Pathmark

I used to go here when I was younger it’s where my dad would do the shopping for the month because it had good deals and large selection. It seems things have changed, and gone down hill.
Empty spaces in the shelves in nearly every aisle this is not something you expect to see in America. And it means one of two things the store either had trouble maintaining inventory or has lazy employees. I don’t know how the inventory is, but few employees could be seen working or stocking shelves and a lot of them were just chatting with their friends or other workers. As for sales, a true a sale or good deal was a rare find here.
If you need go shopping, there better places to shop with full shelves and are easer to find.

UPDATE: PATHMARK IS CLOSING.
As are the A&P stores, which are bankrupt. Including Food Emporium in Manhattan.
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It’s hit or miss here. Yes, Fairway is better. Yes, Trader Joe’s is better. Yes, the C Town on 9^th Street and 5^th (?) is better. BUT at 10 p.m., you can get good stuff here. Below is the breakdown:
Pros:
– A large grocery store near in Gowanus, near Carroll Gardens and Red Hook, where there is very little available, grocery-​wise.
– Mostly empty parking lot (if you drive).
– Open until 11 p.m.
– There are sales that price things ridiculously cheap. The hack is you need to keep your eyes open and read the circulars at the entrance. Think: Talenti ice cream for $ 3.50 (2 for $ 7). Evian bottles $ 1 each. Also, for the longest time, a full pack of hash browns from the frozen section cost the same as a half pack.
– They are getting wind that some of us like organic eggs, produce, etc., and are beginning to stock more organic brands, accordingly.
– The paper goods and cleaning products sections are fully stocked. Like, fully stocked.
– All the boxed food items you could ever want are here. That is, unless it’s organic. Then it might not be here.
– There is a liquor store across the Pathmark. Also, a Dunkin Donuts and an optical shop. I’m not sure why the optical shop is still there. They must have regulars of some sort from «back in the day.»
Cons:
– The STAFF act mostly ghetto or lazy. Or love to make assumptions. The heavy set late-​night gal at the Self-​Checkout is not one of them. She’s a gem and is super helpful.
– Tonight, at 7:23 p.m., one of said staff ladies in black and red braids wearing a blue shirt and peach leggings JUST FLIPPED HER SHIT ON A CUSTOMER. Yelled, yelled, yelled. She was the only one mouthing off. She frightened my daughter. Where was the manager tonight? Where? We did not hear the customer at all. We were three cash registers away.
– The meats are often sketchy. By sketchy, I mean, slim pickings, and what’s there, you need to examine carefully.
– This store should take notice that the neighborhoods are improving. They should improve signage, STAFF, create pedestrian walkways (not just lots for cars), improve their inventory for those of us who like quality food items.

CLOSED!
Honestly trader joes has better pricing and better quality produce but it’s so easy to get everything you need at a pathmark. The «deals» are still a dollar or two higher than the sales at other places. Only come here in a pinch.

What can I say, it’s a super market that caters to red hook, and park slope, they use to be open 24 hours, not anymore. The people hanging around the entrance look sketchy, but once in, you feel a little more at ease, this place hasn’t been renovated in 20 years! Still looks exactly the same, and still the small dunkin donuts, and liquor store. But I do some here to save money from the ridiculous prices and limited selection of items in Park Slope. We have super markets closer to us, but the selection is not the same. When I come here I feel like I’m in food heaven compared to c-​town.
Advise, come on off-​hours, not the weekend… the lines won’t be bad, and it won’t be crowded.
They also make hot food, my husband loved the fried chicken!

Never again will i shop at this path mark, been giving this place a lot of business for 4 months now, for one its filth floors are never clean, the isle where you store your water smells like something died, complained and nothing was done, the produce is the worst, it eat it asap otherwise it goes bad over night, Tonight i went to path mark it was 11:48 when i got into the store i had a small basket manager announced store closes in 10 minutes, so we rushed to get our last item, as we were approaching the register, the manager yells we are closed, i said hold up im heading to the register, he says who cares we are closed and we will not ring you up, is this the way you treat your customers who keep food on your table, by turning them down on their purchase, why allow us to shop seeing us walk in only to tell us to put the food away and leave your store, i feel bad for the employees i have nothing to say about them but that they are all great workers and always helpful, this manager needs to be fired he has been rude every time we have seen him say hello he looks away, this would be a nice store with a real manager who knows how to treat their customers, i hope you read this don’t tell lies i have it all on film, if cooperate refuses to take action i will go to the media… treat people the way you want to be treated back, and everyone wonders why that store has no business… inexperience manager… get a job at burger king… ps you said this to us at exactly 12am ‘never been treated like this… I’m a company owner with a celebrity name known… i don’t treat anyone like that and never turn business away, if anyone would like to see the footage comment below

