Associated Supermarket

An affordable place for groceries. Staff is always helpful. I have a very tight budget and do 90% of my local shopping here.

The Associated Market doesn’t have the variety like Frank but it’s decent. Keep an eye out with the cash registers. They always screw prices around.

I go here when I need to. They definitely have the basics– I just think there are better places, with more variety. Also the produce can be VERRRRRY expensive (although there is a fruit & vegetable stand nearby, so maybe if you get your non-​perishables there and the perishables outside you would be okay).
The staff is very nice and very quick though, I must say. I’ve never had anything rung up incorrectly either. (And to the reviewers complaining they aren’t friendly– the majority don’t have English as a first language so don’t take it personally!)

The other day was my breaking point with this store when a mysterious item was rung up… all of a sudden I see an item (sun-​dried tomatoes) rung up for $ 14.36? Did not purchase sun-​dried tomatoes or any tomatoes for that matter… if I wasn’t watching I would have paid $ 14.36 for something I didn’t get nor do I like & in what world are sun-​dried tomatoes $ 14.36? You need to watch when they are ringing you up… there is usually an over charge of a few $!! There is some funny business going on, I would think it would be impossible for a 8 – 10 item shopping to have 1 and even 2 items rung up wrong almost every time. When you buy a sale item it does not always get rung up that way, watch if you are paying full price for your sale items! When you nicely point out the mistakes the cashiers catch an attitude like I am such a bother and proceed to yell to the manager… again with an attitude. To all of those remarking to it being a ghetto store… This has nothing to do with being «ghetto» or not this is just wrong! I lived in the UWS for many yrs then Inwood for a couple of yrs before I move to this area, I would go to the C-​Town on Broadway which I liked or the Fine Fare supermarket and you can call that a ghetto store if you would like but all the cashier and management and very polite and friendly even though they could hardly speak English. The KeyFood on broadway/​187^th St is in a slightly less desirable area if you will, but the management and all cashiers are very nice and haven’t had the «mistakes» that happens at Associated. The keyfood is the way to go if you can handle a little more of a walk, they deliver for a $ 3. charge if you need and the delivery guys are very friendly.

Okay– so for everyone complaining about how the cashiers are ghetto, and the fruit sucks.etc. Let me remind you of something, you still live in Washington Heights. Not «Hudson Heights» but Washington Heights. Sorry to pull the rug out from under you. The produce is grossly overpriced (and yes, kind of gross) and some of the girls behind the register have an attitude. But this is your neighborhood supermarket. A lot of people depend on this place. Not to mention when they do have sales– they’re excellent. Show the place some love, because if Walgreens gets their way– have fun going to Franks and paying 3 dollars for a box of pasta.

Trying to make the place hot and sexy, Jeff-​Town style, they turned the house radio to «urban lite rap» with commercials; FAIL!
Reflecting common politeness in the regular ol’ world of (successful) retail, the check-​out staff now say, «thank you» when the TMP* is performed. Ain’t nothin’ like the E-​line to improve performance!
* TMP– «the money part».
2÷1÷16. Turn off the rap music (ain’t nobody wanna hear it while shopping for peanut-​butter pretzels) and the radio commercials. Last night; 3 commercials, 1 rap song, then 3 commercials (repeat, repeat) yelling at us why we should buy at Associated; we ARE buying at Associated, already. Tell Mr. Produce-​Aisle to turn off his personal music device, scrawling away against the in-​store radio noise (AS allows its employees to play radios, for themselves, with or without ear buds? That is shabby, jive and NOISY) and to pull his pants up so the world doesn’t have to look at his letter-​drop ass-​crack.
Walgreen’s is starting to look good to even some of the people on Associated’s side. The supporters don’t say but they’re resenting that AS doesn’t know, doesn’t want to know, and/​or is unable to understand in order to know (in Spanish or English), or, simply, AS-​187 just really doesn’t care about some simple shit.
1. Turn off the iPods/​radios and in-​store commercials with the rap music. There’s 3 sources of competing noise, by the way (4, actually; my grumbling); the house radio, Mr. Produce Section’s iPod and Mr. Usually-​Sitting-​Down-​in-​the-​Cooking-​Oil-​section (or slack in’ back by the freight escalator), waving HIS squawky music-​toy. If AS can’t get this right, they suck and deserve to be closed. Do something!
2. No more completely juvenile and gross ass-​crack. Go ahead, laugh, but if it was, instead, a female employee with her bid’ness hangin’ out those responsible to respond would do so. If AS can’t get this right, they suck.
Next? Sneak vids and photos to post? Let people (those, too, still pretending not to notice) have a laugh and see what slack, lazy, sloppy management looks like; and the Brothers, Clean and Scruff? They are responsive (gee!) but when it’s convenient, they play that bullshit «no comprehendo» game which ain’t nothin’ nobody is falling for anymore. In short, there’s locals against WalBot, sure, and pols mewing about store closings (true– just go down to Broadway; it’s scary!) but there’s a lot of (not-​happy) AS customers looking for a simple change. In-​store adverts? At ol’ AS-​187? Ridickaluss.

