Fred Meyer

This review is for the Sushi belt/​train in Freddy.
Not the best sushi but the price was right and the sushi ladies, especially miss LuLu was the sweetest person in this store.

While the grocery store is well stocked, convenient and friendly, the service at the pharmacy is atrocious. The staff are nice enough but there is little concern for customer wait periods. This is regardless if they are busy or slow. I only use this pharmacy when I have a full shop to complete or if I don’t mind coming back the next day.

The hoy grail of all grocery stores, with its own wine, cheese, olive, and sushi bar inside. This place is literally your catch-​all of grocery stores, and honestly you could probably live in here for the day if you so wish.
There’s also a parking lot underneath it, and although it was pretty full we were able to find a spot, which is pretty useful in any downtown situation.

I first started coming to this location prior to the remodel. It was a vastly different atmosphere then, with tweakers running around, lackluster lighting, and general dinginess.
Fred Meyer has invested a lot of money here, and it shows.
Pros:
— Huge selections of everything from beer, to hot sauce (my two favorite things in the world), to bread, cheeses, and vitamins; LOTS of local staple items
— Fantastic ready-​to-​cook area with pre-​made burger patties, kebabs, steaks and more
— Beautiful seafood selection, with fresh, wild caught, never-​frozen salmon almost always on sale for ~$ 8/​lb
— Bar that I will almost definitely never have a beer at, but still cool, haha
— Upstairs area to enjoy sandwiches, sushi, etc. — there’s even decent wifi!
Cons:
— Seemingly out of random produce frequently (e.g. broccoli, cilantro, Yukon Gold potatoes)
— It gets super busy (ok this is not really a con, obviously it does)

Great location and a great remodel… I almost gave it another star. Before it was a bit old looking with some abandoned buildings on the burnside side of the building. It is now fresh looking with some great new tenants (I can use the co-​op ATM at the new OnPointe branch.)
The store has some nice upscale features like a Murray Cheese area (to bad it’s not as extensive as the Murray Cheese in NYC (on Bleeker) with its ready to eat food… so good. Still the cheese selection here is good and seeing the sign always makes me smile.
I also like all the local products and the big healthier choices selections.
Like most Fred meter’s they have a fairly good produce area with a helpful staff ready to help pick out some good fruit. My last visit I was wanting a mango (I usually go to a Thai place for sticky rice but just wanted mango). The guy working not only helped me pick one out but gave me a quick lesson on how to know when it was ready to eat!
The one thing I am not a fan of is the parking here, I know it is to save space but its cramped, has a weird layout and is underground (though that means I can stay dry on a rainy day).
Really it has some great new features, I am sure there are some I don’t care about that others will (sushi area…) Check it out if you need some Groceries and are in the area. Like I said I was between a 4 and a 5 star so maybe 4.5 stars.
Tip: watch the paper for whats on sale and coupons.

Should you be so blessed to live by this Fred Meyers, realize how lucky you are.
This is without question the best Fred Meyers (and overall grocery store) in Oregon. They revamped everything over the course of last year (²⁰¹⁴⁄₂₀₁₅), and it now has a small bar/​growlerie, conveyor-​belt sushi station, a small athletics apparel section and two upper levels where cooking classes/​meetings/​dining can be had. A little sad that the mini-​bookstore section next to Starbucks is gone along with the only electronics center in the NW vicinity to make room for these more frivolous additions, but that’s OK.
There are balconies on the upper levels where you can eat privately with a view and at times catch some sun. The home goods section and gardening section aren’t great, but they’re enough. The meat /​seafood /​deli /​fine cheeses counter /​fresh vegetables sections are where it’s at! The sheer variety of food combined with the great quality and low cost even compared to other Fred Meyers’ is incredible. My only complaint is that switching the entryway and exit was a mistake — people are used to coming in on the left and exiting on the right. Plus, why are there never carts in the entryway? It would make sense to have them there to take away congestion from the exits, where the carts are located.
On a side-​note, please try to use the Fred Meyer parking lots instead of using street parking. Many residents in the area struggle to find parking due to shoppers choosing to park on the street. We can help them out by not taking up all that space.
I also wouldn’t recommend leaving your bike outside this location. Lots of bike theft in the area.
PS: How do you know someone is a transplant? They’re drinking in the Freddy’s growlerie bar.

