This is the only grocery store near my house, so I just have to deal with it's suckiness. At first appearances, the store LOOKS great. Then you spend a few minutes there. I have stood for 20 mins at the deli counter waiting for someone to appear behind it midday on a Saturday. I've seen shelves and common products go unstocked for weeks (currently, there's zero womens deodorant of any brand). I've twice had my bike vandalized parked on the outside rack in broad daylight. There are never carts available. The produce is frequently bad and the staff frequently worse. Well, at least they sell beer. read more

This Safeway is called the Southwest Safeway. Why? Obviously, it's located in the SW quadrant of the city. Jason C. is incorrect: the Un-Safeway is located at 14th St SE, near Potomac Ave. I might accept Ghetto Safeway as a secondary designation. Not that Southwest Safeway's not in a safe area. Walking past, I felt a little fish-outta-water in the waterfront environs. However, it is the biggest grocery store in the area, so with few other choices: I reluctantly recommend. Southwest Safeway. read more

I love living in SW DC, except for the horrendous, nay, only grocery store option in the neighborhood: SW Safeway. The store looks normal, even nice, when you first walk-in, and you might even luck into the one day per month/quarter when the store shelves are actually stocked, which is why you will feel sucker-punched when you reach the dreaded check-out experience. Leave aside the fact that they have too few check-out stands for the size of the store and its clientele (despite having recently opened a new self-check-out area near the main entrance), literally every check-out person who works at this Safeway seems to ooze hostility (with a big shout-out, though, to the cowboy-hat wearing man who I encounter from time to time in the frozen food aisle, who is beyond lovely, welcoming, and greets everyone who passes by and asks if they're finding everything alright). I hope that the Harris-Teeter Capitol Riverfront opening in late 2014 about eight blocks east of this Safeway put this store on notice that some serious management and personnel changes need to be made. read more

The staff aren't knowledgeable about food-they'll ask me what eggplant is or try to direct me to Tabasco sauce when I ask for tahini. One time my roommate got a can of chickpeas and it had kidney beans inside. The lines could also move more quickly if the staff that are supposed to help with the self checkout would direct people to open spaces and quickly approve alcohol orders. Wish there were other convenient options for southwesters :( read more

From what I gather, each of the Safeways have a nickname in the District (like the "Soviet Safeway"). This is the Unsafeway. At least that's what my now-ex calls it. This place earns its nickname. As soon as we got out of the car, I got the heebie-jeebies. Ever watch a horror movie where the ditzy coed is creeping closer and closer to the door, and all you can do is say DON'T GO IN THERE!!!... that's the vibe I got the whole time we were in there. If you look up surly in the dictionary, they'd probably have a map to this location, along with a group shot of the clerks. I mean, I'm the type of person who will smile and have a pleasant tone to my voice regardless. That's just the way I am. Usually, it'll unfreeze even the surliest of dispositions. But not here! While I didn't find the store to be unclean like Jeff did, I will say that a lot of the shelves seemed barren. Sort of like Giant a few hours after the weatherperson calls for half an inch of snow... OMG I NEED TOILET PAPER AND CHICKPEAS!!! There were long sections of the aisles that had product missing. I really feel bad for the locals without cars. There's really a dangerous vibe this place gives off. Plus, there's also an overwhelming sense of depression this store gives off. There was a book about the Vietnam War called "Street Without Joy." I kept thinking "Safeway Without Joy" the entire time I was here. The verdict: Do you have a car? You might wanna just hop on the expressway and head on over to the Harris Teeter at Pentagon Row (if you're by the Unsafeway, it's only a 10-15 minute car ride on the weekends). The only reason I give this place two stars is that they actually had a brand of hot sauce my local groceries stopped selling. I loaded up for the express purposes of NOT having to make another hot sauce run here. read more

Since I do not have a decent grocery store in my neighborhood, I decided to try out this Safeway in SW. It was pretty easy to get to and had parking. It is also located directly outside the waterfront SW metro stop. The store was not incredibly clean and the staff was not very friendly. They did have all of the stuff I needed. Overall, I can take it or leave it. I will probably just plan better and drive the extra 5 minutes to Harris Teeter in Pentagon City during non rush hour times. read more