Every time I go there, I’m always disappointed by the fruit selection not sure why I even bother. Bought these berries for smoothies and they were mushy and on the brink of getting moldy. Had to go to Franks to get a new batch which were much better and cheaper! Next time I’ll stick with franks.

So apparently this store will be closing and a Walgreen’s opening in its place. Associated, even with the issues shared in Unilocal reviews, was a fixture in the neighborhood. The prices here were more reasonable and there was a greater selection of items. This leaves us now with Frank’s Market, whose prices are creeping up monthly, making it difficult to a lot of shopping there. If only a Trader Joe’s would open up around the Heights.

I find this supermarket to have friendlier prices than Frank’s, but it is not as good in variety.
Still we go there practically every week and survive just fine.

I second every negative previous review ESPECIALLY the one-​star rated reviews regarding the disrespectful managers and spoiling perishables of this store! They also sell products with expiration dates from last year! DO NOT GO TO THIS FOUL-​SMELLING ESTABLISHMENT!

If I smell something, or something is old, I tell the management. I still prefer them to Frank’s.

This store just keeps getting more «ghetto» over time. Recently they started parking their grocery carts out on the sidewalk with a garish sign for the lottery draped over them. They also have started wrapping their vegetables in foam and plastic wrap. So you can’t buy just a single zucchini squash anymore — you have to buy pre-​packaged stuff. As if we need more useless styrofoam in the environment. I try to avoid going to this store. The staff is nasty and hostile across the board. The young women at the cash registers don’t make eye contact, don’t smile, speak in Spanish with each other while ignoring you and when they are forced to interact with you, convey a very hostile attitude. Stay away from this place.

Associated managers Ariel — and what’s that other ape? Chelo — are the worst. They are not helpful and, to make matters worse, unkind to customers. I asked for a rain check on ice cream and the manager would only allow me to purchase one package. Everything they do for you is done with a frown, like you’re asking them to churn and make their own ice cream for you. Going to Franks is so much more pleasurable and so worth it. There you feel like a human being, and one where your business is appreciated.

non-​perishables are fine. bout all got going for it.
meat/​perishables i wouldnt dare feed to my dog let alone eat myself — how does this place pass inspection? the meat always looks completely off!
management staff are gutter trash — and will openly talk sh! t about their customers just because they dont like their looks or something… hell i have no idea the sand got so far up there (yeah i could understand you looser). there are other ways of dealing with your amazing personality and career choices you know. less talk, more work in the meat isle would be a great start.

It’s associated — so stay away from the perishables! Veg and fruits are on the cusp of going off. Beer prices are terrific. Applegate meats and cheeses are very well priced. Hummus and eggs are much cheaper than franks. Household cleaning products are also cheap. I shop here for certain things only. Check out girls are generally fine. The store does have a rather bizarre odour.

I agree with Courtney — it doesn’t fail totally because it’s close and a good place to get non-​perishables. However, I’ve bought more vegetables that were moldy — actually green and fuzzy once unwrapped — than were fresh, and the meat always looks like it’s about to turn (considering my luck with vegetables, I haven’t tried it).
I don’t think I’ve ever been checked out without having to sit through the cashier and a second person shrieking at each other in Spanish about boys. Every now and then they glance up at me to ask «debit or credit?» Obnoxious.

Three stars for convenience and not breaking the bank. The produce here isn’t great though. It’s often moldy and mealy, even the stuff that’s in season. I go here for packaged goods.
I don’t recommend Jin’s or Frank’s for produce either. It’s more expensive than the Associated but just as moldy. Too bad. For fresh produce I go to the curb markets on Broadway between 180^th and 176^th. Fresh, tasty produce that is very well-​priced.

I am underwhelmed by this neighborhood supermarket. We would rather drive the car to BJs, Trader Joe’s, or one of the many supermarkets in NJ for a large variety and better bang for our buck. The prices can run a bit high on many of their items here. This would be my last resort, since I don’t like being ripped off on every day essentials.

Good, convenient location and clean, but too pricey for what they offer. Not a huge selection of grocery items, but one of the largest grocery stores in the area. Employees are only mildly friendly. While this place is slightly cheaper, I’d rather go to Frank’s across the street.

I was completely surprised when I came in the other days I believe they have new management in place. Things are slowly beginning to pick up especially with the produce selection they have a wider variety and they have completely fresh produce. Now as far as the meat goes I wouldn’t recommend it does not look fresh. At least I will be saving myself a trip from having to go back to 181^st just to pick up my fruits and vegetables.