It's a chain, yeah, but this particular one, despite whatever regulations they have always seems to be way more ghetto than most other Safeways. The only thing I'd say that this one has is that it's close to my house but more often times than not I find myself driving out of my way to something nicer or even to a completely different Safeway that is better. To give it credit, this particular one used to be really bad, then they remodeled, and now it's slacking back onto it's downward slope again. Joy. First off, you enter and you get "The Eye" from the security guard. I know he's there to do a job but it's still creepy. Second, the carts never go straight. They've all been permanently crippled. Third, there is always someone acting like a fool whether its a loud argument or children and teenagers running through the store like they in a playground. Parenting skills are not so high in the demographic hat shop here, let me tell you. I'll buy anything but meat here. I one saw ground beef that someone had obviously changed their mind about buying just sitting on one of the cereal aisle shelves. It was nearly defrosted. A few moments later a worker came by and took it back to the ground beef section. Maybe I'm just more picky than others but now I don't trust any of the meats. Who knows where it's been and if it was defrosted and refrozen and have alive with salmonella. The bakery is pretty okay. They are always stocked, unless of course you're looking for a French bread loaf at 5pm when Everyone else is too. Word to the wise, come in earlier or learn to bake it yourself. The Hot Deli is good as well, just your standard Deli fare paired with hot "American Style" Chinese which is okay on the run but you can get better quality elsewhere. Also the lines can sometimes be a pain and though there are ample employees not many of them know where things are stocked. Also, there is a ton of customers who don't know how to select the freaking ATM/ Debit option on the keypad and have found myself stuck in the 15 items of less line for almost twenty minutes because the other lines are having similar problems or customers are making a ruckus in the line. If only they had employees who cared more about their jobs. I know plenty of unemployed people who would be happy to take their job for less pay right now and it just seems so unjustified. Speaking of employees, I'm not sure what it is about when I come in the in the mornings but whenever I stop at the Starbucks (Mind you I'm settling in the first place because good coffee is 20 minutes out of my way) but there is an this tiny Asian female employee named Vilma who always seems to cut in line up the the counter before her shift, tells the barista her order and either leaves money laying on the counter while she clocks in or hovers near the front of the long line while all the rest of us other customers wait. Its extremely annoying. And the baristas tend to wait on her first. Oh, by the way, be prepared to wait a long, long time too. I've seen plenty of people get tired of waiting and leave all-together. I plan on writing their manager and maybe their corporate headquarters about that. No one should cut in line, much less an employee. Her excuse is that she needs coffee. WTF do you think we're here for?! This peeves me so much. It's the icing on the Fail cake of their lack of customer service and quality standards. So all in all, I'm not sad that Safeway nay be striking. I've gotten better food and service elsewhere. My thoughts are for an employee anywhere, if you want better pay and more hours, earn them! Be pro-active! Be a leader! For patrons: Save yourself the aggravation and go somewhere else. read more

Lameway. That's the name of this location because it's lame. It always feels like the lights are dimly lit in here. I'm used to Safeways with bright lighting and a clean feeling. I get neither from here.. the lighting is low and it always feels dirty to me. The layout of the store is also weird and unintuitive. I always end up wandering about aimlessly looking at the aisle signs to figure out where I want to go. Why aren't a gallon of ketchup, mini condoms, a bag of pretzels and plastic plates all in the same aisle!? But seriously... did the Seattle city planners create the floor plan for this store? The absolute worst thing about this store and the reason why I will do my very best to not come here unless I have no choice is the wait to check out. The last 3 visits here have seen the self checkout closed and only one cashier working. THAT. IS. FACKING. STUPID. My last visit... which happens to be last night saw the one line of people waiting to buy their products and GTFO starting at the cashier and going across the walkway into one of the aisles and reaching about halfway down it. I personally saw two separate people toss their items down on the nearest open shelf and walk away in disgust when they saw the line. Talk about horrible customer service... can you make it any more clear that your store doesn't value it's clients' time? From now on I'll drive the extra 5 minutes to the QFC in West Seattle... it's open 24 hours so it also has that going for it. Not a fan. read more

Yeah, it's a regular Safeway but it's the locals and store practices that make it bad: Kids riding trikes in the store, panhandling, crackheads. Security guards hobnobbing with the locals in ebonics. Beware of fresh and frozen products (MEATS!) that were discarded by shoppers in other aisles . They're simply returned to their respective slots, thawed, warm, whatever. Beware also of Deli items that aren't big sellers in da hood. Italian roast beef sits, already sliced, for days in the case amongst the swirling germs and flies. read more

