Safeway

I actually like this Safeway!
The demographic of North tacoma sets the standards here.
Despite the parking lot from hell, the store layout is consistently organized and well stocked. The store itself is clean and attractive. You can always find someone to help you if you can’t find something.
I shouldn’t promote the consumption of donuts or pastries, but the bakery is stocked with fresh goodies made at the location. Fair prices, but don’t use that as an excuse to binge ;)
I love the floral department. So many cute garden decorations and a wide range of lovely fresh bouquets.
The checkout lanes are seldom congested and they have 6 express lanes that are extremely convenient.
If you like Starbucks, they have one inside that doesn’t seem to ever have a bad line. (Don’t hold me to that, though.)

This is my store that I shop every early Sunday morning, as it’s close to my home and it’s not a huge superstore, and I hate shopping when it’s crowded. My complaints are this: many times, the shelves are not restocked frequently, and it’s frustrating when my favorite item is out of stock. The meat, and especially, the seafood case, leaves a lot to be desired. There isn’t much variety (especially fish), and the prices, particularly, the salmon, is high-​priced, and I seldom buy fish there. Also, the workers restocking the meat section are not very friendly, especially the short woman with long hair who wears the cap. She’ll talk to other customers, but, for some reason, ignores me, and I’m such a lovable, friendly type! The workers in the produce section, however, are almost always friendly and outgoing. Lastly, the manager, at least, I think he’s a manager (tall, bald guy) is also not the friendliest sort. He never greets or acknowledges me, and the one time I asked for assistance in locating something he acted as though I was bothering him — that’s the last and only time I ask him for anything. Cashiers Connie and Roger are great, though.
I guess I shop here because I have to. I can’t afford to shop at neighboring Metropolitan Market, and although I also shop Fred Meyer, I can’t seem to make it my primary grocery source.

Ordered online for 10 to 2 delivery due to being in a car wreck they call at 230 and say their not coming will never shop at any Safeway ever again horrible customer service at multiple stores just beyond disappointed

Best Safeway in Tacoma, highly recommend! Friendly pharmacy staff! Great store staff! Thanks for being a great neighborhood store!

I went in to buy a case of beer like I do almost every weekend and when they checked my ID (out of state) they proceeded to ask me questions about it and then took it into the managers office where it was bent and then I was told that my ID was fake, which is incorrect. I have been going into this Safeway for the past three years to buy groceries and have never had an issue like this before nevertheless at any restaurant, grocery store, or bar. The manager told me, «I have been working here for twenty years and have never seen you before so I’m refusing you service». It was insulting and was a huge inconvenience. The manager was degrading and cold. From now on I will no longer be buying my groceries at this location.

I actually like this Safeway the most compared to all of the other ones I’ve been to. Haven’t been here at night. But I like the selection. The prices can be hit or miss. They have a good wine selection though.

I used to love this store, but seems like it‘s getting worse and worse as the time passes.
Prices are not as competitive as they want you to believe.
But my review here is mainly based on my last experience at the deli department.
We stopped by for a quick meal at the deli and we bought the 8 pc country fried chicken. They were out of chicken breasts so we had dark meat only: legs and thighs.
The legs were so dry we could barely bite on them and it was visible they had been refried at least a couple of times.
The thighs in the other hand were undercooked (as in RAW). Somehow, even the center being undercooked, the skin was dry and overcooked and just as tough as the legs were.
This is the third time it happens. The first time I called and was offered a new meal, which was just alright.
The second time I didn‘t even bother.
Today, I decided to call, and they offered me either a refund or a replacement meal.
NO. I don‘t want a refund or another meal. I wanted my meal when I was hungry and was too tired to get home and cook.
Not now.
This was the last time. Next time I will be going to the Safeway store on N. Pearl St.

It’s been a year and my attitude toward this store has gone from «I love it!» to rating this ²⁄₅ stars. To begin, they are overpriced and underwhelming. When they have a «sale», it is still more money than you’d pay at many other stores at regular price. There have been numerous times when I just sucked it up (because of convenience) and later regretted it. When food, especially produce, goes on «sale», it is typically about the turn. I have purchased cantaloupe on sale that within 2 days begins fermenting and lettuce that turns brown much quicker than comparably priced produce at Costco. I will never buy their Safeway-​brand food again either, with the exception of their ice cream. My family tried their brand of garlic spread, garlic bread, buttermilk bread, and pre-​seasoned corned beef. All of it was disgusting!
Yes, it’s nice to have convenience but I’m getting tired of the over-​priced, small portions, crap-​food. I am ready to pay even more at Metropolitan Market if it means I am able to shop less often because I won’t have to re-​purchase items that have gone bad.

This is your standard, reliable, steady grocery store in Tacoma. This is the grocery store you «need» — every neighborhood needs one of these. The prices are not rock-​bottom but not overpriced. Although you won’t find the über expensive Japanese grapefruit that has a two-​week delivery window in January here, the produce is qood quality. I think having the competition of the other grocery store across the street helps keep the staff at this store friendly and helpful. I’ve been shopping here with my kids looking lost and almost always get approached by staff to know if I need to find something. One time I forgot a bag at check out and realized it when I got home– when I called to ask, they had it saved and waiting for me at the customer service area when I went back to get it. The only negative aspect to this store is the parking situation when it’s really busy in the late afternoon on weekdays and during the mid-​day on the weekends. I will continue to return here.

