Main grocery store in Freeland, WA. They have just about everything including alcohol beverages. At deli you can get all kinds of salads including made to order sandwiches and subs. Prices are reasonable for a small town. I would say busy place and people in and out frequently. Expect everything to be fresh. read more

Freeland's Payless Grocery Store is in the heart of Freeland on Whidbey Island. The store shelves are stocked with a moderate variety of foods to choose from. The store is well lite and clean, service is good however the price of their goods are high. This store is very close to everything Freeland. Kristfield's gives it 4 stars. read more

It's OK. As a newer resident of Whidbey Island, I knew that the cost of most items would be more expensive in this area. However, I really wasn't prepared to pay so much for groceries. I'm actually shocked at the prices. Right now, it's not hard to find a store in the Seattle area that sells milk for about $2 per gallon. It's currently $3.98 at Payless Foods. Hamburger with 7% fat sells for $5.99 per pound. A half gallon of Dreyers Ice Cream is $6.99. The prices at Payless Foods are just shocking. The store is clean. The produce and meat are good quality, but they have a captive consumer. I'm not spending 10 bucks on a ferry just to run to WINCO or Albertsons. Unfortunately, Payless Foods knows I'm not going to leave Whidbey Island just to buy a few grocery items, and their prices reflect their greed. read more

i'm a superduper grocery store snob-a-roo. i absolutely admit it. i hate chains and i'm picky. but payless is amazing. whenever hulaboy and i are at hulamom's, we shop at payless and are happy, happy, happy. their organic produce selection is fantastic (if molly's salad greens are there, please get some -- they'll change your opinion about salad greens AND they're locally grown), the meat/fish counter is great and they're happy to special order pretty much anything for you and, as always with a small town grocery store, we never get out of there without running into at least three people we know. love it. read more

Hey does anyone have any pictures of the store during this pandemic. I heard they are taking precautions with plastic barriers but I can't go in the store right now, I don't do the shopping in my family. read more

You pay for everything you get! Lots of cashiers to get your money here. Nice for them to have a captured audience.

The grocery manager was very rude and short over the phone. He hung up on me as well. He is just not a nice man.

No other stored the entire Island comes close to the quality of the produce and meat departments. Always plenty of fast friendly checkers to get you on your way and the best sandwich deals in town. read more

If you're accustomed to off island supermarket selection you will be very pleased. Excellent gluten-free selection and they have saffron. : ) the people are amazing the prices are what you would expect on an island, higher than in town. Very good beer and wine selection. Meat / seafood counter closes at 6 ish. Get there early. Decent salad bar and hot food. Excellent deli. Best crab cakes on the island, gone by Sat night. read more

Great staff, clean and fresh produce, but very expensive. So-so selection in certain areas.

Kind of pricy, but they have a wonderful deli with wonderful salads and sandwiches. Wonderfully fresh produce and seafood. Very clean and modern for the island. read more

LOVE the bakery! Large selection and the staff is always smiling and ready to help.

Really yummy salad and sandwich section. Nice to have that option on whidbey. It's always clean, well stocked, and has lots of options available (gluten free, organic, etc. they able to meet many non traditional dietary needs). The lines are always pretty long and they never seem to have enough checkers. It's difficult to go here on your lunch break. Being the island, every one wants to chat and catch up with each other but often times the checkers will spend a really really long time with one customer just chatting while you are standing behind them with your lunch hour just ticking by. One time I spent over 25 minutes there and all I wanted was an energy drink and a yogurt. They also have pretty hefty price tags. Depending on how much stuff you by, it very well could have been cheaper to get it in town including ferry cost. They claim to have lower prices.... a gator aid for instance is more than 60 cents cheaper at shell gas station (and gas stations are always more expensive). Also the parking lot is over crowded and simply unsafe. The folks who work here are generally nice. And they are always in uniform so it is easy to tell who works there and who doesn't when you need help and USUALLY they are more than willing to help you. Overall halfway decent store but I go elsewhere whenever possible. read more

We really enjoy our new grocery store. Along with all the other good things everyone else is saying, there is also a great selection of good beer, and their frozen Ahi is truly amazing for frozen Ahi. We have made Ahi tartar a couple times along with some seared Ahi and it never disappoints. The workers are all extremely friendly and helpful here. I just heard yesterday that they get fresh Penn cove mussels in daily here so that is on my next shopping list. read more

I pretty much shop here because they are down the street and have some organic options. They have a few awesome cashiers that I would wait in a line for. Also, they have a reasonable selection of beer and wine. They have a great seafood section and are for the most part clean and friendly. Not as overpriced as the Star Store but closer with just as many options. This is pretty much the only option for anyone wanting organic food as an Island-reasonable price. I don't love them, but I don't hate them. I'm grateful there is at least some kind of option. read more

