Acme Markets

I go in here all the time because it’s the closest place. It’s always crowded and a pain in the butt to get in and out of but that’s not the worst thing. I wouldn’t usually write a review about an acme cause it seems lame but after yesterday I have to. I went into the acme for a bunch of fresh parsley for a dinner I was cooking. I went in and the place was jammed packed. On my way to the produce I walked past the customer service desk and heard a guy saying that there was a lot of rotting produce out and he thought someone should throw it out. I continued on to the parsley and when I got to it I noticed a lot of bunches had black, slimy leaves and stems. I went through about ten different bunches before finding one that didn’t look too bad. Now acme charges top dollar for crap like this? And it’s like this a lot. I have noticed that they have the highest produce prices for the worst quality stuff. Bagged lettuce is always brown, some veggies are just downright rotten and their herb selection looks like it fell off a truck out on limestone road and the acme manager decided to bring it while not even bothering to wash it off. Really? Get it together.

Overpriced, frankly. You’d do better to drive a few minutes further away and go to the Pathmark on Kirkwood Highway, or to Shop-​Rite (if you can stand the blue haireds alternately running you over with their carts and taking up the entire aisle with said cart). It’s convenient to where I live, so it does in a pinch, but we almost never go anymore if we’re on an official pantry-​stocking trip. It didn’t used to be so overpriced, but it got ridiculous after the make-​over. Friendly staff, though. This pertains to both the Hockessin and Pike Creek stores.

They have what you need.

4 – 5 stars for customer service– TOP NOTCH employees… very friendly, bakery and meat dept. staff is the BEST. (Pike Creek location)
1 – 2 stars for produce quality– cucumbers rotted, mushrooms are slimy, definitely could use some improvement in this area…

This Acme has a special place in my heart.
My very first job was at this Acme. I turned 16 right before school let out at the end of my sophomore year and officially became a slave to the American capitalistic culture. I was hired to push carts and put groceries in bags. Due to my efficient skills, I was quickly promoted to cash register. Soon after, I further climbed the corporate ladder when I was moved to the bakery. That’s right: I made cookies, pastries and decorated cakes.
I always associate this job (and that summer) with the song «One Week» by Barenaked Ladies. It was a good first job that taught me to be on time, to make the most of my breaks, that eating salad for lunch wouldn’t make me as tired as pizza, and that small conversation and a smile can make someone’s day. I also memorized the codes for all fruits and vegetables (I had to take a test to use the register) and cleaned up baby vomit several times.
Whenever I come back to Delaware, I make a trip here at least once when I decide to cook for my family. Sometimes I see people working that were there back in 1998. And some of these people are still rocking blonde-​tipped highlights and The Rachel.
I’m glad some things never change.