Great selection of fresh products and very clean aisles. Highly recommend this location

They're a supermarket, deli, and bakery all wrapped into one. I come here weekly for my groceries and never had any problems finding items on my shopping list. They are well stocked and carry a variety of cereal, milk, and meat brands. The self checkout lines ensure that you can pay for your order quickly. One of the best features that separates them from the giant chains is their customer service. The workers will recognize you by name and will even be willing to carry and deliver your order to your apartment. This comes in handy if you are a senior or are unable to carry your grocery bags back home. read more

Horrible!!! I only go there when I absolutly need, or forgot something. They are rude and dates are often expired and out of dat or moldy produce. read more

Prices here are *never* correct. You can do a price check with the machines in the dairy or cereal aisle but they are often slow or broken. The milk refrigeration is awful and milk always goes bad before the expiration date. They recently opened up an extension called the "farmer's market" which is a complete joke. It's just their old produce section which moved to the new space. I walked in to get some shallots today and all of them had either mold, internal rot, or gouges in them. This is is frequent occurrence for their root veggies. It's a total embarrassment. read more

CTown Supermarkets - Moldy shallots! A lot of them had this. - Grocery Near Me - New York, New York

Please make sure your cash registers are actually set at the prices and sales advertised. I shop her much less now because I am sick of these discrepancies. Get it together! And your current egg prices are absolutely nuts! read more

I recently relocated to this area from the Upper West Side, and was afraid I would miss my Fairways, Traders Joe and Whole Foods. I was right. While C-Town doesn't compare with any of them, it's fairly adequate, and is able to provide to most of the items I need... if I'm willing to be overcharged. The BIG complain is the quality of their organic produce. For example, lettuce, tomatoes, celery, berries and bags of apples are already going bad by the time they reach the store's shelves, and are way too beat up to be worth the money they cost (which is often more expensive than similar items at Trader Joe's, for example). In addition, the store still doesn't carry any certified organic meat and/or poultry, and the available options of organic breads are inadequate (too much sugar per slice). It's a decent store that I will continue to use, but I'm not ready to quit Traders Joe quite yet. I hope they will take note of their produce that needs to be better quality, and continue to improve... at lower prices. read more

An older man who works there refused to honor the price listed. He was very nasty about it, saying the price was wrong and that he will not honor it. It was over $2.49. He said his name was Sal and that he was the store/owner of that location for 40+ years. Not sure if that's true but he made me want to never shop there again. Why would someone with no people skills be a manager? read more

Items are not consistently fresh; attitude with employees are not pleasant and specially people at the entrance. They need to be trained in costumer service and watch out they way they talk to costumers. I presence a situation with one of my neighbors that she was shopping there. One of the staff members at the entrance, a tall Afroamerican person, who was raising his voice to the customer in a such a bad tone and nasty way, but this is not the worst. What it was absolutely preposterous is when she inquired for the manager, he came and he had a poorly customer service and understanding of what customer service is. He didn't have knowledge on how to manage the situation. I'm not sure how he became a manager there. He made the scenario worst by choosing the employee side. Two man against a woman!!! They were attacking a customer verbally. Personally, moving forward, I'll think twice before chose to shop there again. Please be aware of people who work there and I hope you're not the next victim to be treated in an unreasonable way like this customer. read more

Very convenient supermarket. They are right next to the A train last stop. The lines are usually never long unless you come during a storm or rush hour/holidays. The products here for the most part are pretty fresh. The pricing its okay you have to look for the deals. They usually have Haagen-Dazs for 3$ i always go to stack up. They also have a deli for fresh cuts and hot food. They do not have beer or wine. They have an okay pet section and for the most part the place is big but narrow so really hard to move around with a big cart but they do have basket and the roll away ones. The employees yea not the most helpful but they are usually just focus on work. Luckily for me i have managed to figure the place out and have a pretty good idea of where things are. Also they do have a store flyer with deals so you can always look at that first for the specials. They also have express lines available. read more

CTown Supermarkets - a variety of fruits and vegetables - Grocery Near Me - New York, New York

