Store is a ghost town... hardly any customers during the handful of times we've been here. But let's be honest, you're probably only reading this because you're wondering if they still have a Thrifty Ice Cream counter. We just went again last weekend (Jan. 2025) and its still there. You have to go to the register and pay for your scoop/s prior to going to the Thrifty Ice Cream counter. It's not usually staffed so whomever is available at the register or around the store will probably help you out. The scoops are pretty inconsistent. Most recently, both of my kids wanted a single school in a cup. We're used to a big heaping scoop whenever we find/visit a Thrifty Ice Cream counter, but they're pretty skimpy here. I even joked around with the employee helping us "we'll have a jumbo single scoop..." he just smirked. Also, don't expect a huge selection of flavors. Still not a bad value for the money. read more

I just went this week for a vaccination. The staff in the pharmacy were very gracious, kind and professional. I then picked up a few other items that I needed Yes, it was quiet and the shelves were not fully stocked, but they had what I needed. Hopefully, this location will not have to close. read more

This business is closed. No more Thrify ice cream. It's a huge loss for ice cream options. However, no one was willing to scoop ice cream when you went in there. read more

Not only is it dirty and filled with flies but the pharmacy was unable to figure out how to charge my insurance even with an insurance rep on the phone with them for 30 minutes insisting Im covered. Morons read more

Having experienced nothing but frustration and terrible service from CVS, I called Rite Aid Half Moon Bay and worked with the fabulous Yesenia. She found my homeopathic product and is holding it behind the counter. It sounds simple but it was something that their neighbors across the street (CVS) simply couldn't handle. Rite Aid is cleaner, kinder, and more customer service oriented. Clearly they think about their hires. I will be moving my pharmacy business over here, because of Yesenia. More like her, please. read more

The wait and delay was amazingly long with only 1 person working. If you can go to CVS across the highway do it. Painfully slow.

The place is closed. But it was good ice cream and cheap. But don't waste your time to go rite aid to get ice cream because they closed the ice cream spot. read more

This review is for the pharmacy only - rudest place ever and they will take shortcuts, lie to you, and even leave you hanging when you need your meds to prevent a stroke (specifically talking about the lady with the salt and pepper hair). Go to CVS in HMB instead. They are much better. read more

THRIFTY ICE CREAM! - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/rite-aid-half-moon-bay-2?select=o5C4GxzKstIqC9txhXEh1g#o5C4GxzKstIqC9txhXEh1g **Note: This review is for the Thrifty's Ice Cream only. After taking the pack, HAPA Boy & Trixie, to Halfmoon's, "Redondo" Beach, and a quick stop by the popular, Sam's Chowder House, we were about to head back home... 'Then I saw it, "Thrifty's Ice Cream." (Insert stunned pause here) - "Wha', huh?... Does that sign really say, Thrifty Ice Cream?..." We waited for about a good ten minutes before I walked over to the other side, near the registers to ask for assistance @ the ice cream counter... It wasn't a big deal because I was busy looking @ the different flavors and snapping photos. I"m glad I did because it appeared there were two young girls who wanted ice cream as well because once the Thrifty team member walked behind the counter, these two rug rats appeared out of nowhere... 'Everybody wins! Photo - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/rite-aid-half-moon-bay-2?select=o5C4GxzKstIqC9txhXEh1g#0usOOqSZJNv9YmNobVchNQ The funny thing is that, we were just talking about Thrifty's Ice Cream just a few days ago, the only place you could a scoop for15 cents... 'And my favorite flavor, Chocolate Malt Crunch that had pieces of malt. A triple scoop cost a whole whopping 45 cents! Back then, growing up when the family budget was pretty lean, going to get ice cream @ the local Thrifty's was a pretty big deal to a 5 year old... LOL - The thought & memories of it brought a huge smile to my face. I somewhat hoped for the same ol' pricing, not for the cost sake but more of a hat tip to the nostalgic idea of what a scoop of Thrifty ice cream represented. As I think about it now, it's a bit of Americana... Right up there, with Woolworth's, Kellogg's Five & Dime Shops and Collector Cards that came wrapped with a stick of gum... The Chocolate Malt Crunch was yummy, not only did it bring a smile to my face but it warmed my heart... I had thought that Thrifty's Ice Cream of past was going to be nothing more than a very fond, tender memory. I was happy to be wrong. The young lady who took our order was a good sport when I asked her to pose w/the iconic ice cream scooper that always looked like some kinda funky gun to me... It placed a cylinder shaped scoop of ice cream on the cone that left two small holes in the top. I smiled when I saw it, same scooper... 8) 'Never mess with the person holding the gun, especially the one that scoops ice cream... Photo - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/rite-aid-half-moon-bay-2?select=o5C4GxzKstIqC9txhXEh1g#FBcC3DX4NG-cMgRhXi1TqQ If you too have memories of Thrifty Ice Cream, peering over and looking at the different flavors through the glass cases, do yourself a favor and stop by here & get a scoop... It's not too often nowadays I come across something that resonates deep within me. I was surprised at how much something as simple as a scoop of ice cream struck such a strong chord with me... 'And at only $1.79/scoop. Photo - http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/rite-aid-half-moon-bay-2?select=o5C4GxzKstIqC9txhXEh1g#l2tiHd6DVcnl49eLs8Uj6A I've been to a handful of Rite Aid locations & have to say that this was the first one that I've seen promoting the Thrifty Ice Cream brand... I don't know if other locations serve the Thrifty brand, maybe I just never noticed. (Shrugs) I hope they keep this going as long as possible. (Now, to find more Rite Aid locations offering the same.) One thing that would've been nice to see was a lower price point, nothing like 15 cents/scoop but something that paid homage to the Thrifty of yesterday... 'Maybe 50 cents/scoop? I think the idea of having the ice cream still available under the brand name is awesome & a price to reflect that bit of nostalgia would just add a bit more to it... After all, $1.79 is about the standard rate for a scoop and part of the appeal was the while idea of Thrifty's was a great ice cream at a great price. 'Think I just started a Halfmoon Bay tradition... 'Stopping by here for ice Cream whenever I'm in the area. - Big Aloha! Food: 4 Ambiance: 3 Service: 4+ Value: 4+ read more

