Apple Tree Supermarket

Not the greatest selection. The check-​out folks are either super friendly and nice or crabby. It’s kindof bi-​polar in there. I’m sorry the place is closing, though

It really looks like someone went to a bunch of different closing grocery stores, bought a bunch of old flooring, shelves, fridges, and freezers, and threw them all together to make apple tree. «Gross» is the one word I think of whenever I walk by or someone mentions it.
Every time I’ve been, everyone working looks absolutely miserable. «Location» is no justification for moldy bread on the shelf, seriously. Tried buying ice cream in here once and it was obviously melted at one point because all the cookies inside had sunk to the bottom and the top was all nasty and freezer burned! :(No thanks crapple tree.

The staff here is always friendly and helpful, that’s one big reason the Apple Tree gets four stars opposed to three. I’ve gotten used to the musky smell& the bruised produce that would otherwise deter me from ever visiting again. But you know what they say «location, location, location». When I dont feel like driving to Tj’s and the Olive Tree doesnt have the selection I require, the short trip to Apple Tree is worth over looking the couple downsides.
So on to the Positives!.. Again, the staff. I dont visit that often but they always make me feel like a local (probably because locals are the only ones that dare to visit– location, location…) Also, the ability to select Exactly how many jalepenos or mushrooms I need is a strange, albiet Big, plus for me. I dont always need a whole container!
I’m gonna let you in a couple little secrets… The aritchokes, are the Meatiest artichokes I have Ever purchased anywhere. I don’t know where they’re grown and I’m positive they’re not organic, BUT if you are a fan of artichoke leaves dipped in salty garlic butter, the artichokes here will Not let you down. And the second secret, the chicken. Say what you will but I’ve been sold on Foster Farms being a «good» option for mass-​market slaughterings, obv nothing beats free range, but some days I relapse to not giving an eff and when that happens I look to Foster Farms. Again I dont know why it’s the case but for whatever reason the Apple Tree has some of the cheapest prices on foster farms chicken that you can find anywhere, definitely beating out the major grocery chains.
So if your not in OB, none of this will apply to you, but if you do live at the beach and have hesitated going, or returning, to Apple Tree, I challenge you to enjoy the staff, check out the chokes and chicken and be on your merry little way home where you will instantly forget where you bought the food that youre grilling up on your porch as you look out at the sand and sun glistening off the ocean.

Why hasn’t Sprouts or TJ’s taken over this spot? It’s the only grocery for miles in the heart of OB. And it’s clear they don’t care anymore. Moldy bread and produce, flies everywhere, expired and dusty items on the shelves. After all that I have to give them two stars for location, (that they’re totally wasting) and really good meat at reasonable prices. Also they have an off-​brand version of two buck chuck called Crane Lake thats pretty decent for the price. Most of the time the checkers look like they don’t wanna be there and I don’t blame them.

Just like many of the other reviews say, Apple Tree is only good for basics and last-​minute/​late-​night ice cream or booze runs. But it closes early (9, I think), so I guess only for basics when you forgot to get them somewhere else. To give them a little credit, they do have a good selection of inexpensive Mexican spices. So if you need chili powder for that chili you’re making and a couple of Mexican cokes, then this is your grocery store. Just stay away from the produce.

Grocery shopping at Apple Tree is akin to grocery shopping at a gas station or liquor store for a few reasons.
You’re never quite sure how long the cereal has been on the shelf, the selection leaves much to be desired and produce can be hit-​or-​miss. And just like at gas station or liquor store, they have lotto tickets, newspapers and will do in a pinch.
Since the store is walking distance from my house, I often stop in for those few things I’m inevitably missing for dinner: wine, jalapenos or wine. And yes, I’ve heard of a wine rack. Until they make one that stays stocked on its own, there’s no reason for me to buy one.
But back to Apple Tree… The checkers are always pretty friendly and quick so if you’re in the area and short on time, a stop by Apple Tree may be your answer.

This place is so nastee that I don’t think I’d even risk buying bleach here. I am contemplating sending letters to Barrons, Henry’s, TJ’s, pretty much anyone except Vons and Made-​in-​China Wal*Mart, to beg them to move into that space. I get the feeling that Apple Tree would love to be bought out anyhow. It’s a sorry state of affairs though that I am such a snob that I need a full body dunk in a vat of hand-​sanitizer after crossing the threshold of this rathole.
I’ll give them a star for the staff being polite and the roof not leaking when it rains.