I'm pleased with my local C-town, because I can always find /something/ that I was looking for. I live on Dyckman and Nagle, which means that while I'm surrounded by "candy stores", bodegas, and carnicerias, none of those things appeal to me. I don't eat meat, I don't like candy, and frankly, the prices at some of those bodegas are highway robbery. Every time I've been there, and looked for the sale items, they /always/ have them in stock. In the centre of the produce aisle, towards the back, on the bottom shelves, you'll see clear plastic bags marked "manager's special". For the love of diddly, GET THEM. They're $0.99 each, and feature such bargains as yukon gold potatoes (around 2.5 pounds, last bag I got), fancy pants onions, courgettes, aubergines, okra (!) which usually runs anywhere from $1.50 a pound to $3 a pount, and any other veggies you can think of. Yes, they don't look like they're in peak condition, but if you keep 'em in the fridge, you buy yourself a day or three to cook them up. I'm assuming that they pull those veggies from the shelves, because they don't look as nice as the ones that are priced higher. Delivery has never ever been a problem. I live in a 4th floor walkup, and sometimes need to get a fairly big~ish haul. If you need to buy a considerable amount of stuff on a weekday, and it's too much to take home by yourself, wait till 11 AM when the guy with the minivan comes in. He's the one who does the bigger deliveries. Regardless of who takes my delivery, however, they speed up the four flights of stairs, and happily bring the food to you. Also, I don't know about others, but the store seemed clean to me. read more

Best supermarket I've ever been to in the city. Huge selection of organic and plant based products at ridiculously fair prices. I don't know anywhere else in the city where I can get vegan ice cream for $5.00; it's double that at Whole Foods. There never seems to be a huge line since they have self checkout aisles that move very quickly, something I haven't seen at other ctowns. The manager is very nice; I talk to him often and he's the sweetest man. It's always a treat going in here and I'm so happy the neighborhood has a fresh, healthy supermarket! read more

Pros - Friendly staff and owner. They will direct you to whatever you are seeking and if not there, the owner/manager will order it for you. He goes by either "Primo" or "Mohammed". I like that they get in a lot of new items frequently. Remember to look up. They stock of lot of additional items above eye level. For a smallish store, they have a huge selection. Prices are decent, not outrageous. Located right next to the A train at W207th. Cons - Ice Cream section is always covered in ice and inside cartons, ice cream is often icey. The problem is in their storage, delivery and customers making selections with the doors wide open. I told a customer once, that they have glass doors to make your choice before opening the doors and they just were too stupid to understand. You have to watch the produce section; fruit and vegetables are often old and won't last long when you get them home. Most cashiers don't make eye contact and seldom say 'hello'. I'm not seeking a full conversation, but a friendly smile will go a long way in customer service, but if they continue to be cold, then the store should just get robots to take over cashier duties. Additionally, watch for frequent scanning errors, almost never in your favor. I wish that they had more pharmacy items so that I wouldn't have to make a separate trip to Rite-Aid (where the workers are very rude). I must add that their seafood selection is very poor. You would be much better off going down the road to Fine Fare who actually stocks fresh seafood. CTown has older seafood, not fresh, mostly frozen. read more

Can someone tell me why every time I have to shop at this fake store there is always boxes of food being stocked which crames up the already very narrow aisles? This place is really lame for a neighborhood that is demanding better and better produce and quality food items. Even when you are happy you are leaving this place the rude check out people remind you to never come back to this dreadful place. If a trader joes ever came to Inwood or even The Heights this place would be wiped out. read more

Cool tiny local store, they carry organic products. Service behind the deli is a bit slow. For no reason. Oh well.

