Dominick’s

Ok kudos to the employee who went out of her way to make sure I knew that I would get free items-​2 bags of Oreo cookies-​with my coke purchase. Quick check out. Crazy rainy night but running smoothly. Some employees need to be trained to smile because they represent the store… and more eye contact would be nice but over all… good experience.

June 4, 2013
DOMINICK’S IN OAK PARK IS A DISGRACE:
It’s 6:30 pm on Tuesday, June 4^th. There are over 30 people waiting in line at the Dominick’s in Oak Park. People who stopped at Dominick’s to pick up groceries on their way home from work. This has to be one of the busiest times of day at the store.
And yet? Tonight, there were 2 only cashiers open and 2 self serve stations (manned by a cashier), while other staffers at Customer Service desk stood looking on.
When I asked about getting more cashiers to the Assistant Manager, I was told there were no other staffers available. Yet, one woman stood by for 10 minutes at the Customer Service Desik because she said she could not clock in until 7 pm.
The people of Oak Park and Chicago’s Austin neighborhood deserve better. There are hardworking people at this store in the deli, produce, flower and meat/​fish departments. This location has some of the best produce outside of the Oak Park Farmers’ Market. But honestly, cashiering has been a problem at this store for the 10 years I’ve been shopping here. Why for heaven’s sake?
I want to support Dominick’s/Safeway, but after tonight, I am taking my business elsewhere unless I hear from the district manager and store manager, that the cashiering situation will change immediately. I don’t have time to sit in a line with 30 people, when I can go to Trader Joes, Whole Foods or Jewel in River Forest and check out in 5 minutes. Tonight I waited 30 minutes, for the last time.
I have submitted this complaint and a set of photos to Oak Park’s Wednesday Journal, Unilocal,Facebook. Twitter, and Dominick’s own site.
I hope you too will contact Dominick’s and lodge your complaints. If the corporation cannot manage this store properly — close it, because again, we deserve a grocery chain in this town who respects the people who shop there. I do believe this is a corporate issue and not a local management issue.
Sincerely,
Pam McNamara
Oak Park, IL

I came here strictly for a Rug Doctor rental and was glad they had the size I needed in stock. During the pickup and as well with the drop-​off, service was quick and efficient. I do occasionally come here for late night liquor runs if I’m nearby. They do seem to always have a sale going on. Although I am partial to a competitor, Dominick’s is still a great alternative.

It’s very conveniently located. If it weren’t for that I’d never go there.
Seriously, Dominick’s, red peppers at $ 1.99… not per pound. EACH?! Or five pears for five dollars. It’s as if the store is from the future, one where inflation has rendered all the prices outrageous. Other prices aren’t bad, but don’t buy produce unless you’re desperate.
Also, I recently purchased some dehydrated fruits as a snack. Didn’t think to check the expiration since, well… I never do that. But if I had (as my wife reminds me she did) I would have seen that they expired in March… of last year. That’s a year ago! I’m surprised I didn’t start sneezing from the dust accumulating on the package.

Without a doubt, this is one of the worst run Dominick’s in the Chicagoland area. I live across the street from this place, and it’s still not worth it to go here. On the plus side– it’s a great way to kill a few hours if you’ve got nothing better to do. You can also lose a few pounds while waiting in the everlasting lines.
This is as close as a grocery store comes to purgatory on earth.
Today’s adventure, which finally irritated me enough to write about the crappiness of this place:
In the time it took me to wait around trying to get a sandwich for lunch here before giving up I was able to get food faster by walking home, ordering food from Dino’s online, driving to get said food, and get back home.
Elapsed time at Dominick’s (after already arriving): 25 minutes. 15 minutes to order, culminating with the staff at the deli counter asking me if I wanted my philly cheesesteak heated up. Then another 5 minutes before they made the sandwich, then another 5 minutes in line after being told they can’t use the register. At this point, I cut my losses and left.
Elapsed time ordering from Dino’s: 15 minutes. 5 minutes ordering online, 5 minutes driving to go pick it up, and another 5 minutes driving back to our apartment.
Keep in mind, this is not an isolated incident, which I could understand and overlook. I’ve never before spent time at a store that’s so consistently, constantly awful. The produce is old, they routinely run out of basic items, and the store itself just seems unkempt.
Unless you live right next to this place, don’t waste your time here.

Seems silly to review a grocery store where one simply seeks to fulfill basic needs. You know, like food, toilet paper, etc. Don’t expect a lot of that here though.
This Dominicks is terrible. I really wish it weren’t because it’s very close to home. However, not only is the food selection poor and often out of stock (and yes, on more than one occasion EXPIRED, as another reviewer pointed out), the staff is completely horrendous. They need to hire some competent people. The checkout staff are particularly bad and don’t seem to understand urgency or the simple fact that bread is squishy and cannot be placed under cans. You may wait in line for up to 25 minutes in the evening. This is no exaggeration and, unless you have the patience of a thousand saints, you might spontaneously combust.
And finally, for an experience that will forever deter me from this Dominicks, I was today rammed into by a cart train. And the employee didn’t say a word — not even «oops!»

This Dominick’s store has had longer checkout lines recently.
As another reviewer said, the Starbucks here is great, and has fast service. The produce department staff is helpful, too. There are some super cashiers at this store, who make the experience pleasant.
This is not a destination grocery store, but is fine if you are in the neighborhood.

I looked up Dominicks because I heard they were cheaper that the Jewel but it seems they are the same prices. I’ll just stick to Trader Joe’s anyhow :). WOW! The Japanese curry here is $ 5.00! In Little Tokyo over at Downtown LA it’s only like $ 0.98 O.0 !!!
The staff here is really friendly though. One gentleman helped me with my cart since it was stuck to the others.