I try to never step foot in this place. Yes, most of the prices for the basics and produce are low, but if you shop around… you can find the same or cheaper deals. I do not know why anyone would not find this place ghetto. It’s the only place in which I’ve been in 3 fights, all on separate occasions, over FOOD. That is some ghetto shit. The cart problem is all true. People will follow you for one, but really, people will follow you at high tide at any supermarket — not so weird. The people that work here are miserable, but that might a requirement for this place. When there is a serious special going on, that special will be gone. I am particularly thinking about the weekly ice cream sales. Also, it is very dusty here; the entire place needs a good scrub. If you have a car, you have no excuse to come here. A parking lot is not worth it.
**I gave the two stars because this place always has the lowest price on crab legs and I love them. Damn them and their cheap crab legs. **
If you do go here, you will probably need to buy something to take the edge off at the liquor shop. Might want to do that before you start shopping.

Unpretentious place, in a sea of overpriced gluten free markets, no one will beat path mark for the prices on basics, paper products, shampoo, etc… basically if you swear clear of the meat and fish this place is very good,
Americas choice products are very good, and basically are name brand products relabeled for them .
If you want to spend $$$$$ go to whole foods or union market for everything… I get all my can stuff and paper products, shampoo and soap here… cereal too…
Don’t be a snob…

Understanding is the key to this Pathmark. Things you should know before you go.
1 — It is in an area zoned «light industrial». So it is not dangerous but it isn’t Park Slope, the ‘hood is just not meant for residential living. Think Dept of Sanitation, welding shops, machine shops, etc. On the plus side they have a parking lot that is never full.
2 — You will never find a shopping cart and if you do it will most likely be broken.
3 — It is a Pathmark, not exactly the high end as far as grocery stores go, so don’t expect a Fairway/​Trader Joes/​Whole Foods type of high end selection. As far as staple goods go they have everything you would need. But if you’re looking for some high end 18 yeard old Balsamic Vinegar, go somewhere else.
4 — The prices are pretty good and the self check out lines are usually short. The clerk check out lines are usually long.
5 — There is a great liquor store inside and a Lowes and a Harbor Freight are right next door, which can be convenient if you also need booze or hardware/​tools.
Bottom line is that if you have a car and don’t need to do 2 weeks worth of food shopping for a family of 5 and are re-​stocking your basic day to day food and can fit it all into one or two hand baskets you’ll be in and out in no time.
If you have a car and don’t mind waiting for a cart and waiting in line for 30 mins and want to save some cash then you’ll be fine.
If you don’t have a car, do mind waiting for a cart or waiting in line to buy $ 200 worth of groceries or have a fear of areas that aren’t gentrified, then go somewhere else.
This place is what it is, a low end semi-​ghetto grocery store with good prices.

We use this grocery store regularly and find it has most everything we are looking for. We love that it has a parking lot and open late. They have great prices on baby food and beer. Sign up for the discount card and get the extra savings. Also pick up a donut on the way in so you stick to you list. Haha

This store makes me cry real tears.
There is a parking lot, and there is an inexpensive liquor store inside, and those are the only plus sides to this store.
There are NEVER shopping carts if you show up after 9:30 on the weekends. People will follow you to your car in the parking lot to get your cart when you empty it out. As a small woman in this part of town, it’s really not my favorite thing to be followed to my car.
The employees at this store are absolutely horrific, with the exception of a woman who works at the self-​checkout occasionally and a young man who works in produce. Everyone works at a snail’s pace and seems completely miserable.
They never have chicken cutlets or chicken breast, any brand. I would imagine that’s a top seller and they would keep it in stock. Their specials on meat are severely lacking, and the quality is absolutely not top notch enough to justify that.
Their stock is poor; risotto is not some secret food from a far off land, but no one in the store seemed to know what it was or where it possibly could be. The fact that nothing is in the place it should be in doesn’t help when looking for such items.
Good thing Fairway in Red Hook is close to me too!