Where are the checkout ladies at Inwood? Now all guys. The tall one spends time chatting up the white lady. Unfortunately, he can't seem to multi-task, stops working when talking, which is much of the time. Then counts all the cash in the drawer. Then changes some cash from his pocket. Then, after burning off 15 minutes, turns out it is end of his shift at 3pm today. Same slo mo yesterday, despite no chit chat (I am not a white lady). He gives guys a bad rep. Bring back the checkout ladies who could work and be friendly at the same time. read more

Seriously, all these positive reviews? You must be joking! I entirely agree with the one negative review I saw. - Ridiculously overpriced, especially the vegan & organic items, vegetables and beans. I mean jaw droppingly overpriced. I've been shopping at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, making price comparisons and find each item averages between $.50-$2 more at C-Town. This is NOT an inexpensive store. It deserves "$$" and that's being kind. - Fruits & vegetables are often on the verge of or already gone bad. - Dirty and Sloppy - Frequently, there's no pricing or labeling on items or shelves. I'd rather lug 2 shopping bags uptown on the A-train from WF or TJ twice a week than pay these prices, thank you very much. read more

11/09/2007: After moving to Inwood, I have found that the people here are unbelievably friendly. This place is no exception. I always get the same cashier when I go in, love her. Last night we were both laughing at this old women who was hanging around the check-out lanes solo screaming, "Gloria! This is my Gloria!" with the best Bronx accent ever. But I digress, my roommate (who is vegetarian) thinks they have a decent selection for her, and the place is clean by NYC standards, is pretty well-stocked, and has a great selection of the typical American and traditional hispanic cuisine. I need to learn to cook. I LOVE plaintains! 02/28/2008 UPDATE: Moldy Hummus! I went to C-Town yesterday morning to get some grocery shopping out of the way, and my 16 oz. jar of Garlic Hummus was moldy! I went back to get another one -- and IT WAS MOLDY TOO! Don't buy the read more

There is no excuse for that sawdust to sit there in the entrance for days like it does. I'm sorry, but it's just lazy. One of my friends, a defender of the sawdust (DOTS), tells me that the sawdust - which really resembles wet cardboard gone through a coffee grinder - is thrown down to keep folks from slipping on rainy days. Well, DOTS, assuming that that's true, how come other nearby businesses with tile floors like Rite-Aid or PJ's don't employ the sawdust technique? Because they are comparatively competently run businesses that maintain the tidiness of their entryways during inclement weather, and C-Town is not, because C-Town is run by lazy people. For chrissakes C-Town, picking up a push broom, throwing down a few more mats for the wiping of feet, and making sure the floor is occasionally spiffed up are not major logistical obstacles! Evidence of laziness extends down the aisles (taking the sawdust with it for the entire produce section and as far as half the checkout lines) to a permafrost in the frozen food aisle (so severe that it damages the products' packaging), to the expired eggs still on sale in the dairy section, to the dented soup cans in the canned food aisle. Not at all impressive. And if the sawdust is NOT there to keep people from falling ass over teakettle, well then I'd just prefer to be left in the dark as to what it's doing there at all, thanks. But! Lest I make the place seem like a distopian hellhole, I should point out that my serious pet peeves with the place end there. Infuriating shortcomings aside, C-Town is a perfectly decent stop for your myriad kitchen staples. It's veggie-friendly. I hardly ever find myself waiting on line for an uncomfortable amount of time, even on Saturdays. The prices are decidedly uncringeworthy, even in the deli. Good, good, and good. Plus, they've got lots of wacky ethnic food! I'm not even talking about Goya! Oh no. Way better. Por ejemplo, need chicken's feet but don't have the constitution to hit up that creepy live poultry market under the 1 on 10th Ave? Well then shimmy on up 207th St. to C-Town! They've got that action shrinkwrapped next to the veal brains! Paaaaar-tay!!! Okay, so bottom line? My rage-aholism be damned, it's a relatively fine neighborhood grocer. Plus they deliver, and who doesn't love that? But it would most certainly benefit from a broom and a little TLC. BONUS: Did you know that C-Town has a website? Yeah! ctownsupermarkets dot com! Swing by and click on "Planning Ahead" for suspiciously intriguing recipes like lobster mashed potatoes, "meat patties," and something called "triple bypasses." Just like your nana used to make! read more

Ugh, this place. I find it SO suspicious that ALL of their "alternative" food (organic, vegan, whatever) is unpriced, while everything else is marked. They try to come off "disorganized", but it's always the expensive stuff that's unmarked until you get to the register. Seems pretty organized to me. Also I constantly get home and notice that I've bought something expired. Constantly. read more