The newly re-opened 'lifestyle' Safeway is *awe-some* (Note to self: altkeys don't work on Yelp. Think alt-13, alt-14). I'm tempted to rate it a 5, except I've been to Wegman's. With the new and improved inventory I'm no longer moved to supplement my grocery shopping with a bus ride to Harris Teeter or Giant, and can even get away with fewer trips to Whole Foods. It is now possible to make a 'quick trip' to the grocery store-- there are plenty of staffed cashier stations and even a self-service check-out. In and out. Simple. Fast. Before the re-opening the quickest I made it out of the Safeway was 30 minutes. Now: 5 minutes, easy. The new staff are pleasant, efficient, and usually helpful. The deli counter is now actually enticing (our only non-seafood dining in the SW), and the Starbucks is a sight for sore eyes. Our SW Safeway now carries: --Stuff on shelves. Seriously, it's actually stocked. That's a change. --Greek yogurt --Produce I can't necessarily identify on sight (qualification: vegetarian foodie) --Re: Produce: Miniature versions of big things (e.g. cauliflower, artichoke) --A larger variety of: -cereal (e.g. Fiber One Caramel Delight), -bread (e.g. Thomas Sahara brand pita, Arnold brand Sandwich Flats), -nuts (e.g. Blue Diamond Bold flavors), -chocolate (e.g. Lindt Excellence) ... among other things. Yay! I'm a fan. Note: They do not have a health food section, though do have an expanded gluten-free section. read more

They have decently priced meats and with good quality. The staff is somewhat knowledgeable but you have to catch them all at the right time. Heaven forbid you ever want to ask them a question while they talk about how long it took to get their hair "did." There is usually only two lines open for the checkout teller and they take their sweet time. I feel like going through those lines is like going to a black Baptist church event. Everyone is chatting up a storm asking about family and who got what some for whom not realizing that people just want to get stuff done and leave. Somewhat pricey though. More likely because it's the only decent and safe grocery store to go to where you won't have to be afraid of getting shot at in DC. Not a bad place to shop. Make sure to get your Safeway card though. It actually does save you a lot of money. The 1 star is mostly for the time to check out. The lines are SO slow. I've never been in a Safeway that takes nearly 15 minutes or more just to pay for 6 items. read more

Yikes! I came on Monday early evening after a snowstorm hit the east coast on Friday and Saturday. It looked like they were finally starting to restock, but the shelves were extremely bare. The produce section was nonexistent, and the bread section only had some lonely dinner rolls left. Produce prices were pretty costly. $3.50/lb for tomatoes and $3 for a small bag of celery is considerably more than what I'm used to paying, and from my memory, is more expensive than Giant (also in DC). If you can get a Safeway card, it does make a difference. I made it out with a 5-lb bag of brown rice for $5, and some dry split peas for $1.29. It would have been a buck or two more expensive without the card. read more

I used to live in the SW neighborhood and one of the best things about it (besides being so close to the museums on the Mall) was that this neighborhood had its own Safeway, such as it was, centrally located right at the Waterfront Metro and part of what had been one of the most tired, raggedy malls in the city. In fact it was the first grocery store we happened to visit when we were looking for an apartment in DC back in the freakin' mid 90s! It was also the first time I'd ever been approached at a grocery store and asked if I needed any help, which I soon learned was part of the customer service expectations in "the South" compared to what I was accustomed to in New Jersey! With the opening of 4th Street SW, that old mall and Safeway have been demolished (those pictures are of the old store BTW) and this new and improved SW Safeway is as nice as any grocery store in the city. Isn't competition great? Thanks to the arrival of Harris Teeter and Whole Foods, Safeway finally realized they had to step up their game in DC and we consumers are the beneficiaries of this competition for our food dollars. The SW store is not as huge as the new Georgetown (most profitable store in the Safeway chain BTW) or Mt. Vernon Square stores but it's just as glitzy glam (for a grocery store) with underground parking and a Starbucks in SW at last! The old store had some characters and going there as often as we did in the days before we became farmers' market aficionados and devotees of Peapod by Giant, we had our favorite checkout clerks and marveled at how they knew how to bag and stack grocery bags for people like us who used those old school shopping carts and shopped once a week without a car. Stopping by here after the Rally to Restore Sanity/Fear, I didn't recognize any faces, but then it has been about 8 years! We walked around in wonderment (seriously!) at how SW and the rest of DC just gets more and more livable with intelligent development like this. read more