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While in Half Moon Bay.... After eating mid-day lunch, my husband and I walked around the downtown area for an hour or so and then we we decided we wanted something sweet. Somehow we ended up passing Rite Aid and I screamed, "RITE AID ICE CREAM!" My husband turned the steering wheel with a quickness. Anyway, it was a cold/foggy/misty Half Moon Bay day....just PERFECT for ice cream! We walked inside, found the ice cream, and waited for a good minute for an emo looking employee named TAVO to even look at us. It was kind of okay because we were trying to decide what we wanted. Tavo was not happy. Maybe he had a bad Friday evening. Maybe he hates serving ice cream. Maybe he hates his job. I don't know, but Tavo made me sad. I was looking for my favorite ice cream (cookies and cream) and I didn't see it. I wanted to give ol' Tavo boy a chance to open his mouth and use his vocal chords so I said, "I don't see cookies and cream...I WONDER IF THEY HAVE ANY?" Tavo just kept smashing down ice cream in the containers while looking up at me like a los lonely boy. Finally, my husband and I knew want we wanted and Tavo said (a voice) in a bored voice, "What do you want?" hahahaha He served up our ice cream, told us the price, and that was it. He seriously said five words to us. How was the ice cream? Oh, ya'll know it was good! Great day for ice cream, sad/boring/tough/rough day for Tavo. read more

I understand that dealing with healthcare related issues in this day and age of impersonal, 1-800 overseas helplines and intentionally complex medical insurance explanations - or complete lack of explanations - is shockingly frustrating. For those who can afford it, there are outrageous premiums to so-called healthcare companies brilliantly designed to bewilder and frustrate customers into abandoning reimbursement or even avoiding use altogether, when possible. No doctor can serve their community without the consent of multibillion dollar insurance companies, no pharmacy can provide timely refills without approval of these villainous overlords, and no patient can receive a simple monthly prescription in a timely, affordable way WITH insurance. Every step takes more and more time, more and more money, and wears away at our tolerance. On top of all that, we are experiencing a major healthcare worker shortage which includes pharmacists. So it's even more important these days that we take some time to put ourselves in other's shoes and try to see things in perspective. While I'm not a pharmacist, I can't imagine one necessarily studies to become a pharmacist with the dream of working behind a counter of what essentially amounts to fast food medicine, where they seemingly spend 70% of their time navigating an array of frustrating roadblocks put up by insurance companies, followed by dealing with frustrated customers (like many of us) who are forced to use totally useless insurance companies. With limited staff, more prescriptions than can realistically be managed, dozens, if not hundreds, of varying insurance companies and their constantly changing and always confusing rules, regulations and guidelines, I'm amazed any pharmacist bothers to turn up for work at all at any corporate drug store, so if said pharmacist manages even the slightest kind word, I'm grateful. The fact is that they people working at this Rite Aid are more than generous with their very limited time, more than patient with customers exhibiting a range of needs, moods and symptoms, and, in my experience, have always been kind and helpful. I confess, I do try to put a smile on my face and try to be kind and patient with various issues that always seem to come up, so perhaps that makes a difference. Perhaps it's because I'm resigned to the fact that underpaid, overworked, constantly put-upon human beings working in retail healthcare don't get much joy in their daily interactions, let alone any empathy or gratitude. read more

