Safeway

I think Sisley is right about the last updates to this Safeway. I use to pop in here occasionally when I worked nearby back in 1994. It was pretty rustic back then. It looks like the exterior got a makeover. I can’t remember the interior back then.
Now, the store is still small and doesn’t have gourmet items that all the newer Safeways have. The aisles are smaller. However, if you want the basics, this place has them. The store was clean, and the manager that was trying to help me find something (no signage on the shelf) was very nice and helpful.

The grocery store that doesn’t have groceries. Every time I’ve been I walk out empty-​handed because they never have half of the ingredients I need.
Won’t be going back.

Always under staffed! It is painful for me to come here because I know it will take forever even if I need two things. The produce section is lacking and overall less than desirable. I understand supply and demand drives how often there is a replenishment of goods– but people won’t start shopping here until a major improvement is made!

Horrible service! I needed help with getting the correct price for items. The cashier that was helping me rudely told me to talk to the manager. When I asked the manager for help with the pricing through the app, she became frustrated and said the coupon was for the Just for You app. I told her I downloaded the app… She said she was busy and couldn’t help me. Only when I started unloading my groceries from my bags did the manager offer to credit the money!
Needless to say I left and took my business elsewhere!
To make matters worse, this location didn’t have cottage cheese, sour cream, or scallions!

Don’t come here if you don’t have to. I was forced to shop here and I have to say it was one of the worst grocery stores I’ve ever been in. Smallest ever and it smelled awful as soon as I walked in. No deli or seafood here– don’t know how they stay in business in this day in age because they’re way behind the times.

The store has been renovated somewhat, so the basic hygiene issues such as fruit flies in the produce section have been generally alleviated. The problem, as others have noted, is that the physical space is just too small to support a modern grocery store.

This Safeway is like a Safeway that hasn’t been renovated since the 1990s or something… Wait, I’m probably right! This location is a lot smaller and more old school than every other Safeway that I’ve been to. I’m not sure why this particular location hasn’t been renovated… They sure need it! The produce selection is rather small and they have no deli for meats and cheeses. I went here hoping to buy some fresh fish and the only thing I found was one package of salmon. No cod or anything else! I only come here if I’m in the area /​need one or two things quickly. I don’t recommend shopping here for a week’s worth of food. They probably don’t have or ran out of half of the things on your shopping list!

Can’t stand this grocery store. Never have enough staff at the register.
Came to the door at 10:00pm to get milk for my kid. They let the person in front of me in but when I walked in they told me they were closed! Manager told me it was 10:00 when he walked in and 10:01when I walked in.
Will never come back to this Safeway!

I was originally going to give this Safeway three stars, but I feel like it’s relatively smaller and they don’t have as many items as other Safeways. I don’t feel like I like the quality of the produce of the items for some reason, it’s okay but I feel like my experiences at other Safeway was a lot better. I prefer to go somewhere than this Safeway, it is difficult for me to find items I want. It could also be the store itself — I feel slightly more depressed in here for some reason. I don’t anticipate coming back here.
I don’t particularly like the setup of it. Safeway are a chain, so I expect certain things from safeway.
For expired/​damaged items, they have a mark down section for significantly cheaper.
The location is in a very busy intersection.

Comparable to other supermarkets (Giants, etc) Safeway is missing a major component… a fresh deli. Its something about knowing that at least some of the food they provide isn’t pumped full of preservatives that makes me feel better about my purchase.
The traffic right outside of this location can get pretty hectic as well, I recommend driving 2 more miles down the road to the giants location at the Wheaton Mall if you have the time.

I used to avoid this Safeway at all costs due to a poor selection of goods and the condition of the store. But boy, has this changed! Ever since the renovation that happened last year, things have really turned around. The store is bigger, cleaner, and has a far better selection of items. They used to have a really limited selection of breads, and that has changed. They’ve also expanded their meat, prepared foods, and vegetable selection. It’s no gourmet or health food store, but it satisfies my needs for the basics.
I was compelled to write this review after a really positive customer service experience last night. I was attempting to sign up for the «just for u» program on the Safeway website to receive a discount on the dozen or so frozen dinners I was about to purchase (great selection!), but was unable to. An employee read the distress on my face from a mile away, and walked up to me to see if I needed help. When I described my issue, he recommended that I talk with the manager. I then went up to her, and found that she was extremely helpful in addressing my concern. She stayed on the customer service line that related to the store website for a lengthy time to try to sort my problem out. It turned out that their system was down so my application couldn’t be processed at that time, but she gave me the discount anyway. She also helped me get the one frozen dinner I couldn’t reach because I don’t have the height required to get those back of shelf items, and gave me a raincheck on a fourpack of Starbucks doubleshots. The supply was cleaned out ’cause they were on sale for 3.99, which is a bargain for that item.
To fellow Silver Spring residents who have avoided this store due to bad experiences in the past: check it out. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