Oh how I miss the expansive supermarkets in Austin. Rows and rows of delicacies waiting to be plucked off the shelf. An adventure in every unfamiliar jar or vegetable. Not so, here in Inwood. The aisles in C Town are too narrow for shopping carts and are stacked to the ceiling brands you already know. Hooray, they have some of my favorite staples, "Just Pomegranate" juice, San Marzano canned tomatoes and The Greek Gods honey yogurt. But the veggies are hit or miss and the refrigeration in the meat section is suspect. Chicken sitting in pools of mystery liquid just doesn't engender much confidence in the quality of the meat. I'll pass. Thankfully I can buy fresh meats and veggies at the farmers market on Saturday and then swing by C Town for packaged goods afterwards. Problem solved. read more

Like other reviewers said, this supermarket is not the best, for sure. But I have to be realistic about supermarket here in this neighborhood. If I were in Midtown, I would go to Trader Joe's. If I were in Downtown, I would go to Whole foods. but if I were in Inwood, I would go to C-town. In fact, there are not many but still several options for grocery shopping in this neighborhood (associated, pathmark, and other small markets). But among all those shops, I think this C-town is doing the best for both produce and basic groceries (again, it's comparison). It may just be that I'm not too picky. As long as I can buy my basic groceries with right prices, I can stay happy. But still minus one star. Why? I once bought a rotten heavy milk here... read more

I never thought the day would come that I endorse a C-Town supermarket, which is traditionally the crappiest, most ghetto-est supermarket in NYC, but this particular one is awesome. So I walk in, and the first thing I see is Kombucha - yes! Kombucha at C-Town!!! This is totally a step up from my old local supermarket which was Pathmark on 145th street. They have some organic fruits and veggies and a pretty good general selection of organic items which I used to have to go to whole foods for. Also in stark contrast to pathmark, I have yet to experience a long wait at the check-out counter, and the staff is actually helpful and friendly. Two thumbs up for C-Town read more

When I first moved to Inwood and saw that the closest supermarket was a C-town, I shuddered. In fact, I was excited that the second-closest market was Pathmark. Up in this part of Manhattan, the tables do turn it seems. Pathmark has always been an ugly place to shop, and C-town even uglier. Not here, though! I really do enjoy this supermarket. Their selection isn't as extensive as most non-Inwood Pathmark locations (or many other stores for that matter), but it is pretty comprehensive. You can buy most of your staples here, and a lot of ingredients for Latin cooking. They also carry a decent selection of organic products, and their prices aren't bad. As with many NYC grocery stores, the aisles are very narrow and it can be difficult to navigate during busier hours. But for being one of the only selections up that far in Manhattan, it's doing just fine. read more

I'm coming from a different angle than a lot of other reviewers it seems, so take my rating with that in mind. I'm not looking to buy animal or deli products, nor alcohol of any type. For me, compared to being in the other supermarkets around Inwood this was heaven being there two times so far. They have what I affectionately refer to as my Dirty Hippy Vegan foods and drinnk there in a good variety that you don't tend to see other places here... well, at all. You have to travel out of the neighborhood for such; which I enjoy outings to Whole Foods and such or order online for specific items. But, as said, they have things like this here: a few flavors of kombucha, bottled white tea drinks and such, about 3 different brands of tofu in different levels of firmness + one set is organic; Daiya, Tofutti and some other brand of regular and flavored vegan cream cheeses; soy and coconut yogurts; fresh salad tubs; multiple types + flavors like chipotle and tartar sauce Veganaise; and so on. I just popped in to check it out on my walk of the area today for a second visit and am thrilled that I can easily take a walk to a place that has these rather than a subway ride out or having to order online. As I wasn't doing any serious shopping I don't know all the details of other stuff but with peeking down aisles there was a large amount of canned veggies, the snack aisle was pretty big, baking goods looked to have a bunch of stuff. I'll check it out better another time. I'll still be getting a lot of things from other sources, this is the best grocery store for a vegan that I've come to in Inwood so far. read more

This is my local supermarket, and big and sort of reasonably priced by Manhattan standards. Aisles are narrow and shelves are overstocked. It can get crazy crowded and very hard to navigate. Produce, meats and fish never look fresh. Half the freezer section consistently looks frost bitten. I come here for pantry staples and dairy products, and go outside the neighborhood or to the farmers market for produce and meat. read more

