Johnston’s Market

very good. great selection. has melona and aloe water

Rude, unappreciative guy running this place. I bought a soda and greeted the guy «hi, how are you doing»? He didn’t even look me in the eye or even answer me. He rang up the amount on the register and didn’t even bother to tell me how much it was and took my dollar and placed my change on the counter. With that type of attitude I’m surprised I didn’t curse him out. He won’t get another cent from me, I’ll tell you that.

bought some batteries here and they were pretty expensive but there was no assault lol good thing

Johnston’s doesn’t offer the cheapest products, and it doesn’t offer the widest variety of goods (Sam’s right across the street has way more options at slightly cheaper prices). However, me and my friends find ourselves here far more often than all of the local mini markets.
If you step foot into here there’s at least a 75 percent chance you’re on the hunt for some drinks (and that’s okay that’s the only reason I come here too). This is further evidenced by the fact that four loko is the most referenced word in Johnston’s review. The variety of options here is okay, they range from almost unconsumable forties, to some actually tasty IPA’s. The prices are a bit inflated, but it’s still cheaper than the bars and you can pick up a forty for less than four bucks (and it’ll probably fill your needs). Me and my friends like to pick up a forty each to drink while we pregame and play wii U (don’t judge). They also have a pretty formidable wine and sake collection, which is surprising given the location. Although I can’t remember I saw someone walk out with one of those.
The food is also worth talking about. They have a lot of unique tasty Asian (mainly Korean) options that you can’t get anywhere else. This is probably due to the owners being Korean. The perfect late night drink accompaniment, for me, is a bag of the sweet corn chips so I’m so happy that they’re always in stock.
If you’re in a late night drink need than Johnston’s is a viable option. Especially since it is the only place that is open past 10pm that sells alcohol in the area. If you’re less in a rush I absolutely recommend going to Sam’s instead, you’ll likely end up with a better drink for a cheaper price.
Til next time, keep eating keep learning (the student foodie)

Just a small convenience store next to Asian ghetto, ran my a friendly old couple.
They carry a small selection of almost anything here, but most snacks.
THEY HAVE ASIAN SNACKS.
My go-​to if lines at Walgreens are way too long.
TIP: The Arizona teas here are actually 99 cents. Cheapest Arizonas in Berkeley.

I understand the appeal of this place. It’s a relatively cheap minimart, has both beer and wine, and is really close to campus and all the food locations on south side.
However, the owner has a most glaringly obnoxious personality out of any store vendor I’ve ever come across in Berkeley.
I turned 21 this February, and was trying to buy a bottle of Moscato on Friday night. After giving me a hard time about my CA DMV issued ID (the picture was of me when I was 15 right before I got my driver’s permit, and I was wearing glasses in it), he proceeds to charge my card twice, ignore my calm explanations, and promptly kick me out.
Okay; fine. I understand. You had a rough day and wasn’t in the mood to deal with college kids under any capacity.
I live on Durant, just down the street from Johnston’s Market. I walk by this place two or three times a day, depending on where errands take me. Tonight, he was sitting outside talking to his friend, and actually PAUSES HIS CONVERSATION to shoot the dirtiest look at my dog as we walked by.
Um, okay. At this rate, I’d rather take the longer haul to Fred’s Market on Telegraph just to avoid having to deal with this bitter owner.

The guy charged me twice.

Johnston’s Market offers all the usual of a mini-​mart: beer, wine, snacks, cigs, sodas, ice cream, groceries.
beers in six packs a bit pricery (bud lite 6/10.99). not many minimarts around here so it’s take it or leave it. i mostly left it.
drink: arizonia tea (.99)
–just shopping for value
drips:
–5 stars if you really need the stuff here and don’t want to travel
–3 stars for value or lack thereof.

Definitely my place to go to for drinks whenever I am around Durant Food Court. With 99 cent Arizona tall boys for actually 99 cents, I am a frequent customer. Also the place to go to for Four Loko for the past couple years too! :) Keep doing yo thing, Johnston’s!

hyphy juice –to– four loko –to– jerimiah weed… they got it
through the years i’ve seen the stores come and go off telegraph and the surrounding area, johnston’s market however has been one of the dependable ones–
i guess you can say it hits the spot. if you need a drink you can find it here. even the hard to find little drinks. this was where i went for hyphy juice when i was going dumb. its where i found four lokos for the crazy nights. it’s the first place i got the new jerimiah weed…
until next time
cheers!

