Zupan’s Markets

Zupans has come a long way since my first review. One thing they did that I really like is the new salad bar (put in about a year ago). I’ve started utilizing salad bars more recently, especially for lunch. Zupans is more expensive than Whole Foods ($ 9.99 vs. $ 8.99). You might get a greater selection (debatable) at Whole Foods, but I believe the overall quality of the salad bar at Zupans is better.
Another addition from a few years ago was rotating tap beer. I don’t drink a lot, but if there is a good beer on tap, I’m all for it.
Staff has also improved a lot! In the past, I got a lot of attitude. It seemed they were into hiring disgruntled artists who never caught their big break. It seems more professional and friendly. Staff from the deli, meat department and floor all interact with you without being pushy.
The food quality is top notch. Their specialty is sourcing foods you won’t find easily at other local groceries. With that though comes a price. You’ll find staple food items here for 1.5 to double the cost at Fred Meyers unless its on sale. Pay attention to food items on the lower shelves, as there are quality items there for less though. Price is where I take away that last star. If they could get those prices down some, it would be perfect.

On the surface, Zupan’s seems to have the right idea but somehow can’t execute it successfully, or at least not in a way that I think deserves more than three stars. Most things are overpriced. Fine… it’s an upscale shopping experience… I get it. Why then, do they lack organic options for so many of their produce items?
In full disclosure, I primarily shop at New Seasons and sometimes hit up Grocery Outlet, Fred Meyer, Whole Foods, etc. when I see good deals or I need an item New Seasons doesn’t carry. Not Zupan’s though. Zupan’s is like New Season’s expensive sibling. Also, New Seasons has better samples.
The only reason I find myself in here now is to take advantage of their Chinook Book coupons. BOGO pound of chicken breast isn’t so bad of an offer. BOGO canned tuna brings the $ 6 can of tuna down to $ 3, which is still pricey, but a supposedly acceptable price for high quality, local, dolphin-​free tuna.
Another coupon was $ 10 off a $ 50 purchase, which is worth it when you take advantage of their sale on hard-​cider. Pre-​sale cider prices are similar to other stores in the area and their selection is decent.
Cute guy working at the meat counter. Not enough to ever pull me away from New Seasons though.

This place makes Whole Foods look like the 99 cent store.
That being said, I stay away from upscale hipster grocery stores. I don’t see the point of paying $ 7.99 for a can of tomato sauce simple because the tomatoes «grew up on a happy farm in McMinnville where they can roam free.»
The good thing about this store is if they are going to go all out, they sure do. They have a wide variety of items, especially in their condiment aisle. So many things I’ve never heard of and would’ve tried if it wasn’t $ 18.99 for a 6oz can.
Overall, it’s ok but you’ll be paying a lot more than other stores. I probably would only go here to get fresh produce, or for a special occasion cooking, and if every farm and grocery store was shut down within a 25 mile radius.

I was fighting between whether to go to a restaurant to eat today, or making something at home. my happy medium is Zupan’s market they have non GMO chicken, fresh salad bar, awesome Deli, olive bar. this is always the better choice and always a good thing.

I shop here because it’s close. It’s expensive and would be better if included more run of the mill items. The meat and wine sections are good, the produce totally sucks. I’m not a great fan of the staff for the most part — some are terrific but many are kind of sullen. I’ll take New Seasons any day.

I’ve only had bad experiences here. The employees that I’ve come across are rude and do not give you the time of day. Almost every time I’ve been here, there is either just one employee at the cash register, or none at all. It takes a while to get any service.
The food is also very overpriced. Upon comparing common goods at other stores, there is a significant mark-​up.

Pros: Very clean, organized, easy to navigate, and pleasing to the eye. Produce selection appears to be very fresh and beautifully arranged. Friendly staff in the butcher department.
Cons: This should be the «whole paycheck» grocery store. Not Whole Foods. What bothers me most is that generic items are so extremely overpriced they cost a good $ 3 – 5 more than just about any other store. I don’t mind so much if the rare, high-​end, or imported goods are more costly. But damn, Zupan’s, why do you need to charge $ 6.99 for a carton of Florida orange juice or $ 4.99 for a half portion of oscar mayer lunch meat? The list goes on and on. Highly overpriced generic goods that would cost half as much at Target, for example.
Thank goodness I had a $ 10 off $ 40 or more purchase coupon. I don’t think I’ll be returning again any time soon.

their zebra biscotti is s**t and their eggs were picked over (see pic) and watery. with these prices, I don’t think so. you can mark zupans off my list
ALSO OVERCOOK BOILED EGGS

This store is awful — over-​priced (way more so than similar stores), with terrible customer service. I’m not sure why I ever go back, but it’s so darn convenient, and mostly good, selection-​wise. No more. Today was by far one of the worst experiences yet. There were two registers open in the ENITRE store on a Saturday afternoon and long lines, with plenty of indifferent employees loitering about. All this after dealing with an incredibly surly & unhelpful butcher. Then, when trying to sort out a receipt issue, both managers I dealt with were similarly unhelpful and indifferent. What a waste of a Saturday afternoon. Frankly, I get better service at Fred Meyer, and certainly at New Seasons, which I’ll be sticking with henceforth.

I’ll admit, I do not do a ton of shopping here. It is close to my office and I do lunch here all the time. The staff is great, the food is high quality and the new salad bar has me hooked. Wine and beer selection is one of the best you’ll find.