This Safeway is definitely my most frequented grocery store and will continue to be as long as I live in the SW Waterfront neighborhood. It's all too convenient (only 2 blocks from my house), and they validate parking with an $8 purchase (I have been able to get around this on occasion when stopping in for a quick gallon of milk or loaf of bread). There's also a Starbucks inside, which is nice. The kiosk abuts a little cafe area with tables and chairs that you can eat at, although not the cleanliest place on earth at times. Bring a moist towelette and some hand sanitizer if you're a germaphobe. At first I hated this place because I thought it was awkwardly laid out. I could never find what I was looking for without asking for assistance. However, as of now I will say that it continues to grow on me the more I visit. Once you learn where all the sections are located it's really not that bad. And the staff are ridiculously helpful. Like Whole Foods helpful. Just not for the Whole Foods prices. And things are always on sale. Recession proof. I will say though that I'm terribly annoyed by their need to check the receipts of every exiting customer. Clearly you see I have five bags in my hands, a purse on my shoulder, and a phone on a my ear. Get up outta my way homie before you get trampled! Just a royal pain in the ass. read more

I tried looking for figs when it was not fig season. Then I tried to find the prosciutto. "Who is this dumb white girl? Does she think this is a Whole Foods?" I love this place. You still need a club card. read more

Lines are extremely long at nearly all hours of the day and move at turtle speed. They don't seem care enough to restock baskets at the front entrance of the store during the day, so they'll run out by mid-day. If I go there with a shopping list, it is almost guaranteed the shelves will be empty of at least one thing on it. The store evidently cares more about staffing security guards than customer-facing staff, and hasn't mastered keeping things in stock yet. If you actually need something fast, the CVS next door can save you 20 minutes of waiting in line, and it's only slightly more expensive for things that it carries. If you have a car or aren't from the area, go to another store. If you live in the neighborhood and don't have a car, it's not worth it to trek to another neighborhood to shop. read more

This is the worst Safeway I have ever been in. No beer, no wine and all the produce is usually picked over. If you have a car drive to go somewhere else. If you have to go here that sucks but it is conveniently located next to the metro. Avoid this place if at all possible...there is always a enormous line at the checkout. ALWAYS!" PS: This is the only grocery store where I have actually had bums ask me for money inside the store. read more

"Attention service desk 2-0-1" ! For me easily the worst part about shopping there, being subjected to that message on the PA over and over. The employees don't even know - or care- what it means. I go to Harris Teeter whenever possible, but sometimes time is short so I head to Safeway since I live 2 blocks away. The wine section is the the best improvement, otherwise it's pretty much the same old processed food you find in most supermarkets in America, they just made the store look nicer... To be fair they do carry a few more products than the previous store and the aisles are wider. read more

Safeway, oh Safeway, how do I ruv thee? In so many ways, with the quality wine section, the sushi bar, the Starbucks, 3 yards from the metro, artisan bread shaped like crabs and crocodiles, extensive food variety, flower section, 2 check out areas, a specialty cheese display, hardwood floors, AND quality produce. You had me at "Grand Re-opening!!!!!" Harris Teeter, you have met competition and its name is Waterfront SAFEWAY!!!!!!!!!!! read more

It's a decent size, has decent produce and selections but minimal variety on meat selection. Honestly, I have never experienced such rude cashiers in my life. There was a cash register malfunction two customers ahead of me, so I asked "should I switch lines, is the machine not working?" And the cashier (dashai sp?) just looked at me, said "huh" then rolled her eyes and ignored my question. By the time I was up to check out, I was rudely ignored by her again. No greeting, no asking if I need bags, just carrying a "stank face." She didn't even bother saying the total. As if I was an inconvenience to her day. Extremely difficult to find management in the building as well. read more

