Stop and Shop

Used to work here years ago and know it well. It’s a great grocery store that feels spacious, clean and well organized. Staff is usually around to help if need be and you can even gain rewards points to use on gas at participating stations. I’m not sure if this still is running, but did when I worked there. Over time, you can save quite a bunch on gas! Overall, it’s a solid place to get all your food necessities!

After visiting the brand new pizza place across the street, I needed to pick up some groceries. I planned on stopping somewhere closer to home, since I was buying a few frozen products, but ended up stopping at this Stop&Shop as it was convenient and resulted in making one less highway exit, which would be out of the way. This location is on Walkers Brook Drive in Reading, exit 39 off I-​95, very close to Jordan’s and to the «Crossing at Walkers Brook». The store has a large parking lot, scanner guns, self checkout, and Redbox. What this store doesn’t have is a renovation, which is desperately needs! This location is in the 1990’s in terms of style. The aisles, signs, and interior all seem old, and do not have the charm of the newer Stop&Shop locations. Definitely a store Stop&Shop should renovate ASAP! Anyway, good food, nothing expired, good prices, and friendly staff. Overall, a good stop for some groceries. 4 stars.

The whole Demoulas/​Market Basket drama currently playing out this past couple of weeks led me to this Stop and Shop for my weekly shop this past Thursday.
Now I know why I never come in this store. The prices are ridiculous. Here are a couple of examples…
Red Bull (4 pack)
Market Basket=$ 5.99
S&S=$ 7.99
Lean Cuisine Frozen dinners
Market Basket=$ 2.19/EA
S&S=$ 3.25/EA
Regardless of the obvious price disparities, the staff in this store seemed to be unhappy and genuinely depressed. I had to ask a couple of associates where to find items, and I was met with frowns and borderline hostility that I was actually bothering them with my questions.
I toured the entire store for my weekly shop and was shocked to actually discover that despite the size of the store, they simply did not have the variety of choices that MB offers right next door.
I counted 2 aisles dedicated to toys/​gifts/​party supplies, etc… huh? This is a grocery store, not Walmart.
Speaking of Walmart, until the whole MB fiasco settles down, that will be my next stop for groceries. Sorry… Stop and Shop, you’re fired.

It’s a little more expensive than the Market Basket next door but it’s more spacious, cleaner and they always have what I’m looking for.

Why is this place getting such a bad rap? It’s clean, employees seem helpful, and everything’s organized. I was able to easily find my stuff and go, so I’m a fan.

I like the selection of seafood at this location. When most places are not offering fresh fish cakes or fresh crabcakes anymore, this location has fresh and delicious codcakes. I also recommend the littleneck clams and the fresh scallops. This location has a very good seafood selection for a grocery store.

i am writing primarily about the salad bar and not the store, though I will save that for another time. I work locally and like to have a salad at lunchtime. The only place offering a salad bar in this vicinity is Stop and Shop in Reading. For many months I chose to go without lunch because their salad bar was so poor. Lately I notice the romaine lettuce actually looks fresh. along with the sliced red peppers. That is about where it ends. The black olives look so old they are turning grayish white. The carrots have a white coating on them. The grape tomatoes are overripe and the the tuna salad looks old. It would be great if these items were refreshed every other day to keep things fresh. People want to eat healthy but with these choices it would be better to stop at McDonald’s.