Cut to the chase: I accuse C-town of deliberate lack of current, accurate or any pricing on a wide variety of items. To me, it seems it's always the more expensive items that go unmarked. For example, $.97 a pound pasta is always marked. The whole wheat or organic pasta seems never to be marked. This is a major PITA if you buy on price as well as quality. I bet the more expensive items are unmarked but priced higher than they should be because c-town thinks people who buy these products don't care how much they cost. Produce is generally 30% more than produce at other stores, including Fine Fare just south on Broadway. The building and staff are good enough, although the entry way is cramped with people and staff going in or out of the wrong doors. read more

For a local supermarket, it's pretty well stocked. Lots of fruit and vegetable selections, including fresh stuff and they even have an organic section. Their meat selections are very very good and I never need to worry about getting a good cut of meat there. The only thing that is lacking is a good fish department, which they don't have. I love fish, so it's sad they don't have that. The prize of this place is the deli. I love the guy behind the counter and the selection of deli meats and cheeses they have. My fave, Boar's Head Genoa Salami, is a lip-smacker! Just the right taste, not greasy at all (I've had greasy Genoa and it's disgusting!)... and they slice it super thin, just the way I like it. Obviously expect to hear a lot of Spanish speaking -- it's the neighborhood, but they're not terribly obnoxious about it. Good prices and good specials weekly too. Oh, the only other thing, they do NOT sell beer at this supermarket. If you want that, you'll have to go next door to the Rite Aid instead. read more

I love Ctown. The other day my partner and I were in for just a few things and one of the managers said, "hey guys!" He knows us! And I was feeling so guilty, like 'I've been ordering from freshdirect.com' was written across my forehead. Now, that's good business, to acknowledge your customers. He didn't have to do that. I've been to the same coffee shop for months and have never been acknowledged. I've noticed that most businesses in this neighborhood are very aware of their regular customers which is refreshing. They do have a solid selection of organics and I think their produce section is pretty decent. The fancy cheese selection is not so impressive, but the Latin cheese selection is yum. They have other good stuff, like now they even have coconut milk in the carton! And good Greek yogurt. But mostly I enjoy Ctown for the friendly neighborhood feel, and I mean that sincerely. It makes me glad to live in Inwood. read more

Given the choice between this and Fine Fare, I'd come here. The store is brighter, cleaner, and not as antiquated as Fine Fare, that's for sure. The prices are pretty decent and they have a wider selection of more varied products overall, such as health drinks (...not that I drink kombucha, but there is every kind imaginable!), organic items, et al. The vegetables are seemingly fresher than other options in this neighborhood, though I'd rather hit a farmer's market or...sigh...Whole Foods, given the choice. All I know is that I've picked up the occasional tomato, bag of spinach, or eggplant here, and I've been perfectly satisfied. If you want ice cream, be prepared to bring an ice chisel to the freezer section. I wish you all of the luck in the world. read more

It's a good supermarket and good location right near the Subway station. I didn't do too much grocery shopping during my visit to New York City, but I did pick up a few bagels and some orange juice and markets like these certainly do come in handy. Aisles are rather narrow, but I suppose I have to expect that around here. Cashiers were alright overall. read more

Great local grocery! I'm very impressed with a few things: 1. The managers are always very helpful and will try to stock whatever you ask them to stock. We have always asked for organic specialty foods, and never fail, they always get it. 2. The lines are manageable, almost Fairway-like in its efficiency. Sometimes you get stuck, but overall it is fluid. 3. It's clean. What I'm not crazy about is the produce section. Wish it looked more fresh and robust. I'm very happy to have a great grocery a few blocks from where I live. read more

Not a big fan of this place. Haven't been here in awhile, but you may find this short list helpful: Positive - I think they have a better selection of ice cream than the nearby Gristedes (still Gristedes has a better overall assortment of frozen treats). Negative - Small selection of meats. It's mostly chunks of chicken. I gave up looking for chicken cutlets and fresh fish. I mostly buy entrees because I can easily find sides. Plus I'm a fish person so this isn't the place for me. read more

