Rite Aid

This review is an update for the pharmacy team. I wanted to thank Eleanor for going above and beyond in helping me deal with insurance. She even prepared the paperwork and sent it to my doctor and gave me copies. I appreciate your service which is always top rate!

A cashier with a smiley face asked, «Would you like to round up your changes and donate them to Children’s hospital?»
I replied, «No, I send them checks myself.»
The cashier changed to a frowny face threw changes and receipt into my hand.
I wonder if she receives bonuses via these donated changes.

Slowest Rite Aid ever! 2 cashiers and 6 people in line. Taking more than 5 mins to go through all of them. And they’re not buying a lot of stuff!

Just got ice cream at this location…
As I was approaching the area, the female employee was windexing the outside of the display case. She did not wash her hands. I worked in food for three years and ALWAYS made sure I washed my hands after cleaning. Very unsanitary.
Date and time of occurrence: Nov 19 at 7:30 pm.

Customer service is lacking here. I put my bags on the counter during the transaction, and the clerk gal just kept socializing with the other clerk. I had to ask her, «You don’t put the items in the bag anymore??» This has happened on two occasions!

Asked the girl if the item was going to be 6 $, she didn’t say anything and charged me without saying anything about the price I just asked about. When I asked her about the offer, she said oh must be selected items AFTER I PAID. Everything here is a SCAM unless you want food, go to the dollar store right next to it if you’re a broke college kid like me for cups or beach stuff.

I came in here during the week several months ago and purchased some items. I ran my card through the reader and hit cancel for credit (I never use my debit card for anything other than an ATM) and the employee told me the credit side was down and I would have to use debit. I had no cash and no other cards on me. Stupidly, I entered my pin and went on my way.
The next day my bank calls me. They have blocked what they believe is fraudulent activity on my card and they asked if and when I used my debit card. Well, I knew exactly where I used my card. I told them what happened and they explained that if a credit side is down then the debit side would be too. They contacted Rite Aid to report the fraud and let me know they did so. I was issued a new card in the meantime.
I called this particular store and told the manager on duty who checked me out but when I had to go in the next month for items for a work party that guy was still there, at the cash register. I wouldn’t let him check me out and I paid with cash. Sure I don’t know if he was responsible but it was enough for me to not let him ring up my items.
I haven’t been back since and always will go to CVS over this location when given a choice. Shop at your own risk and do not use your debit card here!

This is the real deal old school Thrifty Ice Cream counter where they give you the cylindrical shaped scoops of my childhood favorites like chocolate malted crunch and chocolate chip.

Tried to stop by to pickup some medicine. I was greeted with a sign that said pharmacists are on lunch from 5:30 — 6:00. Who goes to lunch at a time when people are getting off work and most likely to stop by and pickup medicine?

Horrible customer service. Have gone in there several times, the store hours Cleary states 10:00pm but yet the employees are more interested in closing the store down at 9:15pm then helping their customers.

THRIFTY ICE CREAM! -
**Note: This review is for the Thrifty’s Ice Cream only.
After taking the pack, HAPA Boy & Trixie, to Halfmoon’s, «Redondo» Beach, and a quick stop by the popular, Sam’s Chowder House, we were about to head back home… ‘Then I saw it, «Thrifty’s Ice Cream.» (Insert stunned pause here)
— «Wha’, huh… Does that sign really say, Thrifty Ice Cream…»
We waited for about a good ten minutes before I walked over to the other side, near the registers to ask for assistance @ the ice cream counter… It wasn’t a big deal because I was busy looking @ the different flavors and snapping photos. I“m glad I did because it appeared there were two young girls who wanted ice cream as well because once the Thrifty team member walked behind the counter, these two rug rats appeared out of nowhere… ‘Everybody wins!
Photo —
The funny thing is that, we were just talking about Thrifty’s Ice Cream just a few days ago, the only place you could a scoop for15 cents… ‘And my favorite flavor, Chocolate Malt Crunch that had pieces of malt. A triple scoop cost a whole whopping 45 cents! Back then, growing up when the family budget was pretty lean, going to get ice cream @ the local Thrifty’s was a pretty big deal to a 5 year old… LOL — The thought & memories of it brought a huge smile to my face.
I somewhat hoped for the same ol’ pricing, not for the cost sake but more of a hat tip to the nostalgic idea of what a scoop of Thrifty ice cream represented. As I think about it now, it’s a bit of Americana… Right up there, with Woolworth’s, Kellogg’s Five & Dime Shops and Collector Cards that came wrapped with a stick of gum…
The Chocolate Malt Crunch was yummy, not only did it bring a smile to my face but it warmed my heart… I had thought that Thrifty’s Ice Cream of past was going to be nothing more than a very fond, tender memory. I was happy to be wrong.
The young lady who took our order was a good sport when I asked her to pose w/​the iconic ice cream scooper that always looked like some kinda funky gun to me… It placed a cylinder shaped scoop of ice cream on the cone that left two small holes in the top. I smiled when I saw it, same scooper… 8)
‘Never mess with the person holding the gun, especially the one that scoops ice cream…
Photo —
If you too have memories of Thrifty Ice Cream, peering over and looking at the different flavors through the glass cases, do yourself a favor and stop by here & get a scoop… It’s not too often nowadays I come across something that resonates deep within me. I was surprised at how much something as simple as a scoop of ice cream struck such a strong chord with me… ‘And at only $ 1.79/scoop.
Photo —
I’ve been to a handful of Rite Aid locations & have to say that this was the first one that I’ve seen promoting the Thrifty Ice Cream brand… I don’t know if other locations serve the Thrifty brand, maybe I just never noticed. (Shrugs) I hope they keep this going as long as possible. (Now, to find more Rite Aid locations offering the same.)
One thing that would’ve been nice to see was a lower price point, nothing like 15 cents/​scoop but something that paid homage to the Thrifty of yesterday… ‘Maybe 50 cents/​scoop? I think the idea of having the ice cream still available under the brand name is awesome & a price to reflect that bit of nostalgia would just add a bit more to it… After all, $ 1.79 is about the standard rate for a scoop and part of the appeal was the while idea of Thrifty’s was a great ice cream at a great price.
‘Think I just started a Halfmoon Bay tradition… ‘Stopping by here for ice Cream whenever I’m in the area.
— Big Aloha!
Food: 4
Ambiance: 3
Service: 4+
Value: 4+

