Strack & Van Til

It saddens me to write this review. I was a pretty loyal S&VT customer even after the fancy Mariano’s opened nearby — S&VT was always less crowded and had better prices. My most recent trip there however will be my last. The produce section was pretty picked over and sad looking. I bought a bag of oranges and they lasted less than a week. Purchased olives and cheese from the olive bar and those went bad pretty fast. Amazingly, the store had no fresh chicken! I settled for a bag of individually wrapped frozen chicken breasts, only to realize later that the bag had expired 10 days prior…

I ventured back after the disappointing decline in the produce section and Viola! The produce section has been completely revamped! There is still some slight issue with removal of produce that is beyond its time but I am so glad that they listened to their customers-​because I really hate Jewel and Mariano’s is too croweded! Thank you Strack and Van Til.

I recently went here and bought several pounds of pork along with my normal groceries. A day later I noticed a foul smell in my refrigerator realizing it was the meat I recently bought. Next thing I realized the smell had permeated my whole kitchen. I took the trash out and my whole house still smells like a rotting carcass an hour later. I’d also like to note the sell by date isn’t even for another day. Normally I would return the product, however I do not think I could survive the journey with rancid meat in my car. Yup, I’ll never be back.

They apparently recently got rid of their self-​check out stations — so I had to wait for an inordinate amount of time Saturday morning because they had 3 lanes open, two had people with super full carts and super slow checkers, and the last one was 15 or under, but also went so very very slow. What should have been a quick trip to the store to pick up three items took 30 mins. If target had carried what I wanted in their grocery section, I would have gone there. Then again, if Logan Square had a grocery store more central to the square, that would be even better.

They never disappoint! Baker Sandy and her team did am amazing job for my aunts 60s themed cake. Give them some inspiration and let them create! Order taker was awesome, we went back and forth with ideas and she translated everything i wanted in the cake, big thumbs up to her! Thanks!

You know you’ve really reached the peak of adulthood when a trip to the grocery store makes your afternoon (and the topic of subsequent conversations), but so be it. This place is great. I’ve actually passed it many times and didn’t even know it was a grocery store! However, while running errands in the area I needed a few things for dinner, so one Unilocal search later there I was.
First off, it’s huge and the selection they have is awesome. I was able to find *everything* I needed quickly, without bumping into strangers. Secondly, the prices were all great-​well in line (if not lower) than close competitors. Finally (and my personal fave) is how OCD-​dreamy the organization/​layout is. Seriously. I wish every store were that well kept… I’d actually go even more! I wish this place were a bit closer to home, but am contemplating driving farther for the occasion. Yes, it was that great. Yes, I am that big of a nerd. And yes… I am ok with that:)

decent prices, clean.

I used to really love this store. Lately though it’s been messy and unkempt. I went shopping there last week and bought some granola bars that were on sale. A few days later I’m eating it and read the label only to find that these expired 2 months ago! Really stracks?! If something expires throw it away! Don’t sell it to your unsuspecting customers!

Very good meats. They mainly sell angus beef which I prefer. Competitive pricing and I can often find meats discounted due to the sell by date. I also like their deli selection better than Marianos. Their rotisserie chicken salad is really good.

This store was great when it first opened a few years ago. It was clean, the employees were friendly, the prices were fair and the selection was great.
I moved out of the area and stopped in today after three years because I needed something and I was in the area.
I was blown away at how dirty and disorganized it had become. The shelves were partially empty and had crumbs as if it had not been dusted in far too long.
It was a massive turnoff

Have been in here numerous times to use the atm but never went shopping until recently, now I’m hooked!
The store is huge for starters. The isles are spaced as they should be, unlike some other grocery stores in the city. It’s also very nice looking. At first glance, it looks like one of those big warehouse type stores, once you get inside though, you quickly see that it’s definitely a step up & much classier than that, without going overboard to the point that they have to raise prices to compensate.
Speaking of that, the prices are great! Very affordable & I’d bet they’re cheaper than most of the competition on many things.
The selection is great. I was able to find all the crazy little variations of a lot of products that I’m very picky about.

Had only sort of noticed this store before. My vet is at Petsmart across the parking lot but before today, I had never made it to this end of the shopping center.
My guilty pleasure is Cajun crab dip. Even with krab with a K. It’s hard to find. Jewel used to have it but no longer. Domenick’s had it but it was just okay plus they no longer exist. No for TJs, Whole Foods, Mariano’s, Meijer. Still haven’t tried Aldi or TI so maybe they have it. Not a fan of Walmart and not sure where there is one in the city… maybe close to Meijer in the burbs.
Anyhow, they have the dip. Hooray! Cruised the store to get a feel for the place. Someone mentioned the confusing layout. It’s not that bad. There’s a store back home (Central Market, part of HEB) that is so much more confusing. Produce looked good. Picked up a few other items. Seemed to have a good variety of food with decent pricing. Had plenty of lanes open.
Don’t know that I’d make a special trip over here unless heading to Petsmart or other businesses on the CF known as Elston but if I am in the neighborhood, yeah, I’d stop in again.

Review by B:
This store has gone to shit.
I used to love love love this place until about 8 months ago when they stopped carrying my boyfriend’s favorite yogurt & pasta and the bakery started making rock hard cookies. Nobody likes cookies you can’t chew retards.
I stopped in last night with my boyfriend since we were in the hood. OMG the store was dirty and disorganized, the meat selection was horrid and the pork chops looked so gross and beat up.
Never again Strack! Never again!

I hate this grocery store. Whoever designed it clearly has never needed to be in and out of a store in 10 minutes or less. Not all of the aisles connect, so if you forget something in the beginning of the store you have to go through a maze to get back to it. It’s like Bed Bath & Beyond where they try and herd you in a certain path. It’s designed for tubby middle America people, shifting the focus to the the processed foods in the middle aisles. And like items are not stocked together which makes it difficult to find anything.
So why even 3 stars? Decent prices on some items, random brands that I’ve never seen at a Jewels or the now-​defunct Dominick’s. Plus it’s the only/​closest (real) grocery store to Logan Square.
But every single time I’m there I curse the layout.

From Cub Foods to Strack I just want to let it be known that I rock with this grocery store. You don’t have to have a «preferred» card added to the repertoire or key chain to save so that’s always nice. The small things. Strack is real customer friendly and I was tripped out by how the baggers will actually wheel your shopping cart to your car and load the bags. You almost have to back em down to not come along. But I can respect that being part of the mission.
In all it’s a clean store, they sell sixers of Mickeys which is my favorite malt beverage, and there’s an ill mullet on display near the cashiers. Strack beats out any other popular grocery chain.

Am I missing all the Organic/​natural stuff? The price of Fage yogurt was way more then at Jewel or Dominicks ($ 1.99 each) but they had FBP’s (French Bread Pizzas) for 4 for $ 10! So I think its basically pretty hit or miss — maybe go there to stock up on staples?
I’ll give it another shot…