I’m standing at check out while writing this review. I’m giving it such low stars because this is the 3^rd time in a row I have had a checker that is less then friendly.
I asked Amber how she was since she didn’t ask me at all.
And that is the only thing she said to me up to this point and my bill so far is 339.97 which should give you a good idea of how long I’ve been standing hear.
Usually this is what I look forward to the most about Freddy’s is the Friendly service!!!
And of course the cleanliness and the selection of food and other fun stuff I don’t really need.;)
The manager is awesome! He’s personally helped me a few times.
Maybe he should give customer service classes to his employees.
I hate having a good shopping trip and then end it with a grumpy person that hates being there.
I will make sure I don’t go through her line anymore.
Not cool.
Bad service.

I started driving out to this Fred Meyer instead of going to the Safeway by my house once I discovered Murray’s Melts! They are SO delicious and I look forward to grocery shopping because I know I can get the best melt ever! Great Quality food and Anika and Kelsey are awesome!

I grew up going grocery shopping here (actually, the one in NEP) and have always loved this store.
Here’s why:
–Customer service. I’m still familiarizing myself with the location of goods here and ask questions on the regular. Everyone grocery store person has known exactly which aisle I can locate my item. Seriously, how do they remember?
–Fresh produce
–Selection of options
–Never too long of a wait to check out
Concerns:
–Seems to be getting more and more expensive
–Parking can be a hassle if you go during peak hours

Pro: A large store, with a great selection of groceries, including organic. Seemingly clean, and bustling every time I go. Fred Meyer has a long heritage in the Northwest, and now that it is a part of Kroger, I’m sure it’ll have a long and healthy life. This particular location was recently renovated, so it’s a nice store these days.
Con: From the top down, the managerial culture at Stadium Fred Meyer is shockingly poor. I went in to return some still-​fresh, canned food (I have developed new food allergies) and had an awful experience with management. I was told by one of their managers Tammy (assisted by Jason), among other things:
1) I needed my come back with my passport to return the items, since my driver’s license was not from a bordering state and I had no receipt (who keeps grocery receipts!?)
2) I was lectured on Oregon driving laws, and was told that I was violating them since I had not updated my Driver’s License within 30 days (I had recently moved back to Oregon); a comment which is clearly inappropriate, especially coming from a manager.
When I asked to speak to Tammy’s boss (a female who’s name is now escaping me), all I got was a few hollow, insincere apologies with no explanation or invitation to a better experience. Absolutely no accountability happening here. A shame, especially since I was not aggressive, or rude and I’m a reasonable person.
Clearly, there are some return policy changes happening at Fred Meyer. However, as managers of the store they should be crystal clear on the policy and I got varying answers between the managers and 2 employees that I initially spoke to.
All in all, I will absolutely not be coming back to the Stadium Fred Meyer, if any Fred Meyer at all.

This Fred Meyer is a spectacular representation of how far humanity has come with food production. It contains a bar, a sushi counter, an underground parking garage, lots of clothing, and pretty much the combined powers of Hawthorne’s Fred Meyer with some Whole Foods influence. Prices vary so much, with that being good since most who walk the doors will be satisfied.
I’m going to study really hard this upcoming year so that this is my Fred Meyer when I have a wife and kids. I was just in awe over the selection. I’m going to have a death of joy if I continue talking more about this. Leaving was easy despite the size, since each side has self-​checkouts and, or registers. I only got a bottle of apple juice.
If this is not an amazing supermarket, nothing is.

The nice new upstairs eating area — the better choices at the deli !
This one is tops all around ! i’m a big fan of this Stadium Fred Meyer !
yea !
SHOP HERE IF YOU LIKE QUALITY AND GOOD TASTE !

This is probably the nicest Fred Meyer I’ve been to. I never saw a Fred Meyer in a downtown area so I had to check it out after I was eating Pizza across the street. This place is really clean and organized. I usually associate Fred Meyer’s with interesting people since I used to work at one in High School. This particular one could be compared to a Trader Joes or Whole Foods. They have more selection of premium meats and seafood. Also more organic options as well. They have an area where the sushi was on a revolving belt which was surprising. Other stores need to step their game up!

