The super-sized Safeway next to Bart has its issues, but it has a wonderful deli, bakery and meat department with more choices other than specialty stores that keep me coming back. Given the area, you have to drive miles to find anything that matches it for choices. read more

it was almost midnight on Thursday night. Tanya Zimiga is the cashier's name who overcharged me and when I pointed out her error she gave me very rude and disrespectful attitude and lied about her mistake. this is the worst Safeway I've ever been. the manager also didn't have clue about their prices on the shelves and no basic customer services at all. I can't believe that guy got hired as a manager. Horrible experience read more

I have seen one of the smallest Safeways in the Bay Area. Now I have seen one of the largest. This review comes from the second day of grand opening. This store occupies the old Target store, and It makes use of its space as the store contains 17 aisles with a split down the middle, 14 checkout stands and pretty much everything Safeway has to offer in a store, including full service deli, bakery, pharmacy floral dept. and Starbucks. It also adds an outdoor dining area and FREE WIFI! It features the 2011 version of the Lifestyle layout, which includes the square aisle hangers that face away from the front and a re-colored bakery color scheme that matches the deli. Other than that, it's what you'd usually find at a Lifestyle'd store. The outside fasade of the store is beautifully sophisticated. The pharmacy's decor has a wood feeling, which resembles a doctor's office. With this store located right across the street from El Cerrito Del Norte BART, it is the best place to grab a bite to eat, and you don't have to eat at the station either. There are over 25 tables throughout the store. This store is the best Safeway I have ever been in! It would be the absolute perfect Safeway if it included a gas station that is separated from the parking lot. Maybe later it would happen. If you live anywhere near the East Bay, and appreciate grocery stores, you must visit. read more

Good enough place for a consolidated market. Nothing really spectacular about it or outstanding to be honest except a few departments like the meat, deli, bakery and flowers. Lots of people in here so I try to avoid the crowds since it can be a long wait :( read more

Never enough check lanes open during rush hour. Its much more expensive than the Lucky's at El Cerrito Central. Very convenient location wise. THE TACOS ARE ALWAYS STALE NO MATTER WHAT BRAND OR THE EXPIRATION DATE. read more

I dont like being ignored, or made to stand while they work but wont look at me n ask if I need help? Why ? Safeway use to have customer service excellence but now at this location that's jus a memory. No hot sandwiches, breakfast burritos n no soup? What happened. Not lazy cause they were workin jus not serving customers. Sprouts is a few miles down n that's where I'll be going. There policy is "we cant say no" to customers. Thank u Safeway, u guys still have great products n service jus not this store. read more

Thee most horrible customer service at this safeway. Deli employees are a joke. Mgmt is rude and not responsive or open to any feedback regarding the lack of proper service. Employees in the deli meats openly talk negatively about other employees and their mgmt. The Starbucks manager needs to smile and stop looking like she is smelling sour milk while the young one is talking about personal inappropriate stories for all to hear. Ive been followed and accused of stealing while the ringer tells me im going to "go to hell" if i steal. Dont go to this safeway after the gym or in workout clothes because you will be mistaken for a thief and harrassed. My pregnant wife came out crying because she was so rudely treated by an employee and literally laugh at by the younger manager she tried to speak to. You just might just get lucky enough to have the only friendly person around (Latin lady) assist you. Don't go to this safeway if you plan on staying in a good mood because you will definitely walk out feeling frustrated. read more

This Safeway is the most convenient to my house. They always have a clean facility and good selection of beer! The line is often backed up often, but you're taken care of. read more

Safeway - Payday! - Grocery Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Sometimes it takes complete exhaustion to notice retailers dirty tricks... why are the bread and milk on the complete opposite side of the store from the veggies and meat? Normally this isn't a problem, but when you're coming off a weekend trip and a 400 mile drive, that walk past all the other stuff they sell sucks... OK, now to the review... It's a "lifestyle" Safeway... so it's very cool looking from the outside, and has wifi and a coffee lounge, all of which are very nice touches. when you get inside, you have the same stuff as any other Safeway. If you take advantage of their sales, you can save money. read more

