Russell Convenience

I am honestly fascinated by these Russell’s stores. The owner (s) of these stores must have checked out in early 2000, and simply stopped paying any attention to current consumer trends.
The Russell’s in the lobby of my building closed (go figure) and this is the closest place for me to get a soda or snack late in the work day, but every time I go in I’m shocked by the lack of anything I would want to buy.
In a time when even Walgreens is stocking New York Seltzer (made with real sugar), and every other take-​out place offers Bruce Cost’s natural ginger ales, you’d have to be blind to not see the huge opportunity in having as much retail space as Russells, and just keep Red Bull and Monster energy drinks in half of the eight refrigerator cases in your shop. Who is all of that Monster for? There are literally cases of it stacked in the middle of the shop floor.
If I owned Russell’s I would reduce the 7-​Eleven stock by half, and then restock with snacks and beverages that are being marketed as «healthy.» Sodas made with cane sugar, real fruit juices (not the kind of orange juice that comes in a can). There’s a huge market for these things, and if you offer a variety, people will come.
But, someone is asleep at the switch, and this Russell’s seems like it won’t be around much longer either.

Convenient, Thai noodle soup, bottled water, lottery and good snacks at the convenience of my building

Unbelievably rude cashiers. Oh I mean rude and lazy. Oh I mean rude and lazy and stupid. This Russell’s only survives because it’s easy for tenants of 333 Market/​45 Fremont when it rains.

The prices are getting more expensive and the products are getting tinier. The only reason I frequent this place is because it is located right beneath the building im working at.

Hey you lazy bitch!!! When the coffee runs out, your job is to brew some more, get it? How many fucking times do I need to walk in here to find that there’s absolutely no coffee and apparently no intent to brew a fresh pot, either. What the fuck? Don’t you realize that in this economy your boss might fire your sorry ass and there’s 250 people dying to take your spot that would at least pretend to make an effort.
Sorry for ranting, but every time I come here the clerk seems to be picking her ass reading some magazine or talking on the phone. They pay you to do this job, right? So fucking do it already!

One of the larger Russell’s in the downtown area. The entrance is somewhat hidden, so you might pass it right by.
They always have fresh coffee, unlike some other locations. And they have a much larger magazine selection — which is great for those of us who use Russells as a library during breaktime :)

Hello, convenience store lady! My, you sure do have a lot of magazines for sale here. Not current issues, but a lot. Determined to sell those April magazines, are we?
I would like a bag of cashews. Those. No, THOSE. Next to you, on the counter.
One hundred and fifty dollars? Thank you. I’ll be moving on.

The place was so sad I wanted to cry, it sapped all life out of me.
Floors were scuffed and dirty, the room was vast and empty, every shelf sparsely stocked with the sub 7-​eleven quality items that didn’t line up, cheap shelf tags dangling and creased, in perpetual darkness, panel after streaked panel of drink cooler with nothing I would want to drink in a drought, in 110 degree heat, after a 2-​hour workout. I mean, years ago I used to like Monster Energy Beverage but not today. I walked up and down every aisle and could not find anything, not even an old jerky stick, I would rather stick a plastic spoon in the planter outside and eat redwood mulch.
There are three nice things to say. The cashier was friendly, the wood paneled entrance from the mid-​century Wells Fargo skyscraper lobby reminds you of a Chicago steak house, and if you stand on your toes you can catch a nice glimpse of the courtyard Bechtel train car museum.
After that, the other business off the lobby, a little Starbucks, was like a sparkle of fresh happiness.

this place looks like it should be in a rest stop on a highway, it’s got that empty, gas station look about it. but it’s not, its in the middle of the city and no gas. Extra bright, not overly stocked place, but it’s near work and sells convenient things. i bought water there today, but also wanted propel. how can they not sell propel? but nope, they dont. boo! they sell tiny packages of random food items, not many each. mainly what there is to be bought is tons of different flavors and brands of water. oh and there are tissues and a popcorn machine.