This is 2.5 stars, but I'm giving 3 to be nice. When it comes to nicknames, we affectionately call this one Ghetto Safeway. Spend 3 minutes there you'll know why! There is no bakery (only a wall of donuts which are scary knowing there is no bakery...), a very stunted deli and very limited selections of everything else. But it has some redeeming factors... the cashiers are all cheery and spontaneously burst into song, the lines are rarely long, and well when you work in SW... there are no other options. So it's nice to get off the boats (yes my office is on a boat) and walk to Safeway every single day! read more

My review pertains particularly to the delivery service that is offered with online orders. While the SW store itself is quite good, I plan on taking my business elsewhere due to the incredibly poor service I've received with delivery orders. Delivery is such a great option for people living in the city with no car. I can order all the heavy items I need - pet foods, canned goods, beverages, etc., and not have to worry about getting them home. But use Safeway's delivery service at your own risk - particularly if you really need something. On my first order, the delivery arrived over 30 minutes late - no call or anything to notify me of the delay. Much of the refrigerated and frozen food was not at the correct temperature when I received it. This was apparently due to someone breaking in to the truck earlier that evening. I decided to give them a break and continue using the service. Other minor annoying things happened on other deliveries...getting a package of completely hardened brown sugar, poor quality produce, etc. All of which I could overlook in the name of convenience. The last straw was paying $12.95 to have groceries delivered within a one-hour time window, which I would've been completely fine with if they'd actually delivered the groceries on time. I received a call towards the end of the time window saying that they hadn't pulled the groceries yet and couldn't guarantee when they'd be able to deliver. Luckily for me, I was planning on being home all day anyway. Three hours later, still no groceries and the explanation of the customer service representative when I called was that the driver is running 3-4 hours behind on deliveries. No offer to refund the delivery fee or anything until I complained about the uselessness of a service that allows me to specify a specific time frame for delivery and then doesn't even come close to meeting it. In the end, my groceries were delivered over 4 hours late, but the delivery fee was refunded. read more

I've lived in the neighborhood for a LONG time, and completely gave up on the old Safeway years ago. I was so looking forward to the new store. My first impression was good, and now it's back to the way it was before. I can't shop somewhere if I have to check the expiration dates of everything before I put it in the cart. I had to return a package of edemame. It was brown with mold. And it was purchased from the sushi area. Not cool. Expired food is not a customer service issue, it's a health and safety issue. When I returned it there was no apology. I emailed the manager and never receved a response. Walk through the produce section, you'll notice it doesn't even smell fresh. Service is terrible. I stood for several minutes the other night at the bakery section. I managed to get the attention of the woman working behind the deli section who told me that the bakery closes at 7:00. I guess I would have stood there looking stupid for who knows how long before anyone would offer that information. So despite my high hopes, and my brand new folding cart that I purchased expecting to be able to walk to the grocery store, I'm once again driving to shop on Saturdays. THANK GOD for the new Safeway in Georgetown (which is amazing). I allowed one star because the parking is good. And they have self check out. Leaving is the best part. read more

I mean, it's the only neighborhood grocery in SW Waterfront, and it does a good job of carrying all the basics; as a resident, I would be wasting a lot more time schlupping to and from a store every week if it wasn't there. However, many things are hit or miss - for example, things will be out of stock for weeks at a time, or foods will still be on the shelves long past the best-by/expiration dates (always check, especially the dairy!). The wine selection looks big (and I would say the prices are good in comparison to the same bottles at a liquor store), but there really isn't a great variety - like, I love basically any and all gruner veltliners, and they sell not a one. Also they tend to carry non-seasonal things for very limited shipments - I'll see a new wine (not a fancy one or limited production, the last ones this happened with were canned), buy it, like it, find the spot empty on the next visit and the tag gone on the following one. I use automatic checkout 98% of the time, and at this point my expectations are low enough that I would not even think to ask associates for information, so have less experience with the customer service aspect. read more

If your looking for good service and more then one working register, then you should go anywhere else. Stay away!!! These people that work there are just clock punchers! No care what happens in between! Update: 2018 I've said it before and I'll say till the day I move leave dc, this grocery store is the worst. Even if the produce wasn't always on the verge of rotting the lack of give a shit by the staff is just mind boggling. Perfect example of why de unionizing would be preferred. read more

The store is clean and easy to get to. I don't usually need help but if I do, I can get it.

