Goat Wagon Grocery

I live directly above the Goat Wagon so this store is sometimes a God send for myself. There have been so many times that I have been cooking dinner or have friends over and I realize I’m out of milk (or beer) and run downstairs to grab what I need.
The staff is nice and they chat it up with you if you come in often. The prices are very high but it’s a convenience store so it’s not entirely a shock. The peeps that live or work nearby keep the store in business and there is sometimes an interesting crowd that gathers outside but if you’re in need of a particular item or a frozen pizza for the night and don’t feel like walking to The Teeter on 6^th St., the Goat Wagon will do just fine.
Bonus: Pajamas are not unusual to be seen here, which is always a plus in my book. I wish I could go everywhere in my PJ’s!

The Goat Wagon Grocery has nothing going for it except its location. I shop here because it’s the closest convenience store to my apartment.
Negative experience #1:
The store reeked of marijuana. Smoking’s fine, whatever floats your boat, but air the place out. You can also attempt to not look completely stoned on the job.
Negative experience #2:
My girlfriend walked here to get change for laundry. The younger gentleman attending the store (the one who smokes) initially refused, saying the store didn’t give change. First off, this isn’t true; the older attendant gave me change before. Second, we shop here all the time, and everyone who works here recognizes us, including him. She offered to buy something to get change and he again refused, this time insisting he do her a favor by opening the cash register anyway. He was never this much of a wishy-​washy jerk when we shop together.

This is located in my old hood in Gateway. Simple and pricey, this little store is the place to pick up that six pack on the way home if you don’t want to drop 3 times as much drinking at the local bars.
It also stocks those little items items that you need at a moments notice like TP or DO.
NOTE: folks working the register may be taking a smoke break or somewhere else, so randomly the place may not be open.

I will never, ever return to this store. During my first (and last) visit to this store, I received the worst customer service I have ever had in my entire life. Never has any clerk been as rude to me as the man running this store was.
When my friends and I walked in, the store was empty and the clerk was stocking the candy aisle. I walked up to the counter to purchase a pack of cigarettes, for which I had a coupon. I waited at the counter for at least five minutes, while the clerk, who had obviously acknowledged my prescence, continued stocking with seemingly no intent on interrupting his task to help me. Finally, I got too tired of waiting and asked him very politely could he get assist me. He blantantly sighed loudly and hesitantly walked behind the counter.
I was in the store with my (female) partner, and one of our friends. My partner and I, who were holding hands, were given a very judgemental, mean look from the clerk as he walked up. Before I asked after my cigarettes, another patron walked in, and lined up behind us. I showed him my coupon, and asked him if he accepted them. Before he even could answer, he took his hand, and physically pushed my partner and I out of the line and waved the man behind us, who was white, clean-​cut, in a suit, and obviously heterosexual, up to the front of the line. I stood there, absolutely bewildered at this, not even knowing what to say. He told the man, «Since these TWO,» pointing at us and sneering at our interwoven hands, obviously disgusted, «have no idea what they are doing, and are wasting time, you can go ahead of them.» At this point, I was absolutely furious, and so completely insulted, that we just stormed out of the store without even commenting.
I have never been so obviously, and literally pushed aside due to a store clerk’s homophobia. My partner and I were basically refused service from this man because we are a same-​sex couple. Never buy from this store unless you want to support discrimination and out-​right bigotry.

Tim B. must know a different clerk, because the guy selling me a case of beer may have been in a coma. That said, I don’t demand quality banter from every person I meet. His stony silence was fine by me.
Having been unable to purchase beer with my groceries this morning (before noon on a Sunday — scandalous) I set out to salvage my Super Bowl plans at this oddly named store. I didn’t see the plaque explaining the name, but I did see a bountiful selection of ales for what ailed me. I had a quick scout around for things other Unilocalers might be interested in, but it’s a pretty standard convenience store. The only item that stood out was a box of Toblerone that seemed a little upscale for this place, although it was displayed next to a rack of Pork Rinds, probably to balance things out.

What is there to say about Goat Wagon Grocery? It gets the job done. That’s it. Need a Gatorade ’cause you’re hungover? They’ve got it. Need beer so that you can get hungover? It’s all there. Snacks, too. Even frozen DiGiorno’s pizzas. Bout to catch a flight and need some reading materials? Books and magazines a-​plenty are right there. Have a cold and dont want to order in? Grab a can of soup and some juice.
Look, it’s a convenience store. It’s convenient, and that’s about it.
But one more thing: The guys that work at the store are awesome. They’re friendly, they let you bring your dog in, and they’ll even let it slide if you forget your wallet. That’s about the best thing you can ask for from a guy you have 10 – 12 meetings with a week.
And let’s be honest: it’s a cool name. Check out the plaque in the store for an explanation.