Best place to shop for everything grocery related! Gourmet selections at market prices; great deli and excellent home-town service. If you don't see what you want, ask them if they can start carrying it; they do a great job with many different vendors. read more

While at the deli to get a sandwich, one of the employees picked up things that had fallen on the floor, and then proceeded to work on an order without changing into fresh gloves. I had seen some occasionally touch their face or arm and then continue on, but the floor is flat out disgusting. Do they not realize the gloves are to lessen contamination of the food and not just to keep mayo from getting on their hands? I am sure they were trained properly, but they definitely need a reminder. read more

Yesterday we went to this grocery store to grab a few items for dinner. My daughter was holding our 5 lb. chihuahua and we had only been in the store a few minutes when we became aware of an older female store employee standing nearby staring at us. Suddenly she approached us stating in an angry, accusing voice "get that dog out of here right now." I said ok and we left. My problem is not that we were asked to take our dog out of the store. If that is their rule then I respect that and did as requested immediately. It is the first time any store anywhere has ever requested that, but in this case it was not a request but an order. My problem is that this woman was extremely aggressive and offensive and it was humiliating that she did it in such a way that brought us to the attention of fellow shoppers. Perhaps if a customer (someone spending money in your store) does something in violation of your rules then you could approach them in a friendly manner and you would still get the results you want without being rude and offensive. read more

We are very fortunate to have Payless in the South Whidbey area! They are responsive to one's needs and interested in different foods that one might enjoy shopping for at the store. The checkers are extremely helpful, recognize and know their customers! Hats off to the deli department. The foods they offer are extremely delicious and their sandwiches and box lunches are exceptional! Always, customer service has been very helpful! As you can see, Payless is an exceptional store in our area! read more

Totally overpriced on just about everything.I only buy milk and produce when it is on sale.There are two other supermarkets in South Whidbey Island and they two are overpriced.One needs to wonder if they are in cohoots with each other? read more

I love to entertain. This store has EVERYTHING! If you don't see it, ask. I wish this store was closer to my house in Seattle. It is incredible. Take your time to look at all of the cases, end caps, aisles. Loads of goodies read more

We been on the island for over two years and coming to it for over ten. When it comes to prices at the Payless, you don't buy willy nilly, you buy on-sale then and only then do you get really good pricing. We have found that there is a cycle to most items that we need, for example; ground round will vary in price from $4.99 not on sale to $2.49 lb on sale, milk is always $2.50 a gallon on sale and it is on sale every other week. Fruit like table grapes; on sale $1.29 not on sale $2.49. I could list many items like those above and if you shop intelligently you can get items at very competitive prices. Is it price competitive to Fred Meyer, on some things yes others no, but then to buy at Fred Meyers you are forced to live off island or travel to Fred in Lynwood when you need to get things they just are not offered on the island. Or you can take the trip up island and go to Safeway, Albertsons or Walmart a 27 mile trip, of course you will need to buy a lot of groceries to benefit from the small savings you may obtain from the trip. There are just a few items that just don't compare; for example the bakery at the payless is just OK but not great, so travel down island to the Start sore in Bayview they have great bread. Soda pop whether name brand or store brand they are high, for one thing they don't have a store brand even though they are a Kroger operation. We buy all our soda once a month when we go off island. They don't have a Pharmacy but then we do Internet drugs. If you must have a relationship with a local Pharmacist then do Linds just around the corner. As far as any of the other Grocery stores in the area; Red Apple, Star Store in Langley and Coupeville the Payless is way less expensive. read more

It is VERY EXPENSIVE to shop at this store....expect to pay more for everything. They do have a nice deli...and the service is quick. They have baggers....and a captured audience to shop here since there are few choices. The re-model was nice...but I drive North or pass the store if I need to buy in volume. read more

This is the main store I shop at. It is clean, they have a great variety and a good deli and meat department. It is super busy on the weekends, but it is worth it. read more

If a first impression is important, this grocery scores 100 on First Impression. The store doesn't disappoint. Wonderful choices, nice people, clean store and obviously they have pride. If I lived on Whidbey this would be my go-to spot. read more

Good to have a full service store so close. But really, no need to jack up the prices so much. Kim Crawford Sauv Blanc $ 23.99? A short ferry ride to Trader Joe's and you will save $ 11.00 a bottle. That's just nutty, 'Paymore'. read more

This place has the best freaking sandwiches in Western Washington. Maybe one other place compares. Good beef. They have lots of choices, even sprouts. Bakery is good too. Good service. Hidden gem. Even a pepsi machine. I go there almost every time I go to Whidbey Island. read more