Stewart’s Shop

I stopped in here to buy my sister some beer. Coors Light specifically. The teller (a toolbag of the highest order) said «you know we sell real beer too». I was taken off guard a bit and said «it’s for my little sister». He wittily retorts «what, is she 17?». I then told the guy he was kind of a dick, got my change and walked out. I go to Stewarts for beer or their awesome cappuccino cooler things, not advice on beer or smartass remarks. Somebody needs to fire this moron.

This Stewarts used to be my favorite in the area, but since the renovation and newly hired staff, I’ve had few pleasant experiences. The staff has been rude and unhelpful. I’ve been refused service by one brunette young lady who then harassed my boyfriend and I with unnecessary and rude comments. On other occasions I have had workers completely ignore me as I wait to cashed out, generally chatting and not appearing to actually be doing anything productive.
In my opinion, if you want to have a friendly and fast conscience store experience with lower prices, you should go to the xtramart across the street.
Stewarts, you’ve lost my business.

I am not a Convenience Store person for the most part, having a limited appetite for lottery tickets, cigarettes, and forty cents a can beer. But Stewart’s is so darn cute it’s hard not to like, and it’s sort of unique in my experience among convenience chains.
First off, it’s locally-​owned, and Stewart’s has been a good neighbor and corporate citizen (such as these things go). Their employees are far less surly than typical convenience store folk, sometimes (as at this location) downright chipper.
I also am keen on their diagonally-​oriented aisles, which break up the store and tend to lessen the usually glum looking-​for-​a-​Ho-​Ho experience of a quick trip to the 24 hour store.
The thing that makes Stewart’s, though, is their continued use of modest seating areas inside. It’s far closer to that old general store vibe than anything out there in the retail world these days — friendlier than the post office, more amenable to conversations with strangers than Starbucks or Dunky’s, and with their relatively brighter stores with exterior views out from the eating booths, it’s (strange to say) not that bad a short hang out spot.
This particular location is an upgraded large-​format Stewart’s, and the staff have been pretty good. Only the occasional creepy character has darkened its doorstep in my limited patronage, which is well above par. You can enter from both Vly and Route 7 fairly easily (except at rush hour), particularly heading eastbound. And compared to the Xtramart across the street — which is larger but far skeevier — it’s a more pleasant experience.