Great supermarket as far as what products it has and the quality of the produce and meat departments. It rivals spendy, upscale supermarkets in trendy neighborhoods. As far as customer service, it's terrible. They are tragically understaffed and what few employees are working any evening are either lazy or so beat down they just don't care . Don't expect to spend less than 20 minutes standing in line at checkout. And expect to hear them crabbing to each other over the PA system because the managers have abandoned them when they need them. "Doug check relief to aisle four. This is the THIRD TIME I'VE CALLED..." Oh, and expect to bag your own groceries. No baggers. No big deal, but it slows the lanes down to a crawl if the customers don't pitch in, which of course they don't. Honestly, better off going to Railey's Pinole (where the employees are clearly better and better treated) if you're gonna drive. If it's convenient because you take BART, it's probably worth the suffering. read more

Gorgeous Safeway! It's newly revenovated with a giant Starbucks and outdoor patio seating with heat lamps and free wifi. I've been to my share of safeways and this one, tops it. The parking garage is huge, but there's only two entrances and exits which suck since its right by the Bart station, which has a lot of traffic and congestion. The inside is clean and organized. The far left back entire of the Safeway is a dedicated "cafeteria" with all the ready made and hot foods and etc lined up. Everything else is your typical Safeway, but this one is spacious not super crowded. The staff are friendly and helpful. read more

This is a really nice looking Safeway; it beat my expectations! This may be too much to give it 5 starts, but I don't expect a ton from any regular grocery store. Anyway, the store was clean and large. In fact, it used to be a Target and there is even a center aisle you can use to easily cut across the store. The store is well stocked and walking through they had all the goodies, a sandwich counter, sushi counter, bakery, Starbucks, wine, you get the picture. The one down since was the bathrooms. I shopped in the middle of the day while doing errands which is different than some of the other people who posted. I try to never ever shop at any grocery store on the weekend because it will be a madhouse. Go after work or really late or early if you are forced to shop on the weekend! read more

Horrible place to shop. More security guards then cashiers. Will not shop here heading to Food Max. NO CAMERAS IN PARKING LOT. People are robbing you when you are loading groceries. They stand around in parking lot waiting for their next victim. DO NOT SHOP THERE. AWFUL PLACE NO MATTER WHAT TIME OF DAY. I wouldn't even be giving it one star you have to. read more

Although this Safeway looks great from the outside and has some cool elements like a café and the patio, it's really ridiculous trying to buy anything on the weekends. They they are chronically understaffed. Although the workers there are very nice, there's not enough people on the check stands. So you end up waiting about 15 minutes in a line of 15 people to buy your Cheerios. I don't go on the weekdays so I don't know what that's like, but the weekends are atrocious. I would be happy to shop there if they paid attention to this issue. read more

Safeway - The line on any given Saturday. Can't staff this place like any other sf or Marin Safeway? - Grocery Near Me - El Cerrito, California

worst service anywhere orders are always short so I still have to go in store to get items they say they are out of yet I find them every time also worst web design ive ever used I shall start using raleys which is a bummer as I have shoped with them all my life 58yrs good bye Safeway wish I could give less than 1 star read more

The best of the bad options I guess. The store seems nice and clean and spacious. The checkers are friendly. The smaller carts are easy to maneuver, although I think they encourage me buy a little more then I usually do with a hand basket. My problems with this store: 1) I would suggest they take the person who stocks the half-gallons of 2% milk out and shoot them. However I don't think that this person exists. 3 out of 4 times that I go here there are none on the shelf. 2) The paging system. After 10 minutes of an automated voice calling out "Customer Service dial 213" ever 20 seconds, I just couldn't stand it any more. 3) The damn 20 ounce store brand soda's aren't in the computer. They stock them right there next to the registers, and yet they don't scan! It brings the line to a halt every time. (God forbid you pick one up at the self checkout. You can't just decide you don't want it, you have to wait for the overworked cashier to clear the three other customers that also tried to buy them.) I now pick one up every visit just to see if the issue is addressed. Two months in to the experiment: Nope, still won't scan. read more

