Safeway

(Started this review while standing in line, and finishing now)
I’m here now. There are 19 people in line, and 3 registers open. I have 5 items, but both Express lanes are closed.
There’s a sale on large Hass avocados — $ 1 each — and yet the bagged large Hass avocados are $ 6 for 4. I’m not saying that’s necessarily evil or anything (just pick the cheaper, identical avocados, obviously), but it’s par for the course here. It’s like a terrible little Narnia of how grocery stores are not supposed to be.
On the positive side, prices are pretty reasonable and if you hunt around you can find ok produce. Not Andronico’s quality by any means, but decent. It’s never that crowded in here, but any value that would have provided is ruined by how few people work here. It’s like they either don’t care or are just packing it in and submitting to the competition.
The #1 biggest problem is that the checkout lanes can only accommodate a line of about 4 people each, and yet they almost never have more than 3 lines open. I hate that I always forget this and show up here only to be disappointed again. I live 5 blocks away and I’d rather drive to Lucky on Sloat just to not have to deal with all this.
And it seems I’m not an outlier here — I was not surprised at all the negative reviews already on here, many of which say the exact same things. Put simply, this Safeway just doesn’t care.

Taraval Safeway baked products have indeed gone downhill. They have a new bakery mgr and she just do not get it in baking breads and other products. Bagels tasted burn and forcassia used to be very good is now tough and dry and burn looking also. Danishs look like mady by a child not at all you would buy to give to co workers or friends to share.

Feels like a 3 star safeway. Cramped isles, but convenient location. Very easy to get here on the L-​Taraval.
There’s something quaint about it. I wound up going here as part of a date once, during high school. The store has that kind of communityesque vibe to it. Wish they hired more locals, that would help maximize the community connection of the store.
Runs out of eggnog too soon.
Main downside is the «recycling center» outside. I’m sure that by now Safeway is aware that the majority of the cans and bottles bought there were stolen from recycling bins in our neighborhood.

The aisles are super tight allowing only one cart to really pass through at one time.
Tip: use a basket to maneuver more easily.

This store is ‘ok’, but there is a cashier there. SHE TALKS TOO MUCH. She needs to shut her extra flappy pie hole and never open it. Ever. Just hold your breath and pass out. I think her name is Pam. It’s always unnecessary and awkward. Yes I just bought 8 of something. Yes I’m going to eat them all. No I’m not eating them all now. Yes I am rolling my eyes. No you are not funny. This woman has too few challenges in life. Please Safeway, make this Pam shut up and keep the line moving.

This is a small Safeway! I’m talking about squeezing all their merchandise into very small cubic footage! If you’re clausterphobic, don’t come here.
Service is quick. I found everything I needed here. Parking is on the roof which is a good thing cuz you can’t find parking In The street!

I work down the street from this Safeway. So I use it a lot. Probably 6 times a week for quick snacks and lunch. I generally enjoy my experience. And all of the cashier’s are nice and friendly. They do their beat to keep lines flowing. But one major criticism I have is that the deli staff seem overworked. I am guessing the store owner’s think they can save money by keeping less staff. But that actually keeps customers from being served. I notice at lunchtime. Long lines at the sandwich side. And then on the other side… Where the casserole dishes and things like that are… Sometimes you won’t even be noticed! There have been times during my lunch break when I received no service… So I simply had to buy other food items like pre wrapped sandwich or self serve soups. I think it is a bad business model.

Lack of selection, long lines, non service dogs freely allowed… ridiculous! Disappointing that the suburban areas around the city have better selections and service than we do… and then we pay for bags on top! Pass on this location.

I eat sandwiches at the Safeway delis all over the bay. This one is pretty disappointing. I won’t be back because there are too many good safeways around to bother. Service and sandwiches are sub-​par.

This is more a review of all Safeways in SF than just this one on Taraval Street (which I agree is one of the worst). The only reason I even shop here is that we like the store brand paper products. The Safeway brand bread is tasteless. The sandwiches from the deli are on par with Subway. The pre-​cooked chickens are not very good and a waste of money. Most of the meats and fish are prepackaged.
Safeway (or Lucky) is a good place to shop for everyday groceries like flour and sugar and chicken broth (but not their brand). So I go there about once a month for pantry items and shop elsewhere for anything fresh.
Also it has been my experience that the clerks at any Safeway all say the same thing when greeting you. Also, they thank you by name after checking the receipt. That is rather off-​putting. The lines are usually very long as the stores are trying to get people to use the self-​checkout machines.

This Safeway is horrible. They never have Cashiers, like most Safeways, but it’s even worse because this one is small and there’s no room for carts. 3 is a crowd!!!

Welcome to the ghetto Safeway:
— The checkout line is like a bread line in Moscow circa 1975
— Because they are short staffed, there is no one in the aisles to answer any questions
— Seriously, don’t go here in the evening, you can expect to see 25 — 50 people in every line.
— The liquor is locked up, just like a store in the ghetto
— I was looking for goat cheese, all i could find was either cheddar, American or sliced cheese.
I give one point to the checkout staff who are generally very nice, despite being way over worked by a manager who does not keep enough staff in the store.
IMO the manger at this Safeway sucks.
I went to Lucky on Sloat, which was a way better experience:
— Great selection
— Friendly staff, available to answer questions
— Unlocked liquor
— Goat cheese

Ok, this is stupid. It would take me less time to drive to Lucky’s, shop and get back home. Safeway: you need more cashiers or self checkout stands. Seriously.

This place is trash. The lines are 10 deep. Worker’s don’t care about anything. Last night I asked my clerk for a manager, none available. She asked if ut was about the long lines. No i said let me show you a photo or 2. The bathrooms are hazardous to anyone who enters and exits2then shops. I didn’t use just took these pics. I’m calling SFCHD BUT will thwy care. Might when a hepatitis or ecoli breakout. Stay away.

It’s like rip van Winkle slow in here. I walked In to get some eggs in 2012 and I just got out of line 5 minutes ago. Its easier to just walk to stonestown ’ s trader joes (i live a half a block away from this safeway) The staff is nice n all but the move like they are in slow motion, and are really obsessed with the savings, it’s kinda wierd.
Has to be the worst Safeway on the planet.

Is there a worse Safeway? I’d seriously like to see it. Produce? Terrible
Deli? Terrible
Lines? Terrible
I’ve seen it when there is 1 line open with 15 customers while 3 employees stood behind the customer service counter hanging out

Low quality produce for pretty high prices.
Same thing with their flowers. Subpar grade for premium prices

Worst Safeway in california! Simply the worst.
Fresh produce selection is meh.
Prices are higher than average, even for San Francisco.
Lines are outrageously long and the store is chronically understaffed. And there’s no self checkout!
If I didn’t live next door Id never come here.

I heard this place is haunted.
Other than that, I used to live a few blocks away, it was easy to walk to, and if you are driving there, parking is on 18^th ave. I didn’t know that till months later. It is a regular grocery shop with ok service and same o’ food. It’s kind of small but all the necessities are there.

This is my neighborhood Safeway. So that’s why I like it. But it’s old and the lines are long. The cashiers do their best but they get really after 5pm. And it may be my imagination but they seem have the sales and specials.
I that going be remodeled soon. Looking forward to that!