I like it. It's ok and the people that work there are very friendly. Only drawback ?? NO BEER, but it's ok, I can live with that. You can definitely fill all your supermarket needs at this spot. read more

I've been out of town for a while, and it felt great to be back shopping again in my neighborhood C-town. I've been in this area for a long time, and some of the same people have been working there for years. Familiar faces make shopping more fun. The guy behind the deli counter is especially funny. In the past couple of years C-town has started carrying more organic and natural products, which is great. But they also have a wide selection of items for the Latin kitchen. ..and not just geared toward the dominant Dominican crowd. They even have the Harina PAN (flour) that every good Venezuelan cook must have in the pantry for making aprepas. I think the prices are very good, and it's relatively clean for an urban setting. They were having a special on Peace cereals yesterday, so I got my fave Mango something crunch. My favorite aisle is the last one, stacked floor to ceiling with staples: coffee, beans, rice, olive oil, etc. The produce aisle is tough to get through most of the time, because there are always three or four guys taking out the old stuff and restocking with fresh. read more

I can not not be a fan of C-Town in Inwood. I go there practically every day. But I can only give it three stars. They always have some good sales that is useful to fill the cabinets with daily necessities. The reason I only can say that C-Town is okay is because of their veggies, meat and their Deli service. Their veggies are sometimes a hit or miss you never know. I would NEVER eat their fresh meats there because they rarely look as they should, either the chicken is soaking in water, or the beef is too brown. The service in general is great. They are very helpful if you can not find what you need or if they are out. The service by the Deli is not as good though and the service is always given with too much attitude as if I am being inconvenient. read more

It's Saturday, it's my day off, and I found myself up in Inwood to podcast with the delicious Rose Y. To better facilitate our audio performance, she decided to make mimosas (which I was in favor of). We needed both orange juice and some actual food to consume (don't want to get TOO drunk before noon), so I came with her after getting off the subway to look for something we might agree upon. She ultimately decided upon cinnamon rolls which looked a little bit more 'dessert' than 'breakfast' but hey... not complaining. This store was perfectly fine. I found it to be easily arranged so we could navigate quickly to get the things we needed. One usually wants this in a grocery store. It's not too immense, which I like (it's a definite advantage of being in a C-Town location), but they did not have the specific Dole Pineapple Orange juice that I wanted. Ultimately, this angered me. Technically, this breaks my rule of me reviewing a place I didn't spend money. BUT, I actually have in this store before! About a year back, Rowan invited me to a house warming party, and I'm pretty sure I came in here on a Friday or a Saturday night to buy some beer. So I would also encourage all of you to go here for that. If I'm ever back in Inwood, I'll probably make this my grocery store destination. read more

Yes a grocery store! A real one! YES!!!! No fish though! whhaaaat is that about. The fruit's really good though! Best banana I've had in a long time. read more

Come on C Town is great! I mean first of all- we don't have many choices...but other than that it's got a great variety of organic & specialty foods. They have fresh cold cuts, fruits, veggies and breads. I know their prices could be better- but they don't service downtown crowds. I think they try really hard. I asked them to carry a cheese I liked and you know what? They did. Just like that. I also saw them giving poor people that used food stamps a free turkey around the holidays! They help out the neighborhood and seem like good people. Come on- what do you want? read more

Be careful with their sales. They leave sale signs up, and when you get to the register the non-sale price comes up. I asked, and l the manager said it wasn't on sale, so I went and brought him the sale sign. The cashier said, "ignore him he does that all the time, I'll give you the sale price." I thanked her but said I will not spend my money in a house of deception and greed. read more

Inwoodites, CTown over Fine Fare *any day.* Ctown for better produce, Ctown for more selection, Ctown for bottled smoothies (you can NOT get an Odwalla at Fine Fare). Sure, CTown isn't fancy. Sure CTown isn't anal about restocking. Sure, CTown can even be evasive about pricing. But if, like us, you do your grocery shopping by foot and you are choosing between Fine Fare (a misnomer?) and CTown, go CTown! read more