The way this location is set up is a little strange, having been in Fred Meyer on a regular basis years ago when I previously lived in Portland. Instead of having it split into 2 or even 3 floors, everything is on the first floor. That’s fine, but then it’s divided strangely.
Some home stuff (housewares particularly) is stuck in the middle of the store. Other home stuff is at the far end because it’s «seasonal”– but not all of it is really seasonal, so you have to hunt for items. For example, we needed an air bed, but that was stuck with the seasonal goods (even though air beds are a year round item).
Grocery section: it seems like one side is the pseudo Whole Foods end, and the other just looks like Safeway or any other grocery store. This means though that there are the same types of items on both sides of the store. Justin’s peanut butter on the pseudo WF side, then JIF on the other side. I don’t really get having jam and peanut butter in two different locations. Just put the gourmet and the generic all together. That’s the way I remember Fred Meyer.
The organizational issues would give it only three stars, since you have to go around the store quite a bit until you’re used to the set up.
However, the good prices bump it back up a star. A whole bag of Tully’s coffee beans for 5.99? Heck yeh!

Having had not much experience with American grocery stores (I moved to PDX months ago from the Netherlands), and experiencing almost the entire remodeling of this Freddy’s, I vouch that it has greatly improved from the type of grocery store that I presume it was from reading from others’ (older) reviews.
Personally, I like the changes:
1. Much (enormous!) selection of organic stuff, now comprising 4 double aisles and the huge wall of fresh nuts, dried fruit, different types of beans, an organically-​based section of cleaning supplies, plus the dairy section.
2. The Vegetable department is like a dream: über different and fresh veggies, and the organic vegetable section is also great.
3. The flower department has expanded.
4. I like the sushi or Starbucks choices, especially as a small treat when you are doing your weekly grind-​down-​and-​buckle-​up grocery shopping.
5. The Deli department has delicious sandwiches and all kinds of fresh meats.
6. The bread department has a much larger (and fresher) selection than before.
7. I like being able to choose between the real, original (more expensive) cheeses or the (sometimes local, sometimes plain) American copycats which are less expensive, and the cool thing about the new Cheese station is that they allow you to taste the cheeses before you buy: how nice is that?!
8. The wine selection is incredibly varied, and I will be busy trying different white wines for the next few years. And I must not forget to mention the beer department: the staff is really helpful and explains whatever you can think of asking.
9. The Meat and Fish stations carry many choices, and when the butcher helped us find an excellent piece of meat. We went home and fixed it like he said and the quality was worth the time to stand there and talk to him about it, plus it cost the same as the meat already wrapped in the cooling.
10. This Freddy’s is really huge: you can buy books, Kitchen Aid machines, toys, china, and office supplies.
11. The Timbers/​Adidas clothes are additionally a nice tourist attraction, or for diehard fans.
12. And you are not going to believe this – the pharmacist even walked me to the specific aisle to help me pick out the proper over-​the-​counter medication. It was so nice of him to take the time to show and teach me! In Europe you are lucky if the staff treats you nicely, so for me this is refreshing and the kindness of people is touching when they go that extra mile to help you.
Compared to Dutch grocery stores, the entire store selection is un-​believable. I took 2 exchange students there, and they flipped about the size and what they were able to purchase.
Parking below deck is a breeze, and free. I definitely recommend this place; and if the size intimidates you, maybe it helps if you think of the enormous distance walking in the store as an extra, free work-​out!

This is only for the fish market here at Stadium Fred Meyer. It smelled heavily of fish from several feet away. It the fish were fresh, it would smell fresh or not smell at all. This is why I don’t buy «fresh» seafood in grocery stores.