While in Half Moon Bay…
After eating mid-​day lunch, my husband and I walked around the downtown area for an hour or so and then we we decided we wanted something sweet. Somehow we ended up passing Rite Aid and I screamed, «RITE AID ICE CREAM!» My husband turned the steering wheel with a quickness.
Anyway, it was a cold/​foggy/​misty Half Moon Bay day… just PERFECT for ice cream! We walked inside, found the ice cream, and waited for a good minute for an emo looking employee named TAVO to even look at us. It was kind of okay because we were trying to decide what we wanted.
Tavo was not happy. Maybe he had a bad Friday evening. Maybe he hates serving ice cream. Maybe he hates his job. I don’t know, but Tavo made me sad.
I was looking for my favorite ice cream (cookies and cream) and I didn’t see it. I wanted to give ol’ Tavo boy a chance to open his mouth and use his vocal chords so I said, «I don’t see cookies and cream… I WONDER IF THEY HAVE ANY?» Tavo just kept smashing down ice cream in the containers while looking up at me like a los lonely boy.
Finally, my husband and I knew want we wanted and Tavo said (a voice) in a bored voice, «What do you want?» hahahaha
He served up our ice cream, told us the price, and that was it. He seriously said five words to us.
How was the ice cream? Oh, ya’ll know it was good!
Great day for ice cream, sad/​boring/​tough/​rough day for Tavo.

A great place for tourists, like me, who forget to pack last minute items. Like most Rite Aids, they literally have everything you need to survive! My husband forgot to pack underwear (how he forgot is beyond me?), so I drove down the road to Rite Aid to pick some up. Yes, they had the underwear and I paid $ 13 for a twin pack of underwear. They also had an extensive camping area, children’s toys, snacks and drinks. They charge 10 cents for a standard brown grocery bag, which I think most retail shops are incorporating in HMB.

Yuck. This store is so… Joe Versus The Volcano… It’s dated, like most RiteAids stores. The clerks operate in sloooowww motion. The other day I stopped by again (three days in a row) to see if they’d re-​stocked the cat litter — nada, but honestly, I’m not sure half of the people I spoke with know what cat litter is or understood what I was saying. The first woman’s eyes seemed roll to the back of her head when I asked for a rain check. A huh… wuh?
The CVS across the highway near Safeway’s super awesome though, so hasta la vista HMB RiteAid.

They have a nice selection of merchandise, but the set up is just really outdated. This Rite Aid could really be renovated. It’s pretty hodge podge.
It’s nice when they hop to to get you some ice cream, but most of the time you get big sighs and eye rolling before someone comes out to serve you.

I think this Rite-​Aid would benefit from a good douche. The store is just kind of sad and run-​down on the inside. It does have a lot going for it though: great location, extremely large selection of merchandise, friendly employees, good prices, and of course the ol’ Wellness+ rewards program. The photo finishing isn’t that great though… I wouldn’t recommend printing any pictures here.

Stopped by here to get my flu shots. The pharmacist was really nice and even hooked my kids up with free ice cream cone coupons!!! After they got the cones they forgot all about the little flu shot pinch. Thanks for making my job easy that day!

This place is large and clean and has an easy layout. The staff who helped us was friendly and helpful. Prices are a little higher here for baby items than at the Safeway across the parking lot but we were desperate and bought some wipes and a sippy cup here because I had left my diaper bag on the counter at home.

Only at Rite Aid HMB can u get stuck behind 2 greasy 40-​something beach bum dudes WRITING A CHECK for beer @ 10:30am on a Sunday morning.

This Rite Aid has quite a diverse selection and a nice mix of seasonal items. There are always flowers and plants for sale outside, the gardening section is OK, and the pharmacy has all the things that you would expect to find. For more serious purchases in the home gardening variety, I would recommend the Ace Hardware across the street. But for simple purchases or last-​minute items, I have no complaints. And if you need a watch battery or repair, they have a special section for that.