This place has a decent produce selection and is fairly new but don't ever come here at night. They are so under staffed. I have been in line for half and hour to check out. read more

Safeway - The line at night here is insane!! - Grocery Near Me - El Cerrito, California

Never enough checkers, even during busy times. If this store has a manager, they're terrible at their job.

Tonight At my local safe way I always go to every night and this security guard always harasses me every time I come in accusing me of stealing. I guess is not a custom to new culture where young adult shop for them self. So he always follows me around the store well today I was waiting on self check like always finishing to pay and realized we forgot something so I sent my boyfriend back to grab it , as I'm waiting by end self check out with my BAG I JUST PAID FOR. my boyfriend just come up to ask me a question about the soup I want and this old asshole security has the nerve to say I know what ur doing you trying to steal I been watch your guys the whole time. THEN HOW DID YOU NOT SEE ME PAY FOR THE STUFF IF YOU BEEN WATCHING US. When I leave I ask for his name and company name which he won't give why bc he know his in the wrong and he doesn't wanna get talk to by his boss for the way he treats people. Tmo I will call the store manger and speak with her and get the company information and for sure have speak with them about him read more

Safeway - Rude servility guard doesn't know how to talk to customer - Grocery Near Me - El Cerrito, California

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Like most safeway experiences from El Cerrito to Berkeley, the customer service experience is my least favorite part of coming to any one of their stores. I say this because it always takes an extremely long time to check out. The worst customer service is at the deli section, where it takes so long to get cold cuts. Other than that, this is a well stocked safeway with the items you would expect to find at safeway. Prices are okay, sometimes I think they're a little too high, but it's standard for the area. read more

Lines are so long they reach the back of the store but they only have 5 lanes open. Only three self checkout lines are operational.

The bakery department for this store is HORRIBLE!!! I ordered a cake for my daughter's sweet 16 and when I went to go pick up the cake there was no cake. I was unable to determine at the time who placed my order for the cake because my notes of the conversation were left at my work desk. Both the manager on duty and one of his employees searched for the cake and couldn't find it. The manager offered me another cake in attempt to offer a temporary resolution, but the cake was hard and nasty. I returned to work on Monday and confirmed that I spoke with Serena. I called the bakery dept and spoke with Serena regarding my cake not being ordered and she was not empathetic at all. She didn't even offer an apology. I asked to speak with her manager and she told me that her manager (Esparanza) was in a meeting and to call back in 30 mins. I asked for the store manager and Serena disconnected the call. I called the store right back (within approx. 1 minute after call was disconnected) and what a coincidence, Esparanza answered the phone line for the bakery. I then asked her why was I told to call back in 30 minutes as she was allegedly in a meeting. Esparanza stated that she was now answering the call from another phone line. I then went to explain the situation to Esparanza and she stated that she made the cake, although 2 different Safeway employees were not able to find the cake after searching for over 10 minutes. Again, this was my daughter's 16th birthday which was a milestone and she didn't have the cake that she really wanted. I normally order my cakes from Pinole Safeway but the were booked for Saturday. This experience has completely turned me off from this store. Thanks so much for ruining my daughter's birthday Serena and the Safeway Bakery Staff!!! read more

This location has yet to do anything but disappoint me. I'm done. 30 min in line waiting to give them my money. Unreal. Except it's not. It happens every time. read more

