Safeway

This location exists to remind you that Safeway has a delivery service and that Amazon Prime Now will get your groceries and miscellany to your doorstep in under 2 hours.
If you feel like you’ve got time to kill, this spot is ideal. There must be times of day when lines are short, maybe mid-​morning Monday through Thursday. You know how some phone systems will advise you to call at certain times? This manager might as well post a sign at the door saying «I won’t revise my staffing plan to serve your ideas of convenience. I am trying to earn the largest bonus possible. I suggest you shop Monday through Thursday 10am — 12noon or before 8am (or what his data shows as slow times) or better yet shop online.» Then I could write beneath it — Or just use Amazon Prime Now.
That said, the staff at the fresh fish counter will answer your questions and find what you’re looking for. They get 5 stars.
The cashiers have almost all been terrific.
Customer Service counter almost never has any staff or signage indicating when they will return.
Wine and beer selections what we expect in the Bay Area — Good — and eye-​poppingly good if you’re visiting from Utah.
Pick up your Bear Republic and Lagunitas, a coupla pounds of shrimp, just don’t try to do it if you’re in a hurry.

I have to go here once a week. The good part is they are open at 5 AM, and because I work an early shift, that’s a definite plus. Most of the workers there are nice… BUT…
One of the checkers, Liz, clearly HATES. LIFE. She throws your groceries after she rings them up, she never looks you in the eye, and she exudes the demeanor of someone who hates the universe because you’re in it. It really makes my workday a little more depressing. I try to be sympathetic, but I can’t help groaning if I see her at the checkstand.

This is a great place to meet people. By the time you get through the Disneyland line you have made 4 friends who are also in disbelief.
This is my local Safeway so it is unavoidable at times. The lines are constantly 10 – 20 people deep with two check stands open. Gotta feel bad for those checkers, Safeway really needs to staff this place better

I had multiple choices to buy birthday cupcakes and I chose Safeway knowing they have a bakery. Little do I know they don’t have cupcakes! Prices are higher than most groceries.

Their deli department is horrible. I attempted to buy Gouda cheese 2 days before thanksgiving and use the self check out. The Gouda didn’t have a price tag and I wasn’t able to check out. After bringing a cheese that looked similar I was able to jump ahead in line. The self service attendant was nice but obvosiously overwhelmed. I’ve since stopped relying on the deli department and only go when I absolutely have to. Most days they don’t have enough cashiers and I’ve stood in line for almost 25 minutes. i think they have relied on it being the only store around for so long that they know we have to eventually go there.

Epic failure as it relates to properly staffing their store! Why do I continue to believe that my next experience will be better than every other time? Please take my advice and go anywhere but here.

This Safeway (as most are) is maddening. I came in to grab 3 things and my visit took 45 minutes. Couldn’t use self check out cause one of those items was beer. But just so you know the self checkout is always a disaster. Express line had 20 people in it. Decided to roll the dice and go with a regular line, only to have the person in front of me try to bargain for lower price orange juice, and then he and the cashier took a field trip to the OJ section of the store while myself and the other people in the lane tried not to die. I contemplated leaving my stuff and walking out, but I had made this stop and wanted to see this through. Then the cashier and the dude came back and were chatting so much she «forgot» to ring up his items, and there was a dispute about that. Visions of hari-​kari were floating in my head. I began questioning if I even needed the beer. Get it together Safeway or you’ll go bankrupt real quick. Nobody has time for your BS.

I avoid this location at all costs. The store is totally mismanaged, long lines, apathetic employees and a slow and dirty deli are the norm. It’s too bad because I was so looking forward to this location opening a few years back, but now I go to the independent store on Potrero, Grocery Outlet or Target instead if I’m staying local.

For my great grandmothers 100^th birthday we planned a wonderful party. All she kept asking for was her favorite fried chicken, so we went in the day before and ordered 36 pieces to pick up the next day, April 3 at 9am. When we went back to pick up Nanas chicken we were told they didn’t have it. When I asked how long until it would be ready the woman at the deli counter rudely stated «we just didn’t make it» then walked away. I was devastated. As soon as I pulled myself together I got on the phone and started calling any place that could sell me 36 pieces of fried chicken on such short notice, then I started writing this review. I’m still not sure if Nana will get her birthday wish but I can tell you this, me and my family will never step foot in El Cerrito Safeway again.

It’s my go-​to grocery store since it’s down the hill and convenient, but have to say it’s the poorest staffed Safeway I’ve ever been. I’ve gone late evenings and there’s literally two lanes open with lines wrapped around 15 – 20 people deep. The produce can have its good and bad days as well.
Update at 7pm and there 8 or 9 deep in 4 lanes! Totally unacceptable! Hire some people please.

This place is awful. Never have I ever felt so weird today I came to the store to get a few things when I was in the freezer aisle and overheard someone on the mic say security to the freezer department. Never have I ever felt racially targeted. This store is located near my home so I chose to go there right after the gym so I guess due to me being black and having sweat pants on and flip flops
Makes me a thief. The managers don’t care they’re a joke. The staff are nasty and rude and don’t care about their job. How are these people still working here ??? They have personal conversations while your standing their waiting to be checked out. There’s never anyone there to assist you if you have a question. They need to fire everyone in this location and hire a new staff. Stay Away from this location you’ll be racially profiled! Trust I’ve complained the managers don’t care maybe I’ll write to corporate about this store.