Nice, newer Safeway in Proctor. They have to be nice to compete with Metropolitan Market across the street. Had a customer service issue (kid forgot to put in club card #) — she resolved it quickly and nicely (no eye rolling, etc). Easily found what we needed.

parking… ugh. cramped inside.

This review is strictly for the sandwich deli.
I don’t know why I always seem to have such terrible service whenever I try to get a sandwich! When I walked in, there were two people working and only one person ahead of me which was fine, no big deal. I waited two minutes without being greeted. When it was finally my turn. I told the woman I wanted a chicken artichoke sandwich and downhill things went… After she grabbed the bread and put some sauce on, she proceeded to add bacon. I do not eat pork so I had to hurry and remind her that that sandwich doesn’t come with bacon. Her response: «Oh. I don’t even know what I’m making. What did you want?» I reminded her and she went back to preparing my meal. Apparently there was no mozzarella available so she walked away for a couple minutes to go back and get more and then asked me if I was in a hurry (I lied and said no even though I was on a half hour lunch break). She tells me that this sandwich will be well worth the wait and that she makes them the absolute best-​which we will come back to later. Anyhow she asks me if I like lettuce and I said yes, I think it comes with it and she says «well its not washed yet.» Hmm so she rips some leaves off and washes them but neglects to dry it off. I FINALLY get my sandwich and leave the building. I am not exaggerating but it took 15 minutes to get that friggen sandwich.
Remember when I said she claimed to make the best chicken artichoke ever? Well I went to eat it and it was the most sloppy thing ever. Everything was dripping and falling out. Horrible meal. After at least 5 of these experiences, I am giving up on ever getting a Safeway sandwich again…
And when did they stop the ‘in 3 minutes or less or its free” thing???

The only Safeway I feel safe at. Everyone is super nice and helpful.

I really only like using Karen’s line at my local Safeway. She is friendly, fast and efficient. She also has a really cute haircut.
I try to avoid Michelle’s line because she is a giant sour puss and throws my groceries.
The parking lot here is always congested. Sigh!
The pharmacy is also super slow.
But you get awesome gas rewards from picking up your prescriptions there.
There is nothing more awkward then going through Michelle’s lane and not having her say a single word to you, hand you your receipt, saying nothing, taking your groceries and leaving.
Also, seriously, stop manhandling my groceries. Bag it with love.
Until then, let’s hope Karen’s lane is always open.

This Safeway’s lay out is a bit strange, but once you get used to it, it works well for shopping. This is the first large chain supermarket that I have found free range chicken and grass fed beef in. They also have a very nice selection of produce.

A very clean and well organized Safeway. A four star experience for sure. However, I’m docking them a star for not having self checkout. The lines were really long, and they didn’t have nearly enough people helping with the checkout process. After they correct the issue, I’ll be adding that star back for sure.

I don’t usually go to this safeway. If I want something fancy I go across the street to MM, otherwise I go to the safeway on Pearl for everyday groceries in between big shopping trips. However, I went to this one while on foot to a lunch date, and had a strange, akward experience.
Looking for the cat food, one of the employees came up from the front counter to ask if she could help me find anything. I said I was fine, thanked her, and continued my shopping. Up at the checkout counter, she came from down one of the aisles to find me, kind of sidled up to me and proceeded to explain to me, aise by aise, the layout of the store. The weird thing was that she didn’t do it in a friendly way. No smile, no polite tone of voice. She finished it up by explaining that towards the center of the store is where I find «the stuff people don’t eat». I kind of laughed, thinking she was trying to be amusing, but she kind of snapped at me and said, «the stuff people don’t eat! toothpaste, soap, plastic wrap!»
It was just kind of weird. I’m sure this safeway is a fine place to shop… it’s a bit smaller than the one on Pearl, and does have a weird layout with its dead-​end snack aisle, but it’s definitely better than the one on Hilltop.

4 Pro’s: Great customer service. Surprisingly good mirco brew selection. Deli has made to order sushi. Self checkout.
and only 2 Con’s: No Redbox. I understand the absent Redbox is due to their movie rental department but do people actually still go rent movies from a store anymore? Lastly parking is non existent during peek shopping times (weekends/​holidays.) I usually have to circle the lot multiple times to get anything or park street side.

This is a really clean, modern Safeway. I don’t shop Safeway like I used too since the meats they offer aren’t grass fed, but if you eat deli foods, and like fresh pastries, fresh made sandwhices, this safeway is the one to hit. All I can say is had I not changed my diet, I would shop here all the time. They have a really nice produce department and many organic options that some other markets don’t have.

When you need some bacon and some beer at 01:30, Safeway’s got ‘cha covered! Takes a few minutes to find someone to ring you up at that hour, though…
My previous visit to this store was during the Spring Zing festival, for which Safeway was one of the sponsors and was providing food. By the time I arrived (about 18:30, after work since it was a Friday) all the food had been removed and several employees were either cleaning up or standing around under the Safeway tent. Disappointing, especially since the festival was sheduled to continue till 22:00 and there were no ‘food hours’ posted on the promotional materials!