Ralphs

THE GOOD
Friendly service
THE BAD
A touch of ghetto, no deli, unfresh produce
THE BOTTOM LINE
Good in a pinch for last minute items.

This is definitely a smaller Ralphs. I go here, when I hike in the San Gabriel Mountains. I would give them four stars for not having a good selection of Cliff bar flavors. I decided to give 5 because the staff here is extremely friendly. Specially Gabriel who’s been checking my groceries out today.

Small but close to home so I go there often. I have heard about «scary Ralph’s» but it’s a nice store. I’ve been coming here for 20 years. The store is really stocked most of the time. I was hoping they were building a new big store and including the empty lot next to them. How great that would be for everyone.

I have lived in Altadena for 38 years — longer than this market has been a Ralphs. While they have painted it several times and updated the façade and made minor changes to the interior, it is like the «forgotten» Ralphs. Apparently the parent company feels no need to update this store or offer amenities. I even phoned the headquarters once and had an employee there refer to it as the «ghetto Ralphs». Their complacency is sad and consistent. Even thought Super King, Walmart market, Baja Fresh and a weekly upscale organic farmer’s market have come to town — Ralphs has not budged. Now, however, there is an Aldi market being built next door. It will be interesting to see if that snaps them out of their stupor. Altadena is changing rapidly with million dollar condos being built, a wealthier demographic and a new upscale retirement community coming in – time for them to UP THEIR GAME!

I really wish the store was in better shape. It’s small, the selection’s are not great — for instance, I was looking for gourmet cheese one night and could find no brie cheese anywhere. The worst part is probably the scary people hanging around outside. In the half a dozen times there, all but twice I met homeless people outside begging. I have no problem with this in general, but at 10 o’clock at night in a seldom use place in your neighborhood grocery store, it’s a little disturbing. Ralph’s should make more of a commitment– It is a nice neighborhood, but the grocery store doesn’t live up.

FYI, Christine A. got the wrong Ralphs — she’s writing about the one on Lake about a block south of the 210. This one is at the corner of Lake and Mendocino. Yes, it’s small and tired and old, BUT for what it is — a convenient neighborhood market — it’s great. It caters to a broad ethnic variety, so won’t have everything for everyone. The produce is terrific, the meat is Ralphs standard, and the rest of the selections are decent in terms of variety. Most important, the employees — especially the ones who’ve been there a while — are cheerful and friendly to all customers. If you want a big supermarket with everything, go to the one south of the 210 (all of 2 miles) or the Vons at Washington and Allen. But for a warm welcome and a pretty well-​stocked and convenient local smaller store, this is the place.

Management here is a joke. Your worthless. How were you even able to land that job? You should all be fired and have a real team replace you all. This store belongs on skid row. It’s a stain In Altadena.

I’m usually really happy with Ralph’s, but this is the worst branch I’ve ever been to. Not only was their customer service center, where they sell transit passes which is the only reason I was there, closed, but the employee and manager I talked to were complete jerks about it. Get some customer service skills. Shocker that this is the only Ralph’s receipt I’ve ever gotten without the opportunity to take a survey about my experience. 2 stars because they had noosa yogurt, which I love.

Parking: the other day, I was crossing the parking lot to enter the grocery store. I looked left and right. An old ass car with an old ass lady driving, was far enough to stop safely. As I commenced walking, a Ralph’s employee runs out, jumps in front of me and yells at the old lady to «Stop!» Once I crossed, she decided to speed up! Thank you wonderful employee!
Store: it’s the smallest Ralph’s I’ve ever been in. The aisles are so cramped that only one cart can barely squeeze through.
Produce: their produce is pretty fresh. I notice a lot of people walking across the street from the local businesses to purchase fruit.
Starbucks: they used to have Coffee Bean, which was way better but then this Starbucks kicked them out.
Sushi: this is one reason to go because they have a sushi chef that comes in during the week and makes the sushi fresh, and if you come often enough, she’ll know your order.

This Ralph’s is unlike all the others. Unfortunately it is far worse. While the staff is always pleasant, the food is never always stocked. Either there is nothing left or they are close to expiring.
Again I would have expected more from a big box store like Ralph’s and keep this location up to par like their other ones.

I went to Ralph’s on Wednesday 2÷5÷2014 at approximately 6:00pm. Yes, the store is very outdated, but that’s not my complaint. I stood in line behind a female who was overly annoyed with the man sweeping the floor in her precious area while she was being checked out. He was an older gentlemen with a kind face and a strong work ethic. He had what appeared to be some cognitive issues. The checker (female with a supervisor name tag) rolled her eyes and shared her disgust and lack of humanity right along with the customer. The Supervisor then chastised the elderly gentlemen.
I was in complete shock. I stood there frozen. I said nothing. I am so disappointed in myself, in your managements lack of humanity and the nasty woman in front of me. It’s now Monday, five day later and I’m still so upset.

This is a teeny weeny one, and NO DELI really and def NO BAKERY with fresh bread. Wine selection is okay, only good for necessities.

I can’t believe all these negative comments about having to pay a lousy 10 cents for a bag! People, it’s not Ralphs’s fault, it’s the law in unincorporated Los Angeles County, as well as several other areas (such as city of Pasadena). And plastic bags other than produce bags have been banned. I’m not happy about it either, but if it means that much to you, start a petition or something.
Anyway, about the store: When I moved to Altadena 17 years ago, and until about 2 years ago, this store was Truly Awful. Always dirty, terrible layout, horrible produce, «frozen» foods that were room temperature or had obviously been thawed and re-​frozen, you name it. At some point about 2 years ago, that changed. They gave the store a facelift and started taking care of business, and now it’s a nice little store. Problem is, it’s still a *little* store. No bakery, no deli, no frills of any kind. There just isn’t room. But they have all the basic merchandise you expect a grocery store to have, and the employees are friendly and helpful. If you find that something you need isn’t on the shelf, just ask, and they’ll go get it from the back.
If you still can’t get past paying 10 cents for a bag, shop at the Ralph’s (or Vons or Trader Joe’s) in La Canada — the bags are free there.

Stopped by this Ralphs after checking out the Balian House for the Christmas Lights in Altadena. Came in here to purchase some produce & spices. First time coming here and had no idea that you have to pay $ 0.10 per bag. The cashier that checked us out told us and we told him that we will just look like fools carrying out our stuff to the car. He was actually really funny about that and said we can make this work and placed some of my items in my produce bag (the small clear plastic bags you put your apples and banana’s in…) and said we can do it like Costco, lol.
Anyways, the 3 employees we interacted with during tonight’s visit were very friendly and helpful. It was not crowded at all (but we went around 7:30 pm) and we found everything we wanted in stock. Oh and also there is plenty of parking in the lot.
Overall, a pretty nice market with friendly employees, but charge $ 0.10 a bag. So make sure you bring your own reusable bag (keep one in your car so you can have it when you need it).

This market’s equipment, floor plan and store décor are alll stuck in time.
I grew up in the area going to this market in the 90’s when it was called Alpha Beta… lol. Ralph’s bought it, replaced the sign with a Ralph’s sign and painted the outside.
But guess what? The meat coolers StiLL break down every summer and this Ralph’s is the only one in the area that StiLL lacks a Bakery, Deli, and yes I dare to say this; it lacks an adequate amount of food shelves/​floor plan space to accommodate all the newer products that Ralph’s/Kroger sells but this location cannot carry.
Sure, this store is conveniently located but, they should soon step their game up,
especially now that the Super King and Walmart grocery stores have moved in around the block.