Oh the good ol’ Crapple Tree…
I really only go here when I’m too lazy to drive to Vons due to its proximity.
It is grungy and old but hey it’s OB. I always seem to get a nice checkout girl, two of them look pretty much the same with colored streaks of hair. They’re both nice.
Produce is sketchy and so are all of the dusty items you pick up and put back down. They are in desperate need of a makeover. Most items are terribly overpriced. You need to check the circulars for the good deals.
The guy who sits in the Lotto/​check-​cashing booth is a total creeper, btw.
One star for being in OB, the other star cuz I haven’t specifically had a disappointing experience.

i meannnnnnnn– there are like no grocery stores over here so work with whatcha got.
our check out girl was super friendly and they had the necessities.
the frozen section is stinky, like an old lady who used to smoke a lot and collects precious moments figurines.
but the prices weren’t too bad.
you win some, you lose some.

The natives call it Crapple Tree for a reason. A word to the wise — check the expiration dates on anything you buy from here.
Really, the only good thing about this store is it serves as a reminder of how wonderful our other grocery stores (Olive Tree and People’s) are. What a waste of primo real estate in OB. Sigh …

Love the produce here because it’s cheap and fresh. I also get my Mexican food items here because the selection is large and all encompassing. Besides that, I think all other products are way marked up so I shop at Fresh n Easy for canned/​boxed everything else.
One a different note, its located in a central spot near my house so its really convenient to pop in and out when I forgot something in a recipe. The cashiers are friendly and I gave them an extra star because one lady gives great tips when I buy experimental produce items (squash, eggplant and peppers).

Horrible doesn’t even begin to describe this place.
AVOID AVOID AVOID
I went in there the other night because I didn’t feel like driving all the way to the Vons in Point Loma, and in retrospect, I guess I deserve what I got for being to lazy to get in the car.
Anyways, their prices are terrible, the produce I grabbed was no good, and the lady at the cash register was nothing short of a rude B — H.
On top of that, I bought a bag of onions, there was a sign that read «3# bag onions 1.79» under them. The B at the register rang it up at 2.40… which would have been way more expensive than had I just gotten a couple onions bulk. I only bought the bag to save some dough.
I pointed out that the price she rang up didn’t match the label and she just looked at me, then said something to the effect of «it’s only 60 cents dude».
Ya, it’s not a big difference. I mean, what’s a 30 – 40 percent markup right? She didn’t seem to get the point. Anyways, if you shop here, check your reciept. They will attempt to charge extra over what the items are marked. I don’t know if the cashiers get a cut of the rip off money or what, but beware.
What it all boils down to is that in OB, eccentric is cool. Edgy is cool. Colorful is cool. Different is cool. Hell, slightly dirty-​dingy is even a little cool. Apple tree is none of those things. It’s filthy, rude, and will attempt to steal from you (and ya, trying to sneak in charges you don’t want without telling you is stealing)… and that’s not cool anywhere.

This place is the worst. It’s proximity to my apt is the ONLY redeeming quality about this place. I say all this as an OB lover, and I appreciate all the small businesses in OB… but this place is just bad.
Dirtiness galore? Check
Expired foods? Check
Way overpriced foods? Check
The dank smell of stale cigarettes and apathy in the air? Check
Creepers, leerers and possible sex offenders as patrons? Check
HORRIBLE staff? Check
If you’re a female, this place is sketchy at night (not even just the somewhat endearing, normal OB sketchiness). I swear last night I saw not one, but two, sex offenders from the Megan’s List website, one of whom creepily followed me down two aisles until I started staring back.
Staff? God help you if you get the middle aged hispanic woman to check you out. She stared at me without helping me until I had to ASK her to ring up my groceries, dropped my change and made me pick it up, and threw my receipt at me. (I did nothing to provoke this, btw. Even another staff member kind of looked surprised). Also, the guy working the little liquor/​lottery/​etc counter was SMOKING. Yes, inside. Yes, in a grocery store. Nasty.

If the name of your place of business has Apple in it, one would think that you’d make it a point to have delicious apples. Well, I’ve picked up fruit here several times and more often than not the taste was off. There’s nothing worse than a bad apple and the one I had from here the other day was like eating sand paper.
If having less than fresh produce isn’t bad enough the prices here are pretty steep. I can understand a local grocer charging a bit more than the chains, but in return I expect fresh products and friendly staff. This place offers neither of the two.
Pretty much the only good things I have to say about the Apple Tree are the location and spacious parking lot. It’s located right in the heart of OB so it’s pretty much got a monopoly on the beach-​going locals of this hood.
I’m all about local businesses, but if they suck as bad as this I rather see them turn into a Ralph’s.