Needed to use the restroom, so went to the back like one does in every other grocery store. There was no sign on the doors to the back, no sign on the bathroom saying anything about not being a public restroom. In fact, the blue round Women sign implies that it's just a regular restroom that anyone can use. Went into it and there was an employee washing up. I said hi, she said hi back. Went into the stall to do my business. While I'm there some woman employee opened the door to the restroom and started bitching me out for using this restroom, saying that it isn't public and that there's one up front. Literally yelling at me while I was peeing. WTF. I finished up and walk out, double checking for any sign that says no public use - nothing anywhere. I find the lady that I saw when I walked in, thinking she was the one who yelled at me, and she said she wasn't. I suggested to her that they put a sign on the door directing people to the front if they don't want that one used. All she could say to me was that the one I used was not for public use. No interest in helping to make sure that doesn't happen again and no apology for her coworker's actions. Later I I realized she could have simply said to me when I walked in that there were public bathrooms at the front of the store. After that fun experience, we then go stand in line with the thousands of others waiting for slow cashiers and rude customer service; the usual. Then get to deal with leaving in their effed up parking lot. After reading the other reviews here, I can see that all this is the norm. I don't need to shop at a place that gives a rat's ass about its customers in every way. Buh bye, El Cerrito Safeway! read more

Man, this is the best thing that I have seen happen in Richmond, CA in the last 30+ years that I've been in the Bay Area. I remember when this location was a bowling alley, then Target, now this wonderful epicenter for Community, that connects both Richmond and El Cerrito. It is a hopeful sight to see something like this near where I grew up "back in the day." I remember when the OSH was CO-OP and frankly I never really liked all of the funky buildings across the street but...this Safeway is something else, something new and special for both Richmond and El Cerrito. We are coming up and coming into our own, no longer the step-children of Albany, Berkeley and Kensington. It is nice that we are beginning to have places to go here where we live, rather than elsewhere! I hope that the Cities of Richmond and El Cerrito continue their trends of Economic/Business Development and keep on moving forward to make where we are at the destination and center of the Bay Area. We need to develop as many viable Small Businesses, as fast as we can. GET THESE YOUNGSTERS JOBS!!! I pray that all of these Richmond dudes will get all of the love, support and opportunities that they need, so that they can calm down and stop wildin' out on the daily...one can hope and one can pray! Too many from my childhood have been lost to the streets and to the penitentiary...NO MORE!!! read more

Good stock, plenty of fresh produce, decent prices. I took off two stars for the face that they never have enough cashiers, ever. They got a star back for a great cashier at the self-check who entertained my toddler while I was checking out. My toddler kept putting her hands when you put the food once you check it, and it was throwing off the machine. Instead of being exasperated with me for her needing to reset the machine multiple times, she made my daughter smile and laugh so I could quickly check out. My husband travels for work, and t was nice having somebody help at a tedious chore. I wish I could remember her name! read more

Very close to the Richmond Costco. My takeaway was how wide the aisles were; you could seemingly put three carts side by side and you wouldn't touch the shelves. The aisles seemed to go north and south for miles too. They have the standard Starbucks inside, which I put into the "upscale" Safeway category and all the standard amenities one would expect at a Safeway. If this was closer to me, I'd definitely make this my default grocery store. read more

This is the biggest Safeway I've ever been to. Bigger means more products! Wish it was closer to my house.

I suggest renaming this store, apathy Safeway. Across the board, disinterest in helping anybody with anything.

Have never seen so many products locked behind glass. How is one suppose to shop? Oh, that doesn't matter cuz once you get to the checkout line, they are soooo long, even the self serve aisle is ridiculous, with ever other station out of service, that it's not worth your time to buy the items. It's literally faster to drive to another grocery store and re-shop! Also they have the absolute meanest Starbuck employees with the biggest attitudes on the planet! Yikers! It's not Starbuck's fault cuz this is a Safeway franchise. read more

I am giving this Safeway 5 stars because not only is it farely new but since opening last year, they've managed to keep this place looking new. Not my neighborhood Safeway but it is close to the El Cerrito Del Norte Bart station and when I have to kill some time waiting for family members to get off Bart, I usually make my way to this Safeway. There are plenty of parking, different sizes of shopping carts and there's a Starbucks inside. Not to mention plenty of seating inside and out doors. Definitely would be coming back here whenever I am in the neighborhood. read more

