Alpha Market

The Alpha Market is more pricey than whole foods for most things. The fruit, fresh bread, and meat are decent buys though. It’s also better located for me. The staff is very friendly and it’s never crowded. As long as you stick to the perishable food, this place is worth shopping at. I definitely need to buy some food elsewhere to avoid being ripped off for things like cereal.

Alpha Market has saved me. Here’s the deal its red wine night with ground beef tacos, trying to relax and prepare myself for tomorrow’s next lecture in organic chemistry. Then we find out we don’t have sour cream! This is the place to go. Yes it is expensive, but they are always there and they close at a reasonable time. I always go here for bread and small things that I happen to forgot. The location is so worth it. I rather go here then complain all the way walking to Whole Foods or Haight St Market. The owners are delightful as well.

Alpha Market is super cool. The produce is always good, and the owners are really nice. They also have deli that makes the best sandwiches you’d ever have. It is super convenient and just a short walk away from home.

I go here for the sandwiches. I feel bad that I don’t know the guy’s name behind the counter, but he is one of nicest guys you’ll ever meet. He knows that I like my black forest ham sandwich with just a slice a cheese and no mustard. Everything else is okay. The bread and all other ingredients are fresh. I always pick up a sandwich when I’m in the area. The people that run the rest of the store are very nice. I know that I will always get a great sandwich at this place. You Cole Valley people are lucky folk…

Great selection of fruits and veggies — always fresh! They have a good selection of cheese, deli meat, dry goods and home supplies. but the one thing they are missing is a good meat selection. We had AMAZING salmon from Alpha, but sometimes I’m looking for chicken and steak, and they don’t have any. A bigger meat counter and I wouldn’t ever make the trip to Trader Joes or Safeway again.

Are they expensive? Sure. But people, get real: it’s Cole Valley. Cole Valley is expensive. And it’s not cheap for them to stay in business, either, with that sweet location. They bring Cole Valley convenience. You don’t want to pay the price? Okay, walk over to wherever else, and take your whining with you.
Alpha, I think, is great for spur-​of-​the-​moment and last-​minute and oops-​I-​forgot-​the-​x kind of shopping. It is definitely expensive for basics, but when you really need to buy some toothpaste, you just do it. The fruit here is delightful; the best is displayed outside. The veggies in the back are also pretty good, though sometimes they have more/​better stuff than other times.
The deli/​meat counter is solid: great sandwiches, fresh, with crunchy toasted bread, and delicious meats/fixin’s; Niman ranch meats; air-​chilled chicken; sometimes salmon. The sausage links are awesome; the ribeye steak is a staple for me. They have your standard organic dairy; they also have a selection of almond and soy milks. Good coffee, good bread, good beer selection (lots of bottles), good ice cream selection (Talenti, Three Twins and such; also Haagen Dazs and Ben & Jerry’s, because sometimes you just need some Cherry Garcia in your life).
The owners (Abe and… Sam?) are wonderful; courteous and friendly. The other people who work there are also friendly but some days some of them aren’t as smile-​y and bounce-​y; again, complainers, get over this – not like you’re always perfectly cheerful at work, either. They’re working at a checkout counter in a corner shop; cut them a little slack. And maybe if you weren’t so demanding and entitled they’d be more likely to smile at you and wish you a good day, huh?
In short: yes, it’s expensive, but it’s super-​convenient and offers good, real food, and a solid selection of basics. I love that it’s around the corner from me. I still do my «stock up» shopping at the Haight Street Market, but I supplement it liberally with fruit, veggies, meat and dairy from Alpha.
Rock on, Alpha!

Alpha Market is a clean, well-​lit, and well-​stocked corner market. I’m always amazed at the staples I can pickup here: organic spices, Sriracha, Mary’s chicken, Niman Ranch meat, nice bottles of wine, fresh produce, fresh mozzarella, soy milk, artisanal chocolate, and even Acme bread. For Cole Valley residents, there’s lots to like about Alpha, especially the convenience.

I LOVE THIS PLACE!
I went here today with my best friends Ariel and Sara. The staff was really friendly and the grapes tasted delicious! Yum!

I stopped by for a sandwich to-​go for when I take a break during a hike at Mt. Tamalpais the same day. The service was good and the sandwich was decent (I got a Egg Salad sandwich). This place is a pretty basic grocery store with a nice deli. If I lived around here, I probably would get groceries at this spot.

Beta sandwich.
Which is not a bad thing.
Boar’s Head meats. Hummus on request. Plenty of veggies.
No wheat rolls but it all worked just fine on wheat bread.
Few minutes after ordering and six bucks later I had the perfect fuel for my journey to the top of Mount Sutro.
Now that’s an alpha forest.