I think this safeway is fine...just fine. It is clean inside, where it matters. I find the employees helpful and have not had a negative experience in the three years I've lived down here and shopped here It has a good selection of the things I need. There is a Starbucks, one of the few places to get fancy coffee down here. There is a bank with an atm that doesn't charge me fees when I use my card from another bank. The gas station is all right. There is plenty of parking and the lot is not a free for all derby like the safeway off of othello. I do wish they would move the soup station away from the door and somewhere it can be monitored by deli employees. The claw game at the entrance is goat, you can actually win! Does it have the problems people state in other reviews? Sure. It's far from perfect, but I think the good far outweighs the bad. read more

I never thought I'd write a review of a Safeway, but I'm doing it, it's happening. I like this grocery store. I just moved to Columbia City, away from Fremont and my beloved Marketime. On the way into CC from Dearborn, you pass a few grocery stores - chiefly, a Safeway and a QFC. The overpowering yellows and browns of QFC have never excited me, and I'm often more pleased with Safeway's produce selection, so I didn't give it a second thought when I pulled into the Safeway in Mt. Baker on the way home. From the outside, the store looked like any other of its kind, but on the inside... Chaos. Total chaos. There were empty shelves, things laying in the aisles, people yelling. There was a cop skulking around the front door (at 4pm on a Sunday?). They were missing some things I was looking for, but it wasn't a total tragedy and I dealt with it. When I went to check out, despite over half the lanes being marked for those buying 15 items or less, I still spent 15 minutes from the time I got in line to the time I was out the front door. I thought I'd caught them on an off day and decided to give them another chance, which I quickly regretted. I stopped in to get a few Vitamin Waters and some cash. The lines were outrageous on a Saturday afternoon, and the one I chose was stopped for 15 minutes until the cashier realized his register was broken and told us he'd have to close. We were directed to the customer service counter to pay as the other lines were really long, and dutifully moved over to stand in line there. When the woman behind that counter realized what was going on, she started yelling - at us! - that her line was NOT for groceries only and alternately telling us to get in a "regular" line and muttering to herself that another employee should really open register one. After several more confusing minutes of broken communication between my previous cashier and this one, I put my waters down and left, robbed of another 20 minutes of my weekend with a vow never to return. Shortly thereafter, I found myself driving home from Renton on Rainier and passed by this Safeway in Rainier Beach. It looked great and, as an added bonus, they even have a Safeway gas station (cheap with good discounts for shoppers!). When I went inside, it was like being on the sunny side of Safeway Street - calm, peaceful, shelves full of great (and even weird) stuff, great selection, and extremely nice employees. Everyone I saw gave me the Safeway trademark, "Are you finding everything OK?", but they all seemed more genuine and some engaged me further in conversation. The other shoppers seemed happy, checkout was a breeze, and it was such a great store that I spent an hour wandering the aisles without even realizing it. Even though this Safeway is in the opposite direction I typically go, it's well worth it for me to go out of the way to have another good experience. If you're anywhere near Rainier Beach or Columbia City and don't have the scrilla for PCC or the gas to get to the closest Trader Joe's, this is the store for you. read more

I would say that the area is pretty sketch so I wouldn't recommend coming here late at night. But I've been accosted by people selling hot dvd's and God knows what else. That being said, it's pretty regular, the tellars are eh, got attitude but like I said, the area is pretty sketch. Does the job, plain and simple. If you don't want convenience go to the Trader Joe's that's up near UW. read more

Gas stations pumps/card readers are horrible. One time I had to try four different pumps before I could get my card to work. It works fine everywhere else. Stopped going there out of frustration. read more

Shell is a wonderful person. She has done a great job at this store. She will go the extra mile for customers! I would like to see her get the credit she deserves. She is in touch with the neighborhood and grew up here. read more

Its a safeway...nothing special...all the cool kats come here...its not ghetto...sars is ghetto...is my safeway and i luve it

Trying to call this store for information and they can't be bothered to answer the phone. How irritating! I've called every department and no one answers. read more

This Safeway is better than the Othello Safeway by leaps and bounds, no fault to the Othello staff. That location is just small and therefore slow. The Ranier location doesn't have the biggest selection compared to, say, Fred Meyer down in Renton but it's the perfect neighborhood store to run and grab your essentials. The staff are always friendly and lines only get long right during rush hour (like 5:00-5:30). read more