I’m not kidding when I say this is the worst grocery store I’ve been to in the western world.
What prompted me to write this review is that just yesterday I bought some items there. I got home to find a little mold on a block of cheddar, so I turned it over and saw that it had expired in July of 2009! Eight months out of date. Not eight days, not eight weeks. eight months.
Why the San Diego Health Department hasn’t shut this store down is beyond me.
And the sad part is, this is not the first time this has happened.
On the upside, they have great prices on ground beef and they’re the only grocery store within walking distance of me. That’s pretty much it.
On the downside, their items are often extremely old. Prices are high, selection is low. They rarely have ‘specials’ and the only reason they lower prices is because the stuff is, well, 8 months out of date. When mold is visibly growing, they’ll knock 75 cents off.
If you’ve read my other reviews, you’ll know that I completely detest OB customer «service.» For some reason, people who work in OB are all either depressed or have some sort of sociopathy. But this place is truly the worst.
Don’t expect to be greeted with a smile at Apple Tree. The cashiers wear no uniforms or name tags, just random street clothing. They’re all middle-​aged women from lower socioeconomic strata who are visibly upset to be there. Not to bash them, I’m sure they have difficult lives, and I have a feeling they’re treated poorly by the management. But I could be wrong.
At least they offer to double bag my stuff because if they don’t the thin plastic bags are sure to break on the walk home.
I think yesterday was my last time at Apple Tree. I’d rather get in the car and drive to another store just so I can have a little confidence in the food I’m purchasing.

Wow, I can’t believe how bad the reviews are for this place.
It is OB, people, and a full grocery store within walking distance! Who gives a crap if the staff look half awake or the floor is dirty?
I patronize this place for convenience and the small town feel. It is a simple and quick stop for all of my last-​minute grocery needs.
Haters can hate all you want but you know what’s coming when A-​tree goes? Some shiny new chain store that will charge twice as much for ‘convenience’. No thanks.

Apple Tree is good for 2 things:
1. beer runs
2. basics (when desperate)

Wow, there’s a lot of people hating on Apple Tree!
I come here when I’m hungry and there’s no food in the house, but not hungry enough to order takeout and pay $$$ for something of lesser quality than what I could cook up.
The good stuff:
–The produce is usually good and always pretty cheap– way cheaper than VONS, on par with Henry’s.
–They always have the tortillas that I like.
The bad stuff:
–Pretty much everything you buy in the aisles of the store (excluding the produce) will leave you feeling violated and stupid for paying $ 3.50 for a box of rice.
I think the meat is usually good, never any big complaints.
The store itself is pretty run down, but I dig it. It reminds me of Market Basket (which is a chain in the Boston area.)
The people working there obviously wish they had other jobs, but that’s cool– I work at a supermarket and wish I had another job everyday! Life’s a bitch, right?

I pretty much only go to Apple Tree if I forgot to get something at Henry’s. The prices are a bit higher than at Vons or Henry’s, but I think that is because they have a much smaller selection (whereas at Vons, there is always at least one brand of whatever you’re looking for on sale). However, I have found that their produce prices are often cheaper than Vons and Henry’s, and the quality is just as good. And, when things are on sale, it’s a good price. Ask at the front for the coupon mailer, it will list all the sales and have some coupons in it too.
I agree with the others, the staff is unfriendly. But, as I’ve said before, I’d rather have a genuinely unfriendly (but not mean or rude) cashier than an overly-​nice totally phony cashier. And, these people aren’t mean or rude, so I don’t mind it.
Overall, Apple Tree is a nice neighborhood supermarket, but it doesn’t have the selection or low prices I require to make it my go-​to for groceries.

In an age of tansnational-​homogenizing-​stripmall-​bigbox-​momandpopkilling-​corporations, Apple Tree Market stands alone. A beacon in the dark. Apple Tree proudly sits in the heart of OB screaming «No, You Don’t Need an ‘Apple Tree Card’ to Save money!» And for this, my friends, Apple Tree is worthy of my praise.
Now let’s be clear, Apple Tree is not on par with other «supermarkets». It is no Vons or Ralph’s. They have no butchers. (Translation: all their meat and cold cuts are done off-​premise and shipped in which means the quality is poor and the freshness is always suspect). Apple Tree lacks the vibrant fluorescent light bulb glow that we are all so accustomed to (and that we found really intense the first time we entered a grocery store while hallucinating). And their store is not as clean and well kept as one might like.
But you know what? Who cares if there are boxes piled in the aisle?! Apple Tree’s produce is of acceptable quality (conventional standards applied) and affordable. They have good sales, and lots of stuff that is WAY more expensive at your local corner store.
Now to be fair, I only shop there out of necessity. I am most definitely a food snob with a strong organic bias and ‘I like my meat from a butcher’ type of attitude. But nonetheless, let’s be thankful that Ralph’s hasn’t moved in! Apple Tree has definitely got personality. A personality that fits quite while with the neighborhood it serves.