Lil Grocer

I Went to cash in my scratcher. Lady scratched off one the last digits so she couldn’t read it and instead of trying the 2 different possible numbers it could have been, she said she was too tired to check and refused to help.

Again. I gave it some time to even go back here. Only bringing cash because of there fee to run cards. I picked up a pack of come zero and a ice tea. Hand the guy a hundred dollar bill and he says no. Ok. I understand if you just opened and don’t have change. BUT this was at 8:30 in the evening. I bet he had change just didn’t want deal with taking a 100 dollar bill. LAME. I think it’s great that all the stores are moving in. Maybe the smaller stores will start opening up there eyes. As a small business owner myself I carry change to give and I’m mobile. So this store should.

Lil Grocer is definitely convenient. they carry a lot of beers, liquors, convenience items, snacks. not all priced are priced. some that are are pricey as are the wines, hard liquor.
buys: mango-​rita bud (3.09)
–probably lousy tasting but gotta try it.
drips:
–pricey, so 2 stars.

I thought I would stop in this store as it was convenient from my trip to Kaiser. I didn’t have cash on me so had to use my debit card. When I got home I found out that they charge $ 1 additional if you get lottery and $.50 in you buy groceries. Debit comes directly out of the account as if you were paying cash. None of the gas stations that I use it at have ever charged me! I will NEVER stop there again.

If you need milk, basic groceries or booze, this is the only place I know of around the Cottle VTA stop. The space is small and they stock it well though it looks a bit like one of the houses you’d see on the TV show Hoarders. Prices seem fine though and you can get in and get out without delay.

2 Forties of PBR for just under 5 bucks.

This is a great place to pick up last minutes items, without having to wait in long lines. It still stays open late, which makes it convenient

I agree with Sammy W. This place is SKETCH!
If the security bars covering the windows and doors don’t cause you to turn and run in the other direction, your shopping experience here will certainly do so.
I was out of butter one night and found this place down the road. I picked up a box in the refrigerator under the sign that said «2.99». It also had a 50 cent coupon affixed to it. Took it to the register and I gave the owner the coupon. He said, «uh…you can’t use it». I told him «it was on the box». He then hesitated and said, «no, you can only use it next time.» UM – when am I going to buy butter at this ghetto corner store again? I said, «fine, never mind». He then rang me up and told me it was $ 3.80. I said, «your price said $ 2.99». He then paused and said, «yah, it’s TAX». I called him on it but he insisted, so I just bought the darn thing for $ 3.75. If he needs the extra $ 1.30 that badly to blatantly rip off his customers, then he can have it.
This owner is so shady!!! If you decide to purchase anything here, be sure to watch the prices when you are rung up. My guess is that they list prices for less than they actually charge for them because they can get away with it. The next time I need something, I’m driving the extra mile to go to a place where you don’t have to haggle with the owner just to get the LIST price.

I don’t know what some of those other reviews were talking about but it seemed like a bunch of over-​exaggerated nonsense. I’ve been coming to this store my entire life and can say only good things about this place.
— Customer Service is the best!!!
— Product Selection is AMAZING (if they don’t have something you want, ask them and they’ll have it by the next week)
— Prices are the lowest in town (and if you ever find some place cheaper, they’ll match the price, especially for their regular patrons)
— Family run business so the boss is there almost everyday. If you have any complaints, bring it up with them and they’ll take care of it in no time!!!
At the end of the day, you can always count on these guys to help you out.

This is a fine neighborhood convenience store packed with everything you could want when the grocery stores are closed or you are running short on time.

4 Stars
Open late, usually good service, and saves me a trip to the grocery store… plus the selection of liquor is better than any other liquor stores in the immediate area.

Here’s my first review. After reading the posted reviews i was so entertained, i felt that i just had to be part of the hillarious slamming of this straight up; rip you off, and a new a-​hole corner crack-​head hangout where they love to sell expired goods, will purposely overcharge you (by not using the bar code scanner, taxing food, over charging of crv, made up taxes from their country type B.S.) They know that they are in no need of more customers because the location is GOLDEN and is only getting better… which means many new potential people to bend over and stick it to!!! They love it when you come in with your EBT card because they know you got that money for free and are even more happier to tripple rip you! OK now here is a few cool things about the store. They let you buy energy drinks, Air fresheners, and those assorted packets of keep you alert and jittery pills and liquids with your EBT, but be prepaired to be double charged. They also have a western union if you’re lucky enough to ever have someone who cares about you enough to send you cash from afar. (if you do get money there, a word of the wise: don’t spend it there!) ***last note: for some unknown reason this store has been known to get some pretty damn lucky rolls of scratchers (thank god they got the price printed on them. So you only gotta spend $ 3.28 for a $ 3 scratcher after CA sales tax of 9.25% … not bad for an average chance of 1 in 12 to get another scratcher… You might even hit it big and win like $ 12 buckaroos. …but that’s pretty rare…

I have only gone in twice, but both times it was for booze and both times I was in and out quickly. While the neighborhood surrounding the area of Cottle and Beswick is pretty safe and nice, this place seems to attract some sketch looking people at night.
However, I’ve seen three old men sitting outside playing cards during the days sometimes, so it must have a decent stream of regulars that frequent this place.
Since the Pacific Mini Mart I usually go to for snacks has re-​opened as a check cashing and liquor store I’ll probably have to come here more often when I need milk or chips and salsa and don’t have time to go to the store.

Not a fan of this place being a local. First off, the owners are a bit weird, I get a little bit of strange feeling of distrust and suspicion just walking around the store, like someone is following you.
But the real kicker was this past Christmas day when we needed aluminum foil for cooking. They had a big supply at $ 8 a roll (Christmas special I guess), intentionally hiking up prices. I’ve heard of supply and demand, but this just seemed insulting to the local community you are supposed to be supporting.
They also apparently sold to an undercover cop recently and had their liquor license revoked — which really wasn’t that surprising, it seems like the kind of place that looked the other way.
Other than that, the store is messy, a maze of aisles and hard to navigate. Just an ugly, last resort when you’re looking for beer IMO.