rogues gallery of dishes and chose something to eat, I don’t know, but if was getting past dinner time and I was not feeling inc like cooking after work. There was something that looked dried out like beef jerky sitting in what could best be described as dirty dish water. Thankfully, there was a sign next to it explaining that this used to be corned beef. Everything looks dried out and disgusting. Maybe they could get some domes for third food so it doesn’t get all dried out or only have a sample on display rather that leaving all their food open to the air and drying out. There are a bunch of cool whip inspired «salads». I was hopping when they went fresh upscale market with the store redesign they would somehow improve the quality of the food offerings. It seems like all they have done is raise prices 20% without a thought about improving the calibre of food or those cooking it. I ended up getting some Chinese takeout. It was super oily, and had that flavor things get when they are cooked using worn out oil. you know how oil takes on that sticky texture when it has been heated past its limit or when food is cooked on a flat top that hasn’t been degreased in several hours? It tasted just like that. Pizza should be a safe bet, but this place puts out unimaginative pizza, with such stingy toppings that they’ve even ruined pizza. You have to Realy not care about what you are doing to ruin pizza becaus even so so pizza is not too bad. This looked like grade school cafeteria pizza.
I didn’t get sick from eating there so that’s something, but that’s a pretty low bar. Ugh.

I used to avoid this location but now that they’ve moved into their new building next door, I love this location. There’s a much larger selection here compared to what they were able to offer in their old building (though still not nearly as large as the Coralville location).
They have an indoor recycling collection area, Starbucks, floral shop, organic foods section (with local pork!), and a fantastic liquor store. Really, the craft beer selection there is great, plus local distributors and brewery representatives are frequently around providing samples and talking about their latest brews.
My favorite thing about this grocery store is that they offer home delivery for free on any order over $ 100. The online ordering system is reminiscent of shopping on Amazon, and makes it easier to compare products and prices. The only catch is that you may have to wait a day or two before it can be delivered — I think it depends on the demand and how many other deliveries have already been placed that day/​week. The week of Christmas, there was a three day wait so definitely plan ahead around the holidays.

Pros:
1. Excellent remodel of an older smaller store.
2. The produce section is excellent and organized well.
3. Good sized bakery and deli section.
4. The liquor store has a nice selection of local and domestic beer, wine, and liquor. Can always find something new too.
5. Enjoy the aesthetics and functional use of the wind turbines to charge electric cars. Hopefully in the future these will be more readily used.
Cons:
1. Being a smaller store, they sometimes do not directly have a few items that could be found at a larger store such as the Coralville location.

Convenient location on the edge of town, with a decent liquor selection. However: Prices at this Hy-​Vee are higher on some items than the other locations in town. Take that for what it’s worth.
Recycling bins out in the lot are nice.