Dear Safeway, for those of us who are unfamiliar with the no plastic bags in Seattle policy it would be really nice if your PAPER bags had handles on them like they do in other stores, so I could carry the bag with ONE hand instead of making 17 trips between the car and house to unload my groceries and so my chicken doesn't drip juice all over my canned goods. Just a thought. Also, can your deli please get with the mac and cheese program? I really love your mac and cheese so not having it around lunch time (1pm) is a little confusing. Thanks. read more

Only go here if you want to wait in line for outrageous amounts of time. Despite my being friendly, everyone that comes here is cranky pants. If you want service with a smile, go elsewhere. Try Trader Joe's! read more

You guys have a serious problems that need to be taken care of. The customer service here is completely to shits. If you have 3 lines that are going into the back. You have to get help seriously I see all these works lolly gagging around. Fix it. read more

Love the produce and the employees are always so nice. Just under staffed at night, causes big lines and long waits. Shop earlier in the day. read more

Poor selection of wilting produce. I guess us poor people in the hood shouldn't care. Safeway, do you really want the 2 safeways in this neighborhood to represent you? Both are terrible. Really, it makes you seem as though the stores in the poor neighborhood aren't important to you. read more

Kudos to Asmeret, Joseph and Roderick here at Safeway Rainier Beach. Joseph answered my questions with a friendly smile. Asmeret was engaged with me to have the great experience with shopping here. Roderick was very helpful too. I wish I live near your store. May I add, thank you for having a Gluten Free section. Thank you all for making my day. read more

I like to shop at Rainier Beach Safeway than the other Safeway stores until last Friday 2/10. I was there to purchase beer along with other groceries but forgot my driver license in my car. I asked the cashier to keep the beer for me so I could return to checkout in few minutes. However, the cashier told me that I don't have to explain anything if I don't have my ID because it was wasting others' time and if I want explain, then I can see her manager because she was not there to argue with me. After paid for my other groceries and put them in my car, I went back to the store with my driver license. I looked around the store to find other cashier, but she was the only check-stand associate at that morning. I saw the beer still there, so I came to show my ID and asked to buy them. After looked at my ID and then checked me from head to toes, she told me not looking at her angrily like that because I always had change to talk to manager if I wanted to complain anything. Now, whenever I thinking about return to Rainier Beach Safeway, I have a feeling like having a choke. I was so surprised with the Rainier Beach Safeway associate's customer service and wondering why she was shouting me on the front of many other shoppers at that morning. read more

The Lines here are always super long. They really need to get more staff on the registers. I only come here when I absolutely have no other choice. read more

Oh safeway....This one is particular near my friend's house so we stop here for last minute stuff a lot, in general they have what we came for, shampoo, food, cheese, bread, dessert, etc. On this one particular night however, we were in the mood for some wine, so he again drove to this safeway to get a bottle of white wine. At the check out counter me and my friend both have our ID out waiting to the clerk to ask for our ID. HOWEVER, he look at the wine, and look at us, then immediately have this disgusted look on his face, give a sarcastic chuckle and said out loud "Are you kidding????" then again he look at our puzzled faces, he said "you need ID for this!!!" again his voice and tone is nothing less than trying to humiliated us. At this point my face had went into the, "oh no you didn't boy, I"m gonna freaking yell at you and then your manager" however my friend just gave him her ID, then he calm down and looked all embarrassed, embarrassed but did not apologize however. Anyway we ended up didn't complain, but man I don't want to come back there again, I know we look young, but hey is that a crime? Sheez.... read more

to DAY Justin delivered my order on time he was polite clean cut and sharp dresser we spoke for a short time so its my fault if I made him late for his next delivery I give him a A+ thank you you are a great help to me thank you I read more

bittersweet. there is much more to choose from but you'll risk getting shot.

1 star for the deli service. One person working the entire deli. Food at least looks presentable. Someone needs to help figure out the staffing schedule with every single department especially the deli, and starbucks. read more

Safeway with a Starbucks and FREE INTERNET! What else do you need from your grocery store. FREE INTERNET AT A STARBUCKS!

I go to this Safeway all the time because it's so close to my house, but I keep reminding myself to start driving further to a better store. The service is slower and not as professional as I've experienced at all of the other Safeway stores I've visited. I try to visit the store before 3pm or so - after that it gets more rowdy. Usually I encounter at least one person half-belligerently yelling across the store or the parking lot. And of course there's the gunfire - there have been many shootings here in the past couple of years. The now-permanent presence of a police van in the parking lot doesn't seem to help. Today there was the strong odor of pot at the front door (generally fine with me, but please not in my grocery store). For these reasons, we call it Unsafeway. read more

This Safeway store has been the best shopping experience for many years...we are lucky to have them in our neighborhood. Everyone are especially nice and very helpful. Thank you!! read more