Potash Markets

Staff is so nice and helpful. Good food selection for a small location. I don’t recommend the salad bar but that’s okay.

Very convenient
Inside the building
Can sit there w/​your coffee or lunch and enjoy the great view from the beach, lake michigan and the north side of our city

Rude and sassy service and extremely overpriced for prepared foods compared to FoodEase next door. Groceries aren’t cheap either.

The first time I was lead up to this hidden gem in the John Hancock, I was full of wonder and excitement. It was a cool mini super market with many different offerings for prepared foods and groceries. When I looked at the prices, I was stoked. The prices at Potash Bros JHC are really reasonable (being that I’m used to South Loop Market prices). Sometimes they have special discounts on popular items that are pretty competitive with any larger chain supermarket. The fact that this is right above my office is just the clincher. However, this location is only accessible to tenants that either work or live at the John Hancock. If you are so fortunate to be in the building, this is a great convenient way to grab a quick bite or grab a few grocery items. Here are a few items I have tried at the prepared food section.
Soup and Half Sandwich Combo — They have a great deal on a cup of soup and half sandwich at $ 5.99. The food is not very good, but it’s passable. The bread is a bit stale, and the soups are a bit inconsistent. But the price is relatively low, and it keeps you full. I got a roast beef sandwich and the chicken wrap. For soups I have tried the chicken noodle, the cream of chicken and wild rice, and the chili. The soups were a bit salty and not memorable, while the sandwich was below average (even with Boar’s Head meat).
Broiled Chicken Wing Combo — You get 6 broiled (look and tasted fried) wings with a handful of fries. Unfortunately, they won’t let you substitute out the fries for a different side, but it was still a good amount of food for $ 6. The wings are a bit salty, and the fries are a bit soggy and uninteresting. But it’s passable.
Overall, this is a sweet place due to the convenience factor. The prices are really reasonable, and the food is passable on days where you really don’t want to go outside. The food really deserves 2 stars, but the groceries and the pricing deserve a star.

Wanted to go check out the view but was told that this potash is only open to the residents and tenants of the building. Waste of time.

For being a «local» store just for the Hancock residents, it is pretty good. Wide selection for a small store, and they don’t jack up the prices due to the location. Deli is great, and the store is always neat and clean.

Summary:
Location gets five stars, Food gets four stars, Price gets three stars, and Service gets four stars,
Details:
I’ve been to two of the Potash Bros. locations — this one, and the one on State Street. My review of both would be the same, but as this location hasn’t had a review yet, I don’t want it to feel left out.
The Hancock location is pretty super secret. I’ve been working (as a contractor) in the building for four years, and only first heard about it about a year ago. Based on rumors among my team, you can only get to the 44^th floor through the freight elevator, and you need to either a) be an employee or resident of the building with a security badge, or b) ask one of the security personnel in the lobby level to let you up. I’ve never tried asking the security personnel… always been lucky to hitch a ride on the elevator with another working stiff during the lunch hour.
For such a smallish grocery store, I’m always surprised at the volume and variety of food. It is a full-​service grocery store, from fresh fruit to frozen foods. You really won’t find generic brands here though, at least none that I’ve seen.
The best part (for me at least) is the deli. It’s so hard to find a real deli downtown. And I love fresh salami… the fresher, the better. Momma always told me to stay away from foul-​smelling salami. Good advice for anyone.
The deli serves Boar’s Head meat products… very tasty, kinda pricy, but worth it given you’re paying more than $ 10 for a sandwich, drinks, and chips most anywhere in the area anyway. There are other meats and deli items too… potato salad, macaroni salad, other salads… they also serve full-​size deli pickles, and who doesn’t like a big pickle? The ladies at the deli counter have always been friendly, and always give me a pickle spear even though I order the big pickle. I guess they think I just look like a guy who can handle a lot of pickle.
If you’re in the neighborhood and feel like a fresh deli sandwich, I’d suggest trying to get up to the 44^th floor, or try the location on State (it’s not too far of a walk from the Hancock). Also note that there are no places to sit at either location, so you’ll need to order to go. I’d stay away from the «deli» in the basement of the Hancock… more on that in another review.

Gorgeous view of Lake Michigan from the 44^th floor. Great friendly staff.
If I didn’t work in the building 10 floors below them and without a dining room, I’d probably not set foot in there though (unless I’m doing some grocery shopping). Don’t get me wrong. This particular Potash Bros is a cut above any other Jewel, Dominicks, etc. Need I remind you of the view and the friendly staff? (Hence the extra star). But the warm food here is only decent at best. What do you expect from a grocery store though? I come here mostly for the view and for some peace and quiet (as opposed to the bustlin’ noisiness of L’Appetito downstairs).

Potash Grocery has an excellent selection at fair prices. Deli is awesome, produce fresh and has a wide variety of misc. grocery items.
There is always a manager or two around to make sure everything is good.
Definately a quality old school grocery — nice break from the whole foods /​whole paycheck mindset.

You assholes.
True story.
We’re a good 2 bottles of wine, 1 hour into Risotto (after spending 20 minutes disagreeing on a dinner option and Milk vs. the Wrestler). Hey, we’ll make risotto and take shots of our own booze– better food for half the price! And we’ll be drunk!
Well, needless to say, the doctor of the group decided there are 2 cups in a quart and we’re quite a bit short of vegetable broth. So we try to find a place closer than the more than wonderful Jewel down the street. Potash! Who doesn’t love Potash?!
We get there. Store is only for residents of the building. 1 hour of Risotto is ruined and I have to live w/​the fact that Oprah really does have it better than me.
SCREW YOU POTASH.

This is not just a Potash Bros. This is a 5,200-square-foot location on the 44^th floor of the John Hancock Center with a fabulous view. I have been here many times because my good friend lives in the building. I am happy to say the service is outstanding, the Deli is always fresh and they really have all you need. At first, you would think the price is very high compared to others, but it’s not !
You really can’t beat a Potash with seats available for viewing the lake and surroundings. Forget the expensive Signature Room.
Good job Potash for this great idea!