Today I went to Rite Aid in half Moon Bay. This is the middle of a coronavirus pandemic. Rite Aid why are you letting your employees come to work sick? The person that checked me out was sick. I came home and washed everything down with alcohol that she touched. I will not be back till after the pandemic is over. Please keep your employees home if there sick... Don't you guys get it employees sick should stay home? read more

I was just checking the hours for Sunday for the pharmacy and I noticed some not nice reviews. So I decided to do a review myself. I use both CVS as well as Rite Aid for prescriptions so CVS is the preferred one for my medical plan. However Rite Aide has medication's available that Cvs doesn't and so I regularly get my eye medicine from Rite Aid. There has never been a problem and everybody is very nice. I even had to pick up my daughters insulin for her cat from Rite Aid because Cvs didn't have it and even then this was a successful visit. Recently I had one of my Covid updates also at this Rite Aid location. Thank you very much for being there and everyone has been professional and kind. read more

I want to send a huge shout out to Rite Aid Pharmacy here in HMB. The people who work there are extremely helpful, patient and understanding. They have been a huge help working with me and getting my insurance information up to speed with following through with phone calls and communicating. Thank you. read more

I would give them more stars but they don't always have the medicines I take or new ones that my doctors prescribe the only reason I go there is because I know the pharmacists specially Aida she's very nice. read more

A cashier with a smiley face asked, "Would you like to round up your changes and donate them to Children's hospital?" I replied, "No, I send them checks myself." The cashier changed to a frowny face threw changes and receipt into my hand. I wonder if she receives bonuses via these donated changes. read more

Somehow this store is always out of items. The shelves are constantly empty and the lines are always insanely long when people just have a few items to check out with. It seems like most of the team members are hiding in the back because they aren't on the sales floor. If they had some more people on the sales floor instead of always in the back room it might be a better experience. read more

They have a nice selection of merchandise, but the set up is just really outdated. This Rite Aid could really be renovated. It's pretty hodge podge. It's nice when they hop to to get you some ice cream, but most of the time you get big sighs and eye rolling before someone comes out to serve you. read more

Okay, I really like Rite Aid ice cream, but I'm not a fan of the grainy crystallized kind I get when Rite Aid has the 2 for $7 sale. If it melts, throw it out. Don't refreeze it and sucker me into buying it on sale! read more

Refrigeration on the ice cream has improved the last couple times I have gone! I have also found random baby things like a single bulb syringe aspirator that weren't stocked at CVS. Employees are generally pleasant as well. read more

I came in here during the week several months ago and purchased some items. I ran my card through the reader and hit cancel for credit (I never use my debit card for anything other than an ATM) and the employee told me the credit side was down and I would have to use debit. I had no cash and no other cards on me. Stupidly, I entered my pin and went on my way. The next day my bank calls me. They have blocked what they believe is fraudulent activity on my card and they asked if and when I used my debit card. Well, I knew exactly where I used my card. I told them what happened and they explained that if a credit side is down then the debit side would be too. They contacted Rite Aid to report the fraud and let me know they did so. I was issued a new card in the meantime. I called this particular store and told the manager on duty who checked me out but when I had to go in the next month for items for a work party that guy was still there, at the cash register. I wouldn't let him check me out and I paid with cash. Sure I don't know if he was responsible but it was enough for me to not let him ring up my items. I haven't been back since and always will go to CVS over this location when given a choice. Shop at your own risk and do not use your debit card here! read more

A great place for tourists, like me, who forget to pack last minute items. Like most Rite Aids, they literally have everything you need to survive! My husband forgot to pack underwear (how he forgot is beyond me?), so I drove down the road to Rite Aid to pick some up. Yes, they had the underwear and I paid $13 for a twin pack of underwear. They also had an extensive camping area, children's toys, snacks and drinks. They charge 10 cents for a standard brown grocery bag, which I think most retail shops are incorporating in HMB. read more

Customer service is lacking here. I put my bags on the counter during the transaction, and the clerk gal just kept socializing with the other clerk. I had to ask her, "You don't put the items in the bag anymore??" This has happened on two occasions! read more

I think this Rite-Aid would benefit from a good douche. The store is just kind of sad and run-down on the inside. It does have a lot going for it though: great location, extremely large selection of merchandise, friendly employees, good prices, and of course the ol' Wellness+ rewards program. The photo finishing isn't that great though...I wouldn't recommend printing any pictures here. read more

Only at Rite Aid HMB can u get stuck behind 2 greasy 40-something beach bum dudes WRITING A CHECK for beer @ 10:30am on a Sunday morning.

