I was disappointed lately with produce. This has been my favorite neighborhood grocery store until recently I had to throw away previously frozen & thawed strawberries and $4 a head of cauliflower because it was molded in the middle of cauliflower, not a usual dark spots outside. I actually commenting how expensive grocery bill is getting to be. The more the reason, I don't want to throw away what I paid for. Please keep the produce fresh as you always did. read more

The clerks are always wonderful. The deli's great. Fantastic cheese and wine, but recently the manager was promoted and a new manager took over. Since he's been there, the store has gone WAY downhill. As an example, I love Diet Peach Snapple. They haven't had it in stock in over six weeks. We've asked about it no less than 10 times, and nobody can explain why it's not there. So we give up. We're shopping at QFC. Thriftway has been our main grocery story for over 10 years, but this new manager ruined the place. read more

This store is nothing short of... sexy! The prices are above average but the products are of exceptional quality. And if you're not satisfied they'll exchange or return no questions asked. They also take part in the Chinook Coupon Book and most of the organic products in there can be found here. For the past month I've been on a specialized diet and the meat department was so helpful! I mentioned, in passing, that the meat potions needed to be 3.5oz for lunch/dinner (its sort of a pain in my tukas!) The butcher insisted he weigh out the ground beef and chicken in individual portions to make it more convenient. Im sure other places do this but how many offer with out you asking? Love it! read more

I got out of the habit of shopping here for a while. Prices are a bit expensive. Most other grocery store meat is gross. Double DD and Thriftway have quality meats. I have been buying cheap meats elsewhere that wind up getting thrown out for just not being worth eating. Additionally, the produce is perfect here. They have conventional and organic. The store is sort of small but well stocked. It has what I need and does not take long to do it. The staff is friendly and professional. If you shop the sale items, you can do well with both the produce and meats. There is a full service butcher on site during the day and they make their own German sausages which are amazing! read more

I love the Ballinger Thriftway! They have a good selection and their sale prices are reasonable. Their normal prices are high, but they have good specials. I appreciate that they carry mostly natural meat. Thriftway is one of the only places I buy meat because they carry Painted Hills and natural chicken as well. They have great specialty treats at the register instead of the normal sugar coma inducing rows of mediocre candy bars. This is a great one stop place to get what you need for dinner. The clerks are always friendly and personable and the line is never too long, even right after work. The wine and beer selection is also great! read more

LOVE Ballinger Thriftway! Locally owned and they support so many small local businesses which is great. Family atmosphere with staff that has worked there for several years. Dave the owner is such a genuine and kind person- he is a single dad raising an autistic son and still comes into the store daily to help with all of the daily tasks at the store. Great vegetarian selection to choose from too! read more

Thiftway falls solidly above other chain groceries in the area, with a nice selection of organic and conventional products, the beer and liquor sections are simply outstanding. I would describe this store as a mix of Central Market/Whole Paycheck and Safeway. Why is this liquor section awesome? They have both yellow and green chartreuse, which goes to show that the buyer's paying attention. Liquors from local distilleries are very well represented. The prices of liquors fall consistently below Wine World. We regularly experience choice paralysis in the beer and liquor section at Thriftway, so many choices! Meat section has really fresh looking Painted Hills beef and fancy organic chicken, pre-packaged or in the butcher case. I like their seafood case too. Safeway only has pre-packaged meat and chicken. I wish I could say more about the fresh salsas in the produce section. The fresh salsas are from local producers, but most of them are pretty crummy. The produce is okay, just your basics and nothing to write home about. The soda section is great, lots of variety even with Reed's Ginger brew, but also lots of sodas many small soda makers. If you want cheap stuff, don't go to Thriftway. But if you want to get conventional Miracle Whip on your grass fed hamburger, then wash it down with 18 year Macallan, one trip to Thriftway will take care of it all. read more