Even though the store remodel is complete and aesthetically it is lovely, it is not really that much of an improvement. There’s not more or fancier produce. There’s not more or fancier groceries. Just the usual stuff but spread out over way more square footage.
If you think that being able to refill a growler, sit and have a glass of wine or eat sushi is neat then I think you are impressed too easily. For goodness sake, if I want to enjoy a good glass of wine why in the heck would I sit in a loud, bright grocery store when I am surrounded by a neighborhood filled with really nice wine bars and as for good sushi, one of the last places on Earth I’m going to go is the Fred Meyer sushi counter. I do think they did a nice job on the deli and that they can whip up some good sandwiches.
Thanks for setting all that space aside for Timber’s gear. Super great.
The pharmacy deserves a big, fat, ONE star for sucking so badly. Typically I go to Kaiser which is great. Recently, I called in a script, four hours later I popped in to pick it up and was told to have a seat. Meanwhile, 30 minutes later, I was still waiting and wondering what in the heck they were up to back there. I was the only one waiting. I will never know just how long I would have been kept waiting because I decided it just wasn’t worth the wait and I left.
Parking is still about the same clusterf*ck that it was before the remodel with a few more spaces added. There’s now a Papa Murphy Pizza attached to the store which I think is an interesting choice and I don’t mean interesting in a good way.
Still, when the hot firemen are here shopping, I forget about all the stuff that bugs me and suddenly this Fred Meyer is pretty rad.
2015 — Review # 25

Keep in mind this place was completely rebuilt and re-​opened in February 2015, so older reviews and photos aren’t really relevant anymore.
PROS:
–Very clean, new and big. It just looks nice inside.
–Free underground parking. Not a ton of it, but there is street parking as well all around the perimeter, so unless it’s super busy, you should have absolutely no problem finding a spot.
–Pretty good selection of groceries, and I use the pharmacy too, which I haven’t had any problems with and seems fast.
–Good selection of non-​typical grocery items. I bought two fans here and a coffee grinder. I probably could’ve found a cheaper coffee grinder elsewhere, but the fans were the same price as a suburban Target. They even have a section of Timbers gear and Nike training clothes.
–A Starbucks inside and some nice outdoor, second– and third-​level seating with nice views of the stadium across the street.
–Murray’s cheese stand inside with a good selection of cheese and some pretty tasty sandwiches you can order too.
–Staff is friendly and nice.
CONS:
–The prepared foods selection sucks. They don’t make any fresh guacamole, salsa, soup, etc. All of these kinds of items are shipped in pre-​packaged from outside companies or Kroger headquarters.
–The prepared foods they do make in-​house aren’t very good. I’ve tried a few of their pasta and vegetable salads and they just taste super fatty and tangy and weird. They are definitely not the same quality as you would find, for instance, at Whole Foods.
–They don’t sell pizza there! The best you can hope for is frozen/​refrigerated pizzas shipped in that you have to bake yourself. They don’t cook pizza there that you can buy. (There is a Papa Murphy’s next door, but it’s «take and bake» pizza that you also have to cook yourself.)
–The bakery also is a bit weak; their bread selection doesn’t really impress me. I wouldn’t be surprised if the bread is shipped in or if they ship in frozen dough and bake it. I’ve just had better rolls and baguettes from other grocery stores.
–The bottle return situation is awful. The area smells weird, has trash people leave there and sticky spilled beverages everywhere, but worse, the bottle return machines are the slowest I have ever tried to use in my life. You have to stick your hand pretty far inside the hole to place the bottle, a little flap swings down to cover the hole, it takes like 5 seconds to process, and then the flap retracts so you can add another bottle. It sucks. If you have more than a few bottles (I bring like 200 at a time), go somewhere else.
–It’s a little pricey, but I guess that’s par for the course in this neck of the woods.

Right now, Fred Meyer on 20^th street is kind of a mess, as they are remodeling and expanding into a big super center… But I’m excited to see what is in store for this location.
Already, their new produce section is plentiful, with a Starbucks in the back of the shop and a great beer /​wine section. They also started a natural foods section, which has a lot of the stuff you would find at a Whole Foods.
Like I said, it’s a total mess right now, but once their renovations are done (I hear it will all be completed by this winter), I will be very excited to shop here.
Also, during the renovations, their staff has been very helpful and friendly, which makes everything a little more pleasant

Update again —
Now the bakery, deli, cheese are moved to the new area in the store as well. The store had a «grand opening» for these departments including samples and tastings this past weekend. I liked that their signs proudly pointed out it was the «Stadium» Fred Meyer.
Murray’s Cheese is having its own grand opening ⁹⁄₂₁ and I’m curious to see what they dish up. New to the store is a grilled cheese section, which the other Fred Meyer Murray’s Cheese locations don’t have.
This location also now features a wine bar and sushi «train style» bar similar to the Hawthorne Blvd. location. I am curious to see how grocery and general merchandise end up re-​arranged now that work can begin in the old store.