This Rite Aid has quite a diverse selection and a nice mix of seasonal items. There are always flowers and plants for sale outside, the gardening section is OK, and the pharmacy has all the things that you would expect to find. For more serious purchases in the home gardening variety, I would recommend the Ace Hardware across the street. But for simple purchases or last-minute items, I have no complaints. And if you need a watch battery or repair, they have a special section for that. read more

Aside from the retro terrazzo floor I didnt like anything about this store... There was an insect problem at the ice cream counter to say the very least, and service was quite bad... read more

Slowest Rite Aid ever! 2 cashiers and 6 people in line. Taking more than 5 mins to go through all of them. And they're not buying a lot of stuff! read more

Tried to stop by to pickup some medicine. I was greeted with a sign that said pharmacists are on lunch from 5:30-6:00. Who goes to lunch at a time when people are getting off work and most likely to stop by and pickup medicine? read more

Yuck. This store is so...Joe Versus The Volcano... It's dated, like most RiteAids stores. The clerks operate in sloooowww motion. The other day I stopped by again (three days in a row) to see if they'd re-stocked the cat litter - nada, but honestly, I'm not sure half of the people I spoke with know what cat litter is or understood what I was saying. The first woman's eyes seemed roll to the back of her head when I asked for a rain check. A huh...wuh? The CVS across the highway near Safeway's super awesome though, so hasta la vista HMB RiteAid. read more

This place is large and clean and has an easy layout. The staff who helped us was friendly and helpful. Prices are a little higher here for baby items than at the Safeway across the parking lot but we were desperate and bought some wipes and a sippy cup here because I had left my diaper bag on the counter at home. read more

This is the real deal old school Thrifty Ice Cream counter where they give you the cylindrical shaped scoops of my childhood favorites like chocolate malted crunch and chocolate chip. read more

Just got ice cream at this location... As I was approaching the area, the female employee was windexing the outside of the display case. She did not wash her hands. I worked in food for three years and ALWAYS made sure I washed my hands after cleaning. Very unsanitary. Date and time of occurrence: Nov 19 at 7:30 pm. read more

I was shopping and I needed my hemorrhoid cream so I went up and asked for help in finding it. Thsi young man or young lady (my eyesight is not the greatest) brought me to the med section and handed me a thing of lube, of course at the time, I didnt know it was lube. But, when I got home to use it, I realized very quickly that it wasnt hemorrhoid cream.. When I went back to the store the next day, I was able to exchange the lube for the hemorrhoid cream. Two stars because I had to wash my no-no area several times with soap to get the lube completely out of there. read more

Stopped by here to get my flu shots. The pharmacist was really nice and even hooked my kids up with free ice cream cone coupons!!! After they got the cones they forgot all about the little flu shot pinch. Thanks for making my job easy that day! read more

I have to take heart medication for the rest of my life. It's cheaper here than anything I could find online, Kaiser or CVS. Much cheaper.

Horrible customer service. Have gone in there several times, the store hours Cleary states 10:00pm but yet the employees are more interested in closing the store down at 9:15pm then helping their customers. read more

If you live in the Half Moon Bay area and need a prescription filled, this is the place to go. The pharmacists know you by name here. It is personalized service and you're not just a number like at CVS. The pharmacists are fantastic and talk to you like they know you personally. My father has been going there for years and when I go in now because he can't anymore, they ask me how he is doing and know him very well. Five star service in the pharmacy! read more

This Rite-Aid ROCKS! Why? Because their MANAGER and employees are ACTUALLY N-I-C-E! They do the best they can and actually SMILE, which can be a rarity for HMB businesses these days. 2 for 1 supplement sales are a true value, cheap & good ICE CREAM and TERRIFIC MARKDOWNS on discontinued items make complaints about the store's "appearance" sound petty and irrelevant. Stop in on your way to the beach and take advantage of their sales items. read more

My son came down with an ear infection at 5:00pm on a Saturday (of course). After a trip to the emergency room, I had a prescription in hand for antibiotics at 5:59 pm. The pharmacy closes at 6, but the pharmacist got special permission from the store manager to stay late so she could fill our prescription, saving us a trip 'over the hill' to one of the 24 hour pharmacies. This is the kind of 'small town' service that is lacking in so many places today. I (and my son) thank you! read more