This is a great place to shop for cheese, bread, or wine. They have a huge selection of cheese that I've never seen before in a grocery store of this type. It's a bit pricey but good quality and a lot of different types. The rest of the store is pretty much average run of the mill grocery store. It's the cheese/bread items that make it unique. read more

They have a lot of great high-end beer here, it's not a bottle shop and it's not cheap, but you'll find beer here that you won't find at Safeway or QFC. The people that work here are always friendly. They also have a really great selection of wine. Plus, it pretty low key compared to the other grocery stores around. Highly recommend. read more

A long time ago in a city far, far away....Store Wars! Thriftway went to the dark side and became known for low cost, low quality foods. Until the joyous day came when the Red-eye Knights overcame the Dark Farce and turned the once poorly regarded grocery stores into places where high quality local produce, breads and specialty items could be found for mere pennies.....lots and lots of them. Hooray for Gourmet! Long live Organic! Cheers for Chocolate! read more

This is my nearest market, and it's lovely. Friendly people, fresh produce and meat. Maybe not the best place to buy other things-- raw almonds were $9-- but they have good deals on generic staples, too. It's fun to gawk at the price tags on the fancypants organic and local stuff. I brought a friend in who wanted some special wine, and they were able to find something perfect for her. Sometimes the cookies are a little less than fresh. I can't believe there are people on this planet who consider the lack of self-checkout a negative! So sick of getting that forced on me... read more

Love this place! The staff is extremely nice and helpful, and they do a great job at keeping the whole store clean and organized. They have a lot of variety just like you'd find at a large chain which is super convenient, but they also have a great deal of organic and local products as well! read more

The deli here is off the hook. I'm serious. Their cooks are fantastic. Dishes you would expect to be just blah are actually like bam! They also have fantastic cheeses, an amazing beer selection and a great wine and liquor selection. I also really like the meats here. Oh and the pies, breads, and baked goods are also amazing. Prices are a little high but it is a higher end store. read more

We come from the world of Ballard and are used to everything high end, we were sad to leave the close location to central market but were happy to find Thriftway. Yes, the prices are high but seriously what place isn't these days? Also, they have a great little coffee shop that has been reinvented a few times but their product is always good. They are convenient, consistent, and friendly. There really isn't much more I could ask for from a neighborhood grocery. read more

I love this place. It's small but the selection is good and the wine buyer is a genius. The crew here is super friendly and they're a jewel of our community. read more

Small, but well stocked grocery store that is close by to my house. They have a great selection of fresh meats, cheese and produce. They also have a nice selection of wines. All the staff has been friendly, from the deli counter, the butcher, and checkout. read more

I am currently housesitting/doggysitting in this neighborhood, and my gracious homeowner gave me a GC for here... what a treat. I could live in the cheese section. Literally. So many selections of cheesy goodness from all over the world. The staff in all sections are incredibly friendly and willing to help you out. The produce section isn't huge, but everything looks fresh and appetizing. I will be back here a few more times in the next week! read more

This review is for their deli section. Lots of yummy samples. And their sandwiches contain top quality meats, veggies, and condiments on delish breads. Amazingly reasonably priced, and they will give you a sandwich punch card: buy 5 and the 6th one is free! read more

For a store w higher than average prices, the help is pleasant and humble. The only stiff-necks are found behind the hot foods/sandwich counter, where you can get good service and food lay-up one time, and get lousy the next. I live close so it is convenient, and I get to test my critique constantly. As others have said, nice cheese and wine-beer selection. The cashiers rock constantly, and this is a testament to their constitution. The average bears test them on a daily basis. read more

Not really a place I frequent. I get a sort of creepy vibe for some reason. The employees all seem unhappy. The selection of produce and meats are unimpressive and it's quite expensive actually. They also happen to hoard select popular and rare spirits for themselves or "special, privileged" customers. read more

They don't get the same price cuts you see @ Safeway or any other big corporate grocery store but the staff are friendly and they have a solid variety of items to purchase. read more

