Ord Community Commissary

I don’t normally shop in the commissary. It’s always just been too inconvenient no matter where I have lived as I have never lived what I consider close enough to a military installation to make shopping here worth the effort. I am surprised this commissary is still around given Fort Ord closed years ago. However, I am glad it is and have stopped in from time to time when I visited PG.
As compared to other commissaries, I find this one small. Prices for some items are quite reasonable. However, some items are priced higher than you would find in a regular grocery. Produce is not always the freshest and I am leery of buying meats here. If you are looking for more high end items, such as a nice steak for grilling, this is not the place to purchase. However, it’s a great place to stock up on staples — spices, jams, peanut butter, rice, etc.
Items are tax free, however the commissary charges a surcharge of 5% which is added to the amount due before coupons. Congress mandated collection of the surcharge to pay for commissary construction, equipment and maintenance. The surcharge is supposed to be returned to commissary patrons in the form of continually improved commissary facilities.
Baggers work for tips only so please keep that in mind when you shop here.

Still looks the same! I recall shopping here when Fort Ord was an active military installation, over twenty years ago. The commissary is one of the few remains in this Ghost town. It is open to active and retired military. My mom signed me in since I don’t have an ID card anymore. Sigh!
The commissary is your typical grocery store with everything that the other grocers sell at a discount. Although most items are significantly less, it pays to know your prices on all your items. Some items can be priced higher than you would pay at a big box store. The only thing that they don’t sell is alcohol. But you can purchase that at the PX!

Mmmmm. Old, rotten, expired or near expired food. Mmmm. What a steal.
All self check out registers have been out of order or broken for weeks now. I won’t pay someone to bag a few groceries who will hold their hand out AFTER receiving tip.

I am so grateful that the Ord Community Commissary is here in Seaside. I do the bulk of my shopping here and find the variety and pricing beyond compare. The only reason for four stars and not five is the way the bagging system at checkout is set up. I find it uncomfortable and offensive to have baggers fight over me to bag my groceries because they are looking for a tip. I understand that a change has recently been made in the system and that baggers must take turns. Which would help immensely. I personally have stopped shopping during the week when the «regular» baggers are there. I go on Sunday when the high school and college kids are bagging. They do a far better job packing. They actually care that your bags are packed properly with perishable items all together in one bag. They are courteous and friendly and they take turns without being told. They deserve their tips.

From the Presidio of Monterey Facebook:
«Ord Community Commissary will return to normal (pre-​furlough) operating hours beginning the week of August 18. As a refresher, the hours are as follows:
Sunday: 1000 – 1800
Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday: 0900 – 1900
Wednesday: 0900 – 1900
Thursday: 1000 – 2000
Friday: 0900 – 1900
Saturday: 0900−1900»

I have been shopping at this commissary for almost a year now. Our family consumes very little junk food, and for a commissary, it carries a lot more organic/​natural options than I would have expected. I have only shopped at 2 other commissaries before, and, true, this one is smaller and older, but I still find that I can usually get everything I need/​want, at much better prices.
As another reviewer said, the prices at other grocery stores in the other don’t even compare to the prices here. Yes, every now and then there will be an item that is comparable (organic milk, for instance, is the same price as Trader Joe’s if you get it in the quart size, however, getting a gallon at TJs or Costco works out to being about a dollar cheaper than the commissary), but for the vast majority of items, while still expensive compared to the rest of the country (it’s still California), they are SO much cheaper than other stores. It takes an especially large shopping trip for me to go much over $ 100 with my family of 3 adults (two of them being men) and 2 kids.
They lose a star for quickly and sharply raising their bread prices, and for the 5% surcharge. I don’t remember the other commissaries having this surcharge, but maybe it is something they all do and I just don’t remember. Either way, it’s dumb and shouldn’t be there. I do get annoyed about the baggers-​for-​tips-​only thing, BUT it’s really not that big of a deal, because there are 5 areas (2 express) for people who wish to scan and bag their own groceries. We always choose that option because it’s not worth it to me, if I already have to pay a 5% surcharge, to pay more money just so I can get my groceries into the car. If you have a bunch of «littles» with you and it’s just «one of those days», the option to have them bag your groceries and put them in your car can sometimes be worth a few extra dollars.
To sum it up, if you live in military housing (we do), it is DEFINITELY worth it, in my opinion. Yeah, you might save a dollar on organic milk if you drive to TJs, but there are few things that make it worth doing an extra 30 – 40 minutes of round-​trip driving. I have found the commissary to have many items (at much better prices) to fit a family choosing to consume fewer processed foods. We will be shopping here until it’s time to «move on»!

Pretty much the only reason I even remember Ord exists anymore. Once in a while I go by the commissary to pick up a handfull of items worth stocking up on.
I usually shop at Trader Joe’s for good deals and Whole Foods for good produce and specialty items. I like to go by the commissary for a change of pace sometimes.
I usually end up buying anything they have that’s organic, which isn’t much… as well as some non-​toxic cleaning supplies they carry.
It serves it’s purpose although they sell some items (like rice milk) for twice as much as you’d pay at TJ’s.

Great prices! Wish there was one closer to PG & Monterey…

Located in the old Fort Ord (Ord Community), the Commissary is for DoD Beneficiaries and is a hidden gem for the military community of the Penninsula (NPS, DLI, Retirees, etc)
While it is older and smaller than some of the commissaries I’ve visited before, the price value compared to other alternatives (the Safeways, SaveMarts, etc.) on groceries is worth the drive. Our experience is that a small cart in other stores can quickly exceed $ 100 while I routinely load up a cart for that price here.
That said, the meat department is so-​so (lose a star) especially on Sundays — however, after they restock /​inventory on Monday’s, I find that Tuesday’s make for a much better selection.
Another CON is that they (and all commissaries) do not sell alcohol, but the AAFES PX is right next door (as is the AAFES gas station).
I never took the time to use the Commissary at other posts, but I ALWAYS use it here.
Please remember, the baggers work for tips only (as I did many, many, many years ago)…