This Pathmark is a part of my childhood. I would come here with my mom on a late Friday night and get all the things we need.
I continue that same ritual however I’m a little more sporadic about my time of coming. I know where everything is so i can do a quick run in before work. They have the things that i like in terms of Spanish essentials need to season my food plus the sales are actually sales… and if you’re a coupon person you can so make it work.

I would never have expected to give this store even one star ever, but over the last couple years — and in fact since they reopened after the hurricane, they’ve really improved. Service is still hit or miss but now there are new self service checkout stations, all new refrigerated cases, they’ve reorganized merchandise and expanded merchandise. The America’s Choice brand is excellent (I haven’t found a klinker in the mix yet) and the savings are great. I wish the meat counter was a bit better, but maybe that will change too. Still, for basics, this is my go to market now. And the Big J liquor store has also remodeled and has great prices and huge selection — and great customer service. Don’t’ forget, there’s a Dunkin Donuts there too — pretty sweet.

This store is huge, with lots of variety but overpriced.
The things sold here are the exact same things that are sold at KeyFood, except Pathmark charges double.
It just doesn’t make sense. Why is this store so expensive? This is coming from someone who 1. Enjoys on a good bargain but 2. Is not always so frugal. I enjoy my WholeFoods as well as KeyFood and Trader Joes.
When I came here, I noticed that there were LOTS of variety. By this, I mean this store had items I hadn’t seen in eons, frankly.
Check out was awful as the cashiers weren’t sure if they were open or closed, and one cashier asked me to tell the people behind me that they were closing after me and my mom.
Okay great, so now I have to deal with angry customers behind me as they hear the bad news.
I mean when I tell you this place is packed, it’s packed. For such a baron area, this Pathmark is very populated.
As I’ve stated before, it is very pricey. I mean wow, paying double for the exact same item is not necessary when I can go to KeyFood and nab the same item for less. I don’t know why they do this or who it’s attracting. Maybe people who don’t feel like trekking all the way to Atlantic Avenue or Montague Street, but it’s worth it if I don’t have to spend more than need to.
Times are hard and I work hard for my money. Sorry guys.

–Sung to the tune of «Skyfall» by Adele*. Play the video and sing along–
You need some bread,
Hold your breath and move ahead,
Past the vegetables, and then
Into paper goods, again
Turn right by fish,
Past the meat and cheeses
Do you need a plastic dish?
Or a candle etched with Jesus?
When you need food, shop at Pathmark,
It’s not ghetto
Like other people say
When you’re hungry, get your food here
You’ll save money
When you go to pay
At Pathmark
At Pathmark
Pathmark is where we start
A thousand chips are in your cart
Where cheese is fresh and coffee’s dark
You can buy some pickles
Or a dozen eggs
Or a frozen apple tart!
When you need food, shop at Pathmark,
You can save cash
If you have a club card
If you drive here, to this Pathmark
You can park free
In the big-​ass lot
At Pathmark
At Pathmark
Shop at Pathmark, if you need food, at Paaaatttthhhhhmmmmaaaarrrrrkkkkk!
Woooo, oooooo…
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*

Like many Pathmarks in Brooklyn, this one is also appears pretty ghetto. However I managed to find all my grocery needs and the salmon I picked up was pretty fresh, thought I don’t understand why it wasn’t scaled. Affordable, fresh, and adequate parking.

This has to be the most miserable grocery store I’ve ever been in. Miserable in that the food looked miserable. Miserable in that I would be scared to eat whats in the butcher/​fish cases. Miserable in that everyone that seemed to work there was also miserable. Such a waste of a huge space — there is a ton of potential, but some sketchy characters, and the cashier could have cared less about being there. Didn’t say a word to me when checking out, except «Pathmark card?» and then glared at me when I didn’t have one and she had to swipe hers instead. Very oddly organized, and did not seem to be well managed (the 10 people in the store are all trying to check out at the same time, in two cashiers lanes, with cashiers that are taking their sweet time, and, as previously mentioned, are miserable).
I almost didn’t buy what I went in there for, but sucked it up just for the experience. And what an experience it was…