This Safeway ought to be closed. It is nowhere near meeting the expectations of a 21^st century grocery store and despite the recent remodel continues to disappoint.
A fundamental problem is that this is clearly a 1950s/​60s era building, and the physical space and parking lot are woefully inadequate. That means that the store can’t really stock much even if it wanted to, and that getting in and out is going to be a pain.
But that is not the primary issue. Before the remodel (about a year ago), the store itself was disgusting. It was dirty, poorly stocked/​organized, and the produce especially was of horrible quality. Quite literally, there were flies in the fruit. So I just never went.
After the remodel, the store is at least clean, but the stocking and organization issues remain. I have never been to this store and been able to get everything I wanted. I could understand them not carrying, say, basil in the winter, or perhaps even yams around the holidays (I guess), but tonight, they didn’t have any eggs. Literally, no eggs whatsoever. «We don’t have eggs anymore» was the only explanation from the staff.
Also, the prices are standard for Safeway stores. Reviewer Kristin M. said it best: «I still get better for cheaper at Trader Joe’s up the street.» Indeed. And checkout times are slow, but that’s not nearly the limiting factor, irritating as it is.
Safeway, if you are listening: there is clearly a management issue at this store and your renovation was a waste. If you care at all about your brand, take your name off this store – it is beyond fixing.

Remodeled! They’ve finally updated their look and layout of their last several decades… and it’s better! Similar, but better! The stock’s the same as far as I can tell, but the overall aesthetic’s a tad more modern. For most standard groceries, like eggs, milk, bread, most meat, pre-​cooked dinners, etc, I still get better for cheaper at Trader Joe’s up the street, but certain things, like paper products, candy and mosquito repellant, Safeway’s still got my back!
Staff’s always friendly enough and I get about what I expect in terms of both service and products. Nothing exciting, but having both this place and TJ’s near home does a perfect job keeping the house stocked!

Hate this location.
Things I have been offered to buy while walking in or out
A– Crack. do i look like i do crack? really?
B– Weed. See question A.
C– CDs/​DVDs from someone’s trunk
D– candy bars (okay little kids win)
I shouldn’t have to feel like I need to carry pepper spray to buy groceries!

This store is an embarrassment to the community. Fruits and vegetables look awful and on occasion I’ve seen fruit gnats swarming around them. The place has a grungy feel about it. Customer service is poor. Parking lot is dimly lit and it’s always dirty. The store is old and not clean. I just moved here 2 years ago and I can’t believe what the people in this area put up with. This store as got to go!

This is supposedly a grocery store. A place you should be able to easily purchase groceries. But this Safeway, makes it difficult.
It’s a very small store, I understand that. Maybe the people who shop here regularly don’t like vegetables. OK.
But the real issue isn’t even getting there and finding things. It’s leaving. They won’t let you.
You will stand in line behind 9 other people each holding a quart of milk and a bag of Doritos. You will also have only two items, because you could not find the rest. And you will wait. In the express line. You will glance at the other 5 or 6 check-​out lanes. Maybe 1 is open. But there is no hope.
I keep going, because I need to just grab one thing, or pick someone up form the metro, or… I can’t even remember why. But the waiting never ends and I never remember that. Until I get in line.

So I was heading over to a friend’s house to use her computer because my printer had gone nuts. She’s such a great friend I thought I would bring her something. Hmm… but what? What is on the way? What is inexpensive, but a nice gesture?
Oh — Safeway! Hi there! Don’t mind if I do!
I walk into this Safeway location and look around a bit to see if some of the lights were blown. The poor lighting made it feel shady — literally and figurativiely So I head to the flower section… must be near produce? I look left, I look right. No flowers! Damnit.
Well she likes chicken. But she doesn’t like cooking. They have got to have some rotisserie chicken or something. I circle the small, cramped store and I’m shocked to see that there were hardly any pre-​made foods! I can’t remember the last time I had ever been to a grocery store without pre-​made foods.
Looks like I’m losing this battle. So I go to the cards section. Maybe a nice little card with a «thank you for being a friend-​travel down the road and back again» type of messaging.
Damnit. This selection was crustified also.
If you need some basic items, you might be ok here. However, if you are looking for a variety of options and vast selection… you better keep it moving.

Frankly, I am surprised that this Safeway is still around because there are many better — and larger — grocery stores not far away (the Safeway in Kensington and the Giant in Wheaton, for example). This location is small and cramped, sorely in need of a renovation.
My girlfriend and I only use this location when we happen to be nearby because it’s normally not very crowded so we can get in and out quickly. For example, there are only a handful of checkout lanes, but more aren’t needed.