Western Beef

The better of the local western beefs. This one has more space, cleaner, more options and more staff than the one I usually use in Mineola. They also have separate vendors inside the store (the Pickle People, which carries great variations of pickles that I usually only find at farmers markets) and their baked goods are always GREAT… If you’re in the area, hit it up

Western Beef cleaned out the old, decrepit, abandoned, Stop N’ Shop on Woodfield Road. The only reason I heard this new spot was inhabited was «The Pickle People.» As a kid, my dad would bring me to «Shopper’s Village» on Hempstead Turnpike.” We’d enter, and he would let my nose, guide the way. The garlicky, smell of the vinegar and brine, led us to that pickle goodness. Back then, it was just a big ol’ barrel of pickles. Once my little hand was wrapped around that savory deliciousness, we journeyed through the interesting vendors of Shoppers Village.
When the store closed, the pickle paradise was over. Vlassic, could never compare.
Now, 20 years later, I was re-​introduced to «The Pickle People» at a street fair in my hometown. My childhood was pretty much awakened and and the little girl inside me, did cartwheels, walking handstands, flips and all I was able to do back then (through my tastebuds!!) I had a nice chat with the lovely lady running the booth and she informed me they had a little area, in the brand spankin new West Hempstead, Western Beef.
Western Beef is pretty close to me so the trip was simple. The revamped spot is fresh and inviting from the actual store to their vibrant, sales flier (thats my field so I pick up on layout!) Parking lot is OK.
The store is clean and bright. Sales are fairly competitive. Produce department is vast! It has exotic fruits and veggies and of course the usual stuff. The deli department was buzzin’ so that is a good sign. I was pretty excited to discover the snack/​drink aisle. I found my new favorite pretzels Unique Brand Splits. I can only find them here. I swear, I make special weekly trips just for them. It was also pretty incredible to see the NEW winter 2014 Polar Seltzer flavors way before my local food store had them. Very exiting to a seltzer snob like I.
As I moseyed the aisles, everything was pretty much what you will find at the other supermarkets.
The thing that is way different about Western Beef is the frozen/​meat area. BRING A WINTER JACKET! Ha ha! Ok It is basically a huge freezer room. You wanna get in and out as quick as possible (unless you already have ice water flowing through your veins.) It is frigid in there so it is tough to really take a long gander at to what is available.
Right outside the North Pole of Western Beef, is the pickle stand! OMG! I seriously couldn’t be happier. The selection was huge, prices were amazing $ 6 for a quart. I got my fav garlic pickles and got one free (I tried the jalapeño one. Spicy in a great way!) You have to pay there which is no problem.
Checkout was OK. Not long lines but not the friendliest cashiers.
Overall, very impressed with this new Western Beef. Already have retuned a few times for the three «p’s» — Polar, pickles and pretzels.

Why do you think I gave it 5 stars? Because it’s new? Hmmmm, partly so.
The parking lot is huge. The front easily holds over 50 cars and the side over 100.
The inside is well lit, the aisles are spacious, the food is fresh and prices are of average cost. Oh and yes, the workers are friendly and most of all the supermarket is strategically located for the shopping of residents of a few surrounding towns.

I only started coming here because I moved around the corner a few years ago. It has pros and cons.
What I like about it: It is super close to my apartment, I can walk here. It is not very big, so you can go in and out quickly. The cashiers are very nice & They have awesome sales. Every week they have super cheap things to stock up on. They have a large latino and caribbean section, which makes me adventurous to try new thing. Their bread is fresh, home made– brick oven & cheap. People line up for that bread!!! Oh and the Pickle people are inside. The good old shoppers village days, the smell of pickles. Yum!
What I don’t like about it: I don’t really like coming at night (although its much less crowded), the parking lot and surrounding stores are a little shady. Inside, Besides poles, there are usually crates or restocking shelves in the way of the narrow aisles so some times it is difficult to maneuver your cart, or get what you need. I find with the produce you have to check everything (as in any store) smell, date etc… I want to love the meat department but I just don’t. The smell when you walk in bothers me. I came once and there was blood on the floor going into the floor drain. Their chicken is packed in so much water, that there is liquid everywhere. The 2 times I bought skirt steak from there it was overly fatty which was gross. The prices of meat are average or maybe a little high. I never feel like I get a deal on the meats, really and for what I am paying, I don’t find the quality to be the best. Maybe I am crazy but nothing beats Cross Island Fruits Meat department. Western Beef also does not have any fresh fish but offers some frozen boxed types.
I do come here often because the sales are great and I love to try new international products. If you don’t get the circular at home, you can just look online.

Supermarket tends to cater to Latino population. Great selection of spices, huge refrigerator sections, good fruits and vegetables

I don’t know what it is about Western Beef, but I swear to God that they have a bakery that rivals some of the better bakeries in the area and at a fraction of the price. The rest of the store is above-​average in terms of prices and selection… but that bakery keeps the wife and I coming back.

Aye Papi!
(dances a lil merengue with mi sombrero)
It’s definitely Mexico/​Puerto Rico up in here.
On the good side: There’s still everything you need here…(well, most of everything)
and its clean — product samples were given out on the day that I came…
On the bad side:
Felt a lil cramped in here, I’m used to Western Beef’s being a lil more spacious.
and the music, geesh!
After hearing about the 20^th straight spanish song, it got a lil annoying.
As I got to the cashier, I heard a nearby cashier make the same complaint about constant spanish songs, so I know it wasn’t just me…
I think they should mix up their music with a wider range of music…
Overall, it’s just a mediocre supermarket for me…
really a 2.8 star kinda place, but I rounded off to be nice…