This is a great little store with an excellent bakery and deli department. Clean and well organized and a validated parking in the garage below. read more

The store itself is ok. The problem is the parking garage. My mother had an emergency and needed to get to a restroom. She works for standard parking which runs the garage. We were told that they could not validate parking because we had to buy at least $8 in merchandise. The sign that states this is very miniscule and cannot plainly and clearly be seen as you are entering the facility. Not to mention most groccery stores validate for free for the first hour. The associates were very very rude as well. No smiles,no warm welcome. Just attitude. I will never step back in this store. read more

Now that they have re-opened the place is a lot better. Parking in the garage is great and simple (free if you spend $8). They now sell beer and wine which is a plus. The difference between this one and the last one is night-and-day. FYI- Self-service check-out is the fastest way out of the store. read more

Two stars for poor covid safety. Repeatedly the cashiers and staff monitoring the self check out have been wearing their masks below their noses. This defeats the purpose of wearing masks. read more

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE~ Okay, I know the old one sucked. I wasn't here for that one, although I saw the old building as they were demolishing it and it did look rundown, especially with that bull-dozed hole on the side of the building - what were they thinking! =P I haven't been to the Georgetown Safeway, but I think this is the best Safeway out here. It has everything you need, wider-than-normal international aisle, large spaces for the produce/fruit area, deli, Starbucks, alcohol, plenty of organic produce - if you're into falling for that. Whatever, everything. I love this place, especially since it's so conveniently located right next to the metro. Downside - a LOT of (diverse) people go here, so it can get crowded, especially around 5-7ish, right when people get off of work. That being said, sometimes the good produce/fruit is taken because of this. But it's a grocery store, it happens - come back another time. So here's where the diverse part come in, a lady got upset with me because I walked in front of the cart she was pushing; a grandma, who I assume never used the self-check out line, cut in front of the line (because who would tell her to get in line, honestly), and didn't know how to use it; a guy has used the same question to start a conversation with me (three and counting); also there was a guy dressed like a rapper/pimp with some hoe-y looking girls causing a huge argument with the other patrons. I wasn't there, the story was told by my roommate. But doesn't that just add excitement to your everyday, dull grocery trip?! read more

This Safeway is a lifesaver. I work on the Waterfront and there's nothing to eat in the area. There's a Subway and this Safeway. The Safeway has sandwiches, salads, pizza, sushi, prepared meals, chicken, and more. There's also an ample amount of seating with a microwave and all the condiments you'll need right near by. So I don't have to eat at my desk (we don't have a common area). You can also find a Starbucks inside if you need to get your coffee on. Sure the prices aren't super cheap, but when you're the only game in town you can charge a little more. I still get my $0.70 Jalapeno Cheddar bagel several times a week. What did people who live or work in this area do before the Safeway opened? I shutter to think... read more

This is a really average grocery store, and while it's a huge improvement from the old Safeway, it still is subpar. It does have some strong points. Overall the produce is usually fresh and I can always find bruise-free apples (which is not always the case at Harris Teeter). The sandwiches from the counter are really delicious and reasonably priced, and there's a Starbucks with ample window-side seating. Expect a good mix of yuppie 20-somethings shopping for organic mushrooms and ghetto moms dropping f-bombs at their toddlers. As this is DC, staff are, not surprisingly, hit or miss. Take the meat department as an example. One butcher is super helpful and extremely friendly; another butcher wears headphones and had no idea what I meant when I asked for sausage without casing. As this Safeway is in a transitional neighborhood, there is security at the door that checks your receipt, but they are surprisingly friendly and always ask if I got my parking validated. They even manage to smile (an oddity in most DC grocery stores). This Safeway has all your staples, but don't expect a lot of specialty items. Very often I have to go to the Harris Teeter at the Potomac Ave. Metro for things that Safeway doesn't carry (they have a great selection, but it's definitely more expensive). Unlike the notorious Soviet Safewway, most of the shelves stay well stocked, and I've yet to see the bread or milk shelves bare, but the prepared foods and hummus always seem to be sold out completely by 8:00pm. The deli has an odd practice of pre-cutting popular meats which means that your order will not be cut fresh. And whatever you do, DO NOT use the dry cleaning service - Bergmann's has a horrible reputation (search for them on Yelp) and my shirts came back unclean and wrinkled. read more