I am used to the mega-groceries of the Midwest, so the old Safeway to me felt like shopping in a tall, cramped closet. Boy, was I happy when this place opened up. Much more spacious, more selection, the deli area is fabulous with lots of tasty lunch options (the boyfriend and I get a bite before we do our grocery shopping) and there's Starbucks! The fresh meat area is great, the produce is fresh, and it's easy to find your way around with the signs. Anyone complaining about the size...really? This place is great, not too huge but big enough so that this Southern girl doesn't feel claustrophobic. Big plus for me. read more

Bulk and fish sections (next to each other) are my favorites. Self-check out. Food styles for everyone. They need to install a bulk filtered water machine and take out some of the bloated bakery. read more

Finally a larger cleaner store.. The only reason y it's missing a star is because I CAN'T FIND ANYTHING!! lol but there is someone always around to help.. The good amount of self-checkers is GREAT.. parking hasn't been bad, just wish they build a wider exit near Bart.. read more

I love the Safeway. Why are all these people bashing it it's great. They have everything I need. The deli counter is pretty weak - the people read more

Positively without a doubt, one of the biggest and best supermarkets I've even been. I'm more of a Trader Joe's person, but this place is clearly THE Best Safeway store I've ever been. This place is huge and is always busy. Great variety of foods, especially with a wide selection of meats, deli, and bakery. They also have a huge floral department. I love the Starbucks they have inside. Also, did I mention the outdoor dining area. The staff here are always friendly and sociable despite the long lines at times. The parking situation can be crazy, especially on weekends. However, if you have a BART placard, you can park your car @ the El Cerritto Del Norte Bart Station and just walk it from there. I believe that could be your excercise for the day. If I have to shop at a Safeway store, then this is it. read more

I believe Safeway is now approaching three years at this location and I find that I had been shopping there only if I absolutely needed to. Why? Because the general state of cleanliness has an incredible amount of room for improvement. I stopped by, an hour after their stated opening time this past weekend, to be greeted by a parking lot filled with items that would put most off their feed for awhile ( I am thinking that said items were there from the previous day without anyone addressing the need to remove the garbage) Despite my brain shouting at me to go someplace else to shop, it was very early and doubtful that my options would be many, I went in anyway, picked up the items I needed and headed to the checkout. Safeway is similar to other grocers and stock their shelves in the early morning making navigating the aisles a tiny bit of a challenge, but the stockers are uber helpful and will grab the items you need if their pallets are blocking the area. Two stars for the hard working and courteous employees. So, the checkout had a line of customers already waiting. No problem except for the 8 plus running feet of a sticky substance beneath the shoe soles of those waiting in that line. It was like trying to walk on fly paper. And that mess also did not look freshly spilled. Really Safeway, do you care so little for your customers that you'll have them walk through a minefield of garbage and spills to spend their money? My final thoughts as I was departing this particular store was "if the public spaces look this bad, I wonder what the condition of their warehouse and the back room deli, bakery and butcher prep areas look like." Sorry Safeway; until the store looks clean, I will be shopping elsewhere. read more

Yaya a nice grocery store in the neighborhood but mama mia the checkout lines are hideous if u time it wrong, for dogs sake put some more cashiers on?!?! How bout it mgmt??? My advice get there wither early in the morn or fuhgedaboutit read more

Very rude cashiers manager is also rude. I now shop at Luckys after many years of Safeway . I thank the unprofessional rude employees at this Safeway . The helped me discover how better Luckys is. read more

Don't come here if you are in a hurry. Cashiers are in slow motion. Can't get out of the parking lot very easy especially between 4 and 7pm. Badly planned access by the city of El Cerrito. (As other areas in this city!) Need an alternative store in this area badly. read more