Don't let the name fool you. Thiriftway is is not a discount store. At one time, the store featured a good selection of imported cheese, fresh produce, high quality liquor, wine, and beer. The deli features a good variety of take out dishes, including some fresh vegetable dishes. The bakery is above average for a supermarket. The meat department lacks premium cuts of grass fed beef, and the butcher refuses to order them. They do stock premium cuts of corn fed beef, if you are still eating corn fed beef and want good quality, you'll find it here . Shannon the cheese monger who brought extraordinary cheeses to the store left for a while, returned, and has gone again, leaving the cheese selection much less tempting than it was when she was there. (Update: as of July 2017 the Parmasan cheese sold in chunks labeled "Parmigiano Reggiano" is a bit soft and lacks the distinctive texture of real aged Parmisan.) The sale prices listed above items often don't make it to the cash register's data base. You need to note the sale price of the items and verify it at the register when you check out. The register will ring up a higher price. This seems to be more a regular Thriftway practice than a mere oversight. In fact, it's downright sleazy. Caveat emptor. The liquor department opened with an excellent selection and a helpful staff that would gladly order and stock customer favorites, but has since declined. It's now run by the market's very important, absentee, blonde wine person. Her job seems to be marketing fruity beverages that were all the rage in an obscure French village in the 1960s while ignoring current local customer requests. The produce department stopped selling Kumatoes, the one tomato variety Thriftway sold that actually tasted like a tomato. My request to restock it has gone unanswered. The market has had its ups and downs in both quality and service. As of March 2017, it's in a downward spiral in quality and customer service, but an upward spiral with its prices. read more

I love this store. Best beer and wine department in the north end by a country mile.

When I don't want the hustle and bustle of Central Market I head to this store. You've got all the gourmet delights here. Their deli is, in my opinion, better than Central Market's. Their wine selection is also very good and I suppose it's similar to CM's, Ballard Market, and Greenwood Market. It is a Thriftway, after all. I also love their extensive beer selection. The frozen foods section, while not huge, is definitely diverse. You've got your standards here but you've also got your gourmet items. They have some cool frozen organic baby food that, sadly, arrived too late for me to use. The produce section is pretty good (but CM does have them beat easily here). The meat selection average. The other selection (canned goods, dairy, etc.) is all right but for some reason I never can fulfill all of my weekly grocery needs here. That's why it gets 4 stars instead of 5. Nevertheless, it is highly recommended. read more

I was slow going to this store, with the name putting my husband off as a bargain basement sort of place. Instead, it offers a great selection in a manageable footprint, with local produce and bakery items, and a fish department that is unparalleled. I also stop in to get my kombucha growler filled and pick up something interesting to drink for book club (they have a unique selection of sodas and wines). The cashiers are always friendly and helpful. read more

They have Painted Hills beef ad the young guy working at the butcher shop was more than helpful. Overall a great experience, and I will go way out of my way again to go back. read more

When I need something quick, Ill dash over to Thriftway, it has pretty much everything. For any large shopping , its just too expensive, and the items are little out there. (Example: they only have whole free range chickens for sale (Spendy),. so I know when I buy one I have to spend sometime with the pliers ripping out the missed quills and feathers) The employees have been there as long as Ive been shopping there, so its nice to see familiar faces every time I go in. read more

This is a great local grocer that has expansive departments. Check out the wines and cheeses! Only downside is you'll generally pay a bit more than the Albertson's down the street. Otherwise thumbs up for gourmet cooking/eating. read more

I drive 30 minutes to shop here. Love how small it is yet big enough to have everything including basics, gourmet goodies, high end items and an amazing deli! The staff is friendly and helpful. I feel like I'm at home. Appreciate the high quality and down to earth vibe. Thank you! Just wish there were more elsewhere. Keep up the good work despite the vast competition. read more