High prices and super-​crappy service make this Safeway the worst grocery store around.
Today I was unable to even buy anything at the deli because there was nobody there to provide service! How stupid to prepare all that food, pay to refrigerate it and then refuse to sell it. At least a dozen other potential customers left in disgust with me.
This store is poorly run and poorly managed!

Clean, huge, sells alcohol, and close to public transportation. What more do you need?

Bulk and fish sections (next to each other) are my favorites.
Self-​check out.
Food styles for everyone.
They need to install a bulk filtered water machine and take out some of the bloated bakery.

This Safeway has the appearance of being above average, slightly more luxurious than your regular ol’ Safeway. They have a sushi bar, organic produce section, bulk foods, a Starbucks and a pharmacy. It’s pretty comprehensive at first glance.
BUT I can never get out of here without standing in a 10-​person deep line. All the while, they play a public service announcement while you’re shopping that states «If there’s more than 3 people in line, we’ll open another lane — it’s that simple!» But yet, there is no accountability on this promise. It’s all talk, no action!
Also:
— the bulk section is always lacking pens and twist ties. Quality control!
— only 1 of the 2 entrances have shopping hand-​baskets available. Why not both?
On a warm fuzzy note, one day I was short 71 cents and the cashier gave me a dollar of her own money so I could buy toilet paper! Quite touching and awesome.

Never enough check lanes open during rush hour. Its much more expensive than the Lucky’s at El Cerrito Central. Very convenient location wise.
THE TACOS ARE ALWAYS STALE NO MATTER WHAT BRAND OR THE EXPIRATION DATE.

I hate to give this Safeway location such a low star review because it has so much potential! Let’s start with the location, this one isn’t the nicest spot in town. Next to the del Norte Bart station with ihop, dollar tree and easy access to downtown Richmond — so if that doesn’t ring ghetto to you then I don’t know what is. The store itself is huge and had a huge parking lot to go along with it. The store is nice and rather large for Safeway in Richmond.
So you have a nice big looking store and the company would pair it with terrible customer service reps from the cashiers and some of the assistant managers. There is more often than not no one around to help you out if you have a question, especially at the bakery. If the customer service here was quick and much kinder I think then more people would come here. I wouldn’t come here unless I really need to.

I’ve been to different Safeways in different states, but Safeways in Norcal are oddly a lot cleaner and better…
I like the variety they have here, with organic fruits/​vegetables, in addition to the large collection of nuts, spices and dry goods!
For July 4^th, they had a special deal in the deli area, 8 pieces of fried chicken (drums and thighs) for only $ 5! I had to get it, and Debby the lady behind the counter was extremely nice and super cheerful.
Tips/​Observations:
–Definitely get a Safeway rewards card! Everything is almost 50% cheaper if you do so!
Overall, I would shop at Safeway for certain items! When they are on sale, they are cheap! When they are not though… I would probably go elsewhere.

I absolutely love this place !!! The hours are great and the items are greatly priced! There are a variety of goods here from Asian to typical American donuts! Get the maple bar !! It’s delicious! The Starbucks inside is also great! Plenty of parking and great location!

There is a very weird paradoxical nature to this Safeway. It’s a prime location, near BART, yet getting — ATTENTION BAKERY DEPARTMENT! TWO, ZERO, ONE! — suicidal leap into traffic. It’s quite fancy on the inside, with lovely produce displays and perfectly stacked fruit. Maybe it’s — ATTENTION BAKERY DEPARTMENT! TWO, ZERO, ONE! –wood accents all over, making it feel like a Nordstroms or something.
People have been complaining about the employees, and again,– ATTENTION BAKERY DEPARTMENT! TWO, ZERO, ONE! –social level, they always treat me warmly and kindly. On a professional level, they really need some work. For example, here is a typical deli trip:
Stand in line for 15 minutes– behind ONE other person.
Me: «Hi! I’d like a half pound of roast turkey!».
– ATTENTION BAKERY DEPARTMENT! TWO, ZERO, ONE! –
Them: «Ok». [looks sideways] [looks back]
Them: «What did you want?
Me: «Half pound of roast turkey»
Them: «Ok, roast turkey»
Them: «how much did you want?»
I won’t complain — ATTENTION BAKERY DEPARTMENT! TWO, ZERO, ONE! — the long lines are not their fault. It’s the infuriating lack of employees at key rush hours like noon and 6pm that make me dread going here. I really wish I could just go here — ATTENTION BAKERY DEPARTMENT! TWO, ZERO, ONE! –shown me you will never get in and out in less than a half hour.
But all of that is really nothing compared to the paging system. — ATTENTION BAKERY DEPARTMENT! TWO, ZERO, ONE! — interrupted every 10 – 15 seconds with a super loud, obnoxious internal page to some department. Often, the same department on a loop for the entire time I am there. It drills into my brain and sometimes I want to f– ATTENTION BAKERY DEPARTMENT! TWO, ZERO, ONE! — HAUNTS MY DREAMS. DIAF bakery department caller. You’ve drained my will to live.