Charming market with a friendly atmosphere and staff. Fresh ground beef is delicious, I bought some this evening to make beef-​mushroom sauté over vermicelli noodles with fresh feta and Parmesan cheese. The market also has a nice selection of wines. I purchased a Napa Valley white wine that added the right accent to the dish. All turned out yummy!
I also bought some of the market’s fresh made hummus and added that too to the sauté sauce. Outstanding! Next time you are strolling along Cole Street, check out this little market. A bit pricey but it has lots of items that are not everywhere, many are specialties. They take credit and ATM but nothing less than $ 10.00 to charge.
Street parking is available. Yet take the 37 Corbett bus or the Judah light rail trolley. They stop right at Cole Street.

I go back and forth on this place.
I do agree with Clifton that without their produce display, the sidewalk on Cole would be rather drab. And for produce this place is great. But their packaged items, like chips, or cereal, or whatever are RIDICULOUSLY expensive and over priced. And something like pasta sauce is three times the amount it would normally be. If they charged the same for those sorts of items as Walgreens does two blocks away I bet they’d have a lot more business. Because I know I’d much rather support them.
Also– yes they take credit cards, but you have to reach a certain threshold first.

Possibly if I was in a higher tax bracket I would appreciate this store more. However, for what it has its a little on the pricey side.
My boyfriend and I go here only when we have missed or need a few select items otherwise it is to expensive. Don’t get me wrong I am usually more impressed with their fruit selection than my normal store but, that doesn’t cross over to everything. I know its a corner store so they can’t have everything but I still feel like its limited.
Almost always the workers are pleasant when we are here and that is refreshing.
My advice: dont plan on getting your whole list here but if you need to pick up a few things swing by and treat yourself to their great fruit selection while you’re at it!

The guys who run this place are extremely friendly, and always quick to say hello.
But everything in here is overpriced. It’s nice to have the option of grabbing some forgotten staple or creamer for my coffee in the morning, but I generally can’t afford to shop here with so many lower-​price options in the ‘hood.
Oh, and the vegetable section — it’s either bagged greens, or some sad-​looking cucumbers and wilted green onions. Nice fruits though out in the entryway.

Alpha has improved slowly over the years and is a very dependable place to shop. We love the people– Anwar & Abe & Molly & all the other nice folks. Produce is pretty dependable & Cole street would be very drab without the sidewalk display– When apricots are in season, Abe gets the best I’ve ever had. I think they could improve the deli and meat section & offer a lot more gourmet cheese, etc. Also a bit more creativity in wines would be appreciated. If their prices are a few cents more than other places (certainly not Whole Payheck!) I don’t mind a bit– there’s a very good reason for the term Convenience Store! Buying produce in small quantities more often means you waste less, plus it’s fresher. We Americans waste 40% of our food on average. Which mans we’re also wasting all the energy and water it takes to grow, process, transport, and store it.
What’s better– a leisurely stroll down the block, chance encounters with your excellent neighbors, an quick espresso or beer at a local spot, all on the way to the market; or getting in your car, fighting traffic, parking in a cavernous lot, and wandering around in a daze in the Costco warehouse to get in line with 1500 other irritated people just to save what, $ 5? Plus you spend way more at Costco cause you have to buy 10 time the normal quantities, which is retarded. Ever find a 10 gallon tub of say, pepperoncini or garlic bread spread, in a dusty back corner back of your pantry with a «use by «date from the twentieth century that you got just because it was cheap?

1 Star — The people are Friendly and Helpful
2 Star — The sliced meats are yummy
3 Star– Produce is usually pretty good
4 Star — They are not crazy expensive
Yes, I frequent here often for more then just milk and I am happy I do.

Great place to grab a sandwich from their deli! Sure their prices are a bit pricey, but it’s not like you’re eating there every day.
Live a little, have a sandwich and one of their gigantic deviled eggs… you won’t be sorry.

Pretty decent little market!!! Sandwiches are better than safeways and a whole lot closer! They sell acme bread and have ice cream gelato brands that aren’t the usual haagen daaz/b&j. The tellers are friendly and are quick to help. Can’t beat that!
Minus a star for being a weeee bit pricey

A corner store with a deli counter — it doesn’t get much better than that.
Nice place to get a sandwich (I am partial to mortadella sandwiches and the one I tried here was just right), something to drink, and maybe a few essentials for the house.
Everyone says it’s pricey, but guys, that ‘s the price of convenience (and corner real estate).
IMHO, every corner should be so lucky to have a corner market this nice.

It’s my go to spot to pick up anything I need for dinner that night, after getting off the N-​Judah. It ain’t cheap but the owners are cheerful (reminds me of the greengrocers I grew up with). The girls on the checkout are fast but not particularly chirpy, but I can deal with that.
I am especially impressed with their produce… the fruit and veggies are always fresh and a friend, who once upon a time worked at a vegetable farm, mentioned that Alpha Market always seem to sell A Grade produce. Me likes… but the wallet doesn’t.