I like to go to Lowe’s on the weekend (despite the high ratio of creeps) to browse outdoor-​backyard type things, and I noticed this Pathmark on my first trip. Huh, a grocery store I can drive to, quick quick.
Mental check to come by when/​if I host a party, since yes, I shop at Union Market, Key Foods, TJ’s and Fairway but mostly Fresh Direct. I don’t eat much at home that ain’t seamlessweb or froz, so the over-​pricedness of these stores doesn’t bother me… I’m probably spending $ 1.50 more per trip.
Party-​hosting opportunity arrives, and I decide to drive here for ice, beer, paper items and «things you can/​should buy at any grocery.»
Oh man, is this place sad. I’d rather walk to Key Foods and lug my ice back myowndamnself. Well, not really. I may come here to buy ice and beer and maybe napkins. Seriously, that’s it. THAT IS ALL I WILL EVER COME HERE FOR. NOT EVEN DORITOS.
It’s dirty, Not kinda dirty. Straight up dirty. The items on the shelves are no joke dirty. This is a grocery store. Meaning items you are supposed to PUT IN YOUR MOUTH.
The parking lot is full of creepsters circling, whistling, pulling up alongside you and… offering to fix your bumper. It takes you the whole trudge across the sad, sad lot to figure out that these are the same creepers in the AutoZone lot (which, yanno, makes sense).

I have been here a couple of times and it was an OK experience. A basic grocery store with pretty much every BASIC item you need. DO NOT COME HERE FOR SPECIALTY ITEMS (go to Fairway). Yes it has parking, which is convenient HOWEVER the parking is not worth buying rotten food. Here is why:
1) I purchased 2 pieces of pork shoulder on a Wednesday, their «sell by date» was three days later on Friday. When I went to cook the pork shoulder on Friday, I took them out of the fridge (they were still in the shopping bags) and when I took them out of the bags I immediately starting gagging because the smell was horrendous! The meat had turned a greenish color and I was disgusted. I brought the meat back and they gave me a return card with the money on it, which didn’t work when I went to the check out, had to go back to customer service and get a gift card and go back and do it all over again.
2) I thought that this was just a fluke so I trusted buying meat from them again. MISTAKE!!! I bought a package of chicken which was sealed in plastic by the maker, not sealed in store. I went to cook the chicken ONE DAY after the «sell by date» and again started gagging when I opened the package, the meat smelled disgusting and I immediately threw it away. I am not even taking the time and energy to bring it back.
I will NOT be going back to this Pathmark, they are not taking any more of my money for rotten meat.

I see the appeal here, I do. A large grocery store with parking and enough room in the aisles to actually walk around, a luxury in NYC, most definitely. 2-​stars for that, indeed.
However, it’s just sorta sad up in here. The employees seem depressed. The fruits vegetables seem to be crying. The meat and fish mourn their fates in sad cases near the back, haphazardly stacked in lifeless displays. The announcements by employees over the loudspeaker are sullen and dull, presenting half-​assed promotions and stock language.
The selection is fine and you’ll find what you need probably, but there is literally just no joy here. Food should be joyful. It’s relatively cheap for NYC, but I truly believe heading to the smaller markets, farmers stands, etc will yield better results at roughly the same price.
I won’t be back. The vibe shook me. My food needs to be happy!

It’s cheap. That’s the best part about it.
The worst parts: Insane lines. My favorite is after a 20 minute wait when I discover the person in front of me doesn’t want to bag their own (even though the lane is marked «bag your own»), buying way more than they have and needing to return half their order, or forgetting something only to leave and return much later.
One time I went to customer service, waited for the employee to stop flirting with the maintenance man, leave after seeing me to go and get an ice cream sandwich for the frozen department, and THEN ask how she could help me.
My favorite visits were probably when I tried to sign up for a store card — they didn’t have any and a quick stop on my way out when they HAD NO BAGS. Yes, a grocery store without bags.
The store is ridiculous, the staff is clueless, but it’s cheap and close. They also have $ 1 cat toys (cat mice usually go for $ ⁵⁄₆) and good sales on random things (1.99 pineapple in the winter!).
I often find myself struggling with whether I should just start going to Key Food, which, while a bit more expensive, has less crackheads and better service.