I like this place because it’s like a mini-​Korean market at Berkeley (the Korean market in Oakland is so far D:). They have a small selection of Korean stuff! Like BANANA MILK (OHHH MYYYYY), MELONA ICE CREAM BARS (OHHHHHHHHH MYYYYYY! MY FAVORITE), Korean curry, and so on. I can’t believe I just discovered this!

Considering the small size of the store, this place is fantastic. They have booze, fizz and chips (and tobacco and condoms behind the front desk). Perfect for a night run when you are low on snacks or booze.

Lots of variety of products, I mostly go there for cheap drinks like Arizona ice teas for 99cents. The old guy and lady who run it are friendly. Great local store!

This is a great little store that carries a little bit of everything! From all kinds of beers, wines, snacks, cigarettes, ice cream, down to toilet paper or shampoo when you need it! The man at the register is actually a very nice guy once he knows you, he’s just quiet at times so he might come across mean. They definately check i. d for alcohol and cigarettes but that’s a given since they are near a college campus… Unfortunately they do not sell hard liquor there, but I found out that selling hard liquor is not permitted within a 1 mile radius from the campus… So you have to go all the way to Safeway or Andronico’s for hard liquor. Other than that, it’s a great convenient store!

As almost everyone below has said before Johnston’s Market is your on-​campus stop for Dionysian debauchery. It is a lovely mini-​mart that offers a wider range of low to high end beer… and wine if you’re some French elitist prick from I-​House trying to impress your pretentious bourgeoisie-​feigning harpy girl. BTW, thanks buddy for blocking my Heinekens for a grueling 10 minutes as you judged the merits of a 1987 Napa vs a 1986 Sonoma. It must have been really important that you have that full-​bodied aroma, huh? You should have gone with the jug of Rossi or box of Franzia because blacked out inebriation is the only way you would have been laid anyways, you fucking ostentatious douche.
As long as we’re discussing sins here, Johnston’s also has a good amount of cigarettes that I found to be much cheaper than Wheland’s Smoke Shop. They have a decent eclectic selection of Nat Sherman’s, Djarum Blacks (oh you hipsters), and used to carry Mild Sevens before they all disappeared in America (I blame this on witchcraft).
Johnston’s is open decently late so you still have time to stumble on over after Beat-​the-​Clock at Bear’s Lair for round two back at your apartment! Then head out for some karaōke across the street woohoo!
I always greet the old Korean man with a friendly «Anyung-​haseyo» whenever I enter the store. I think I really annoy him as I am by no means Korean and am probably butchering the language. Oh well, «gum sup nii daa yooo»
TL;DR: Shot shot shot shot shot shot shot shot shot shot shot shot shot shot shot shot: pause: EVVEEERRRYYYBOOOODAAAYYY!!! Wait… there’s no hard alchy here…

I’ve never been here to buy anything but beer (and a bottle of Crane Lake, once, when I was feeling sophisticated). There’s really nowhere to buy hard alcohol unless you wanna go to Andronico’s or Safeway; Johnston’s doesn’t have a liquor license. The prices on beer are a little inflated, which is what I’d expect from a small shop like this. The thug standing in the back watching to make sure you don’t steal anything gets a little annoying, but the owners aren’t pissy about identification and the like, so it’s cool.

Quick useful tips about this place!
1) Arizona Ice Tea = 99 cents flat!
2) Pricey but convenient booze stop (beer, malt, or wine, it’s all there)
That is all!

I am awarding Johnston’s five starts because it’s been basically impossible to find a decent mini-​mart around this campus. By decent I mean one where I have the option of buying beer. Seriously, the gas stations and the other random convenience stores within walking distance have none.
The hours are decent, closes around 11, and the selection of said beer is decent. Woo Newcastle!
Also I love the Mexican dude he has lurking around the store at night, probably for protection.

Sometimes I feel that this shop is here solely to fulfill a college student’s sudden, spontaneous desire for inebriation. Want alcohol? They’ve a got some for you!
They also have ice cream and cookies for the under 21 set (yes, they do check IDs).

A decent corner store. One time we bought two CASES of Steel Reserve tall-​boys from Johnston’s.
*That* was an awesome night.