This grocery store is a good choice for folks looking for good quality organic produce, quality organic meat, local suppliers, without the premium prices of PCC or Whole Foods. The size and selection are good, I think, without being too large to get in and out in a reasonable time. And I like that you can get quality organic and local products, but still buy name brand cereal or snacks, or other products. The beer and wine selections are good too. The staff is always friendly and utterly unpretentious. The store seems to me like an old fashioned size grocery store that has what you need without endless variations of every product, and stocked with good quality and local selections. read more

This store is prejudice to commuters and men carrying backpacks. I walk and bus everywhere and have to leave my backpack at the counter. Women walk around the store with comically huge purses and giant diaper bags. Why are people not allowed to carry backpacks when other bags which are just as capable if not more so capable of stashing stolen items in are allowed? Backpacks are worn on the back, they are hard to access in this manner. That massive purse diaper bag is easy to stash in. Add to this the cities ban on plastic bags and Commuters are seriously screwed. Oh, don't tell me to buy one of those flimsy over priced cloth shopping bags. Guess what! My backpack is my high quality shopping bag. There is no consideration for the customer here. read more

I worked very close to this grocery store and came in almost everyday for my standard deli sandwich lunch, almonds, energy drink and bottle of wine for after my shift, for over five years. Great deli. Great beer and wine selection. Was such a convenient place to shop for all the supplies I needed to get through for work. read more

I wish I could support this place as it's a small business and local, but it's crazy expensive. Hard to justify going here anymore because if you drive the extra few miles you'd spend a fraction of the price at Safeway. read more

This place has gone downhill. The store is in shambles. They are out of fresh food items all the time, the freezer is broken and they have grey meat on the shelves. The deli food always looks like it has been there all day, even at noon. Beer is overpriced. I hate that this store is the closest store to my house. We eat all natural whole foods and I was excited at their selection. Now I don't even bother to go in. Half the time they are running on cash only. read more

This grocery store is right by place and it is such a bummer that their prices are so high. I would rather drive to Safeway even though it is out of my way. I have stopped here to grab a thing or two when I was in a hurry and can not believe how high their prices are! Why is it called Thriftway? They charge an arm and a leg! I want to like this store and give them my business, especially since it is convenient location wise...but I just don't have the money to be throwing out when I can go somewhere else and get the same product for almost half the price. read more

good deli and bakery area. some groceries a bit pricier then other stores. mostly nice employees. they have a lot of stuff albetsons or qfc doesnt have. i usually only come here for a movie at the dvdxpress box then pick up somethng for dinner. they almost always offer my kid stickers when we check out so my child likes that part. read more

Flee the madding crowds of Krogerland and find humanity and humor at this thriftway! The cashiers are not robots and they won't make you feel like cattle moving through the line. They are engaging and professional. You won't feel talked over or through (sidelined by inappropriate conversations). The sommelier is knowledgeable and friendly. Sadly, the fish which used to be routinely excellent is now hit or miss so choose carefully. Seriously, sometimes good customer service is a vitamin shot for your soul;) read more

Location, location, location. Their prices may be high and selection a bit limited, but they're very convenient to us as we drive by it often to/from home and the freeway. Their deli is the best of all the store deli's. They used to have the best chicken tenders around, but they changed the recipe to a buttermilk coating that doesn't really work, it just makes it taste salty (IMHO). They will make some in the original recipe if you call ahead, but most of the time I'm in a grab-and-go mode. The checkers are friendly and personable. Yes, some things are even higher than PCC, but they have a senior discount day (60 and up) of 10% off on Tuesdays, so since my wife and I are in our 60s, we take advantage of that as much as we can. read more

We live so close to Thriftway, yet we never shop there anymore. We kept running into spoiled and expired foods. When I brought it up to one of the employees, he also said he doesn't shop there either! That was our sign to not shop there anymore. If you do...watch expiration dates on everything you buy! read more

Love this store. Always adding new products that are of the best quality. The check out line never has much of a wait and everyone is so genuine and friendly. As far as those who complain about expense, I'd rather play a few cents more and know that they care about quality, their customers and their employees read more