Ugh, don’t shop here. Everything is a minimum of $ 7.

Great Belgian beer selection, and you can buy singles.
I walked around after grabbing my bottle of Duchesse and was startled at the prices on everything else. Who shops here? IT people? Dang.

After attempting to shop in the quasi-​food market desert of Silicon Valley– Zupan’s has it all! Amazing organic and local selection, cute displays, nice staff, accessible parking, restrooms that aren’t a dump, and great produce selection.
We were on vacation in Portland and I insisted on returning to Zupan’s for their local yogurt bar which was amazing. I wanted to buy a t-​shirt to show my support for Zupan’s back in the valley but they didn’t have any!
I will admit I’m pretty obsessed with smaller local grocery stores. Safeway, Lucky, Trader Joes– ugh. Who wants that when you can have a nice shopping experience at Zupan’s?

Overall theres nothing wrong with the store, clean and well organized. But I felt kinda let down. The prices are higher than whole foods (I felt like it anyway) so I expected it to be at least as good if not better. But my food was pretty average.
Also my sister has lots of food allergies. So its important for her to know what’s in her food. But most of the deli/​packaged stuff had incomplete or no ingredients listed. She ended up having to have plain chicken (the only thing that we knew was safe) which, for $ 9 a pound was pretty dry.
There was nothing really wrong with the cashier but she was kinda… unmotivated? I was looking around for somewhere to put my shopping basket and she didn’t offer to take it or even point me to where they went.
The highlight of the meal was my sister’s apple and the Hot Lips soda, with which Zupans didn’t really have any involvement in. I guess they get credit for stocking it…
Definitely not horrible or even bad. Just felt a little deflated.

I cannot comment on how fresh Zupan’s Market produces or how expensive it is.
All know they have a good selections of beers. Cool beers ready to drink.
We walked in, picked up 2 beers. No lines at the cash.
Mission accomplished!

Wow, another great upscale grocery store. This could become a habit. I love wandering around and finding new things. And I found one of the most original things to date. A salt bar. I have never seen so many types of bulk sea salt to try. Pink Himalayan, French Grey, Kosher Salt, Fleur de Sel, Black Hawaiian. So cool.
They have everything, even a few bargains. I saw Paul Newman Lemonade and Limeade two for $ 5. Not bad. Lots of fresh produce and new deli meats to try, all sorts of prepared salads and sandwiches, and desserts and a coffee bar up front. Fresh flowers and quite a few different types of candy canes made locally.
I did like the meat department, and the counter person was more than willing to check in the back to see if he had another cut of meat that I didn’t see displayed. They also carry the marinades that their kabobs are done in. There a was a nice ginger soy, a Hawaiian bbq and a chimichurri sauce as well.
Needless to say, I will return for some semi-​serious shopping. If I did serious shopping here, I’d be broke in a matter of minutes. Too much I’d want.
Enjoy.

Watching S2 of Portlandia reminds me afresh to review this zupan’s! High end, quality, organic groceries found here. Think it opened in late 2007, and the design is so much more contemporary than Burnside location. I actually used to shop at the one on Jantzen…
Nice flowers displayed as one enters the corner door.
Like the lighting and layout, and is easy to walk to, bike to, bus to, or park along Belmont.

I spent like $ 18 dollars on assorted bakery items, trying to make someone happy.
Pear tart, vegan cupcakes, oatmeal cookies, macaroons.
Needless to say, it worked. The staff were fantastic in helping me pick out items.
You go, Glen Cocoa!

I love Zupan’s! Their meat and produce is nicer and tastes better than the Walmart stuff.
However, my last batch of strawberries were moldy after one day. That is unacceptable, esp for $ 5 a pint.
Everything else has been pretty delish. My favorites would be the granola selection in the bulk bins, the huge chocolate selection at the front and their Draper Valley chicken.

When I met my Portland Boyfriend (now husband), his refrigerator was empty.
No really.
Oh, ok, a block of Tillamook White cheddar, some craft beer, and a half of a burrito.
Why is your fridge empty?
Well, if I want something, I walk to Zupan’s, he mumbled.
It was two blocks from his house.
As we started dating, it became more clear that Zupan’s was his primary form of nourishment.
Sandwich? walk to Zupan’s. Get fabulous sandwich custom made for you at deli.(feed slices of turkey off sandwich to expectant cat)
Coffee? walk to Zupan’s. Get delicious espresso at back counter.
Need a bottle of wine with dinner? Hop over to Zupan’s, ask for help choosing bottle from friendly wine guy, then put one in the wine chiller, then haul it home.
Ice cream hankering? walk to Zupan’s.
Girlfriend needs birthday cake? Run to Zupan’s at last minute. Select from fabulous bakery counter a spendy but awesome confection.
You see the pattern here, right.
When I moved in with him, I did that Zupan’s as nourishment thing too, only I would get bags of groceries, with lots of fresh produce, and later a stroller full when we had Princess.
I like their selection of foods, I know some of it is expensive, but it really depends what you buy, and I miss living close to one. When we moved to Sellwood we lucked out, there was one fairly close on Macadam, but after we moved to the west side the Beaverton HIllsdale store closed, and that was a pity.
I love Zupan’s. Don’t even get me started on how they totally saved our asses when my mother in law «surprised» us on Thanksgiving by showing up with 6 extra people an hour before dinner, taking us from 4 people to 10.
Thanksgiving emergency? Zupan’s.