Cooking dinner for the boyfriend’s parents… Yikes!
Thankfully, Dominick’s had all the ingredients we were looking for. Things that made it maybe a less-​than-​stellar experience: their only fresh herbs were organic (priceyyy), and they didn’t have a lot of options as far as types of tortellini (none that were frozen, and none that contained anything but cheese)…
Good news, though, the dinner was a major hit: rave reviews from the parents AND the grandma!

I’m a die-​hard Kroger fan, but as a new Chicago resident it’s time for me to figure out my grocery store allegiance — Dominick’s or Jewel-​Osco?
This particular Dominick’s doesn’t do much to sway the balance in its favor. Most notably is the fact that no matter what time of day, there are never enough open checkout lines.
For the love of expedient shopping, just open up a few more when the lines pile up. Or, if they’d rather not hire more minimum wage help, put in a couple of self-​checkout lanes. Done and done!

I love this Dominick’s! They always have sales and they stock my boneless chicken thighs I love so much. Good selection of cheese and booze. The staff is sooo helpful and provides excellent customer service. However, the managers just stand around doing nothing. If the lines are long, jump on a register. If there is no one to bag the goods, you bag them. Need someone to push the carts? Don’t round up the middle-​aged ladies and have them breaking their backs!

Great store with absolutely exceptional customer service, my only complaint is that I think they are too small.

This is a perfectly adequate grocery store with less than stellar produce much like many of the chain-​type grocery stores around here. I’d much rather search through the masses of produce at Caputo’s or Tony’s and find some quality items instead of settling for what is often offered at this Dominick’s.
Yes, the lines can be ridiculously long for checking out. Yes, you will experience some unpleasant employees at times.
Nonetheless, this store is convenient and basically lives up to my grocery store expectations of having items that I need/​want. Need = great deals for my idea of staple products (italian sausage and other meats as well as a perfectly fine selection of cheeses and pasta sauces). Want = the Dominick’s brand big cookies are addictingly delicious. The sugar M&M cookies are so good.
Additionally, they have a decent selection of bread from the bakery from which to choose. Also — they’ll offer killer deals on soda once a month or so.
Overall, I’d never give this Dominick’s a «favorite grocery store» award if I did weird things like give out awards for various places I visit. Still, the convenience of this place wins me over nearly every time for short trips b/​c it sure is nice to walk a block, pick up bread, and come home.

I am in here multiple times per week. I have never had any problems here with rotten food etc. A couple of weeks ago they custom cut some steaks for me, sirlions for 2.99 a pound. Can’t beat that. No, they are not trader joes or whole foods but everyone is always very nice and helpful, shop the ad and you will save money.

I’ve had several encounters with expired products recently, including dairy that was still on the shelf more than two weeks after the ‘sell-​by’ date.
And most recently, expired canned goods: How does a store even manage to have expired canned goods? I didn’t think that was possible. And, no I’m not talking about some weird product. Note that the manager often stands right by these canned goods like he’s at the helm of some spotless, well-​oiled ship. I bet you $ 100 that the expired can we returned was put right back on the shelf.
And then there’s the lack of concern for safety. The floors by the freezers are often wet (not from being mopped, but from leaks). When the staff is notified of the wet floors, they know right away where the problem is, and yet they do nothing about it. They don’t even put «caution, wet floor» horses up.
Frankly, I can’t imagine how the manager of this store still has his job.

I won’t bore you with the petty details of the argument I just had with the tool working at the un-​service desk. Just trust me when I say this store sucks, go to Trader Joes or the River Forest Jewel. Anywhere but this store!

Another LOVE/​HATE relationship for me.
I LOVE this place because
— it is literally out my front door
— has a Starbucks when I am craving a coffee treat
— I can get quarters here to wash my laundry
— good sale prices with your Doms Card
— the kid who stands outside and offers to carry your groceries. not because he needs the money, because he wants to work and is too young to get a job. he’s a sweet kid. if you shop here you probably know who I mean.
I HATE this place because
— its DIRTY and OLD
— the produce isn’t fresh
— it is out of things (yes, empty shelves) a lot
— checkout usually takes way too long. seems like there is always someone with an issue, price check, problem with their Link card, etc ahead of me
— it always stinks really badly back by the meat/​seafood counter
I shop here for last minute/​as I need them things.
For bulk shopping I hit Jewel in River Forest. Much cleaner, better assortment, higher quality produce.
And my new found love is Trader Joes.

Most Oak Parkers prefer the River Forest Jewel to this Dominick’s. I don’t blame them. In this parking lot they are more likely to get their Volvo station wagons dinged by a race car shaped cart and hassled by a bum for change instead of a boyscout. But… this place is so convenient. The check out lines move quickly, the place is organized and they have a Starbucks in there so you can dose up before your Saturday morning shopping! One of the kids at the Starbucks there flirts mercilessly with me and I adore him for that. «Mm, mmm. mmmm! Don’t you look good in that tank top.» And then he gets all nervous and drops my change and forgets my order. Cute young thing. If they allowed tipping he’d be on his way to buying a new car. The produce here sucks. They took away the bulk spices and I can never find tomatillas or half the stuff Cooking Light recipes include. I’m always substituting. But it’s good for staples. The fish is never that fresh but occasionally you can get some pretty good deals. You know, the more I think about it the more I’m realizing I go here only because of all the cute young boys that work there. Also the older security guy that keeps an eye on my dog for me while I’m inside shopping. I’m going to have to write a separate review just for the Pharmacy.