I am writing to issue a complaint against a security guard working at this location named Gilbert (he refused to give me his full name). He has repeatedly harassed my wife when she shops by herself and continues to make crude remarks to her and follow her around the store. This level of "personal security" security is not apart of his job description. I've approached him twice now to request he stop this behavior and both time was I was met with attitude and aggressive reactions and even threats. I have spoke to his supervisor but this behavior continues. This is extremely unprofessional and she no longer feels comfortable shopping at this location alone. read more

Pros: Convenient, clean, Starbucks, and deli on site. Redbox inside. Fresh produce. Cons: Limited on product selection, and lines are usually pretty long. I recommend as long as you only need food items. Toiletries are limited. read more

I can't really give this Safeway a accurate review. I basically walked and and walked out to waste some time while I was waiting on my ride. But I will give it 5 stars because it's very nice and clean in the inside. It's pretty big as well. read more

I normally don't look for entertainment Actually every now and then, dude who wears the hat does break out the key board Whenever I've asked for help, I've received it. The majority of the staff is awesome! Super friendly and helpful when asked. There have been some exceptions, but usually they were new (and did not last long) I will say, right after school hours, the kids in there are annoying and obnoxious. Now no Kids till 5pm! which is awesome! If you hate children the way I do, just shop early. If you're going in there looking for Whole Foods I like Safeway better, I actually hate whole foods "if you're scared of black people " "Who is this dumb white girl?" Did I miss something? When did this get all racial? if you want super fresh veggies you should hit up the farmers' market once a week instead Actually as long as it isn't 10:45 on Sunday night I've never had issues All and all I love the new Safeway, BIG improvement My only complaints would be I agree the Deli on the weekends is slow, totally opposite during the weekdays and The Carts There are plenty of carts, there just all the big, aisle hogging, ones that are really not the most popular in city stores as far as the bike TWICE??? RIGHT IN FRONT??? during the day There is like a disturbing amount of security, and metro police, and witnesses, Do you make people want to smash your shit, and piss off the security so they look the other way! Lived here for years and people don't smash my shit every time I go in the store read more

Same store, if not worse. If you like watching Safeway staff talk on their fons and chew gum, this is the place for you. If you like to watch staff stand around and talk, although they clearly see people ready for checkout or in need of service, this is the place for you. If you like to be dog gone sure that your clerk feels they are doing YOU a favour by breathing air (and NOTHING else), this is the place for you. If you prefer to be treated like a valued customer, this is NOT the place for you. read more

I tend to stop by after work to grab a few groceries before I go home. This place is always busy, but I have only had pleasant experiences with the staff. You can expect to spend a long time here in line, but if you come right after work or later at night, then you can avoid the lines. There have been times when whole sections of the freezers have been empty to my dismay. read more

Rude, unmotivated staff. Bring a book for the lines because you'll be lucky if two lanes are open, and the self-checkouts aren't half off or broken. Crappy selection. We need another option in Southwest because this is what happens with no competition. Just awful. read more

The store is not to bad, but some of the workers should not get out of their bed their customer service is terrible. I went early one morning when there is not a lot of people in the store,just to get a few things. I was the only one in the dairy isle except the male stocker who was stocking. he asked me was I looking for something. I said pumpkin spice creamer, and that's when he started. "He said that's like looking for eggnog in July" They don't sell pumpkin spice in December just put some cream and sugar in your coffee. " I don't know why people look for flavor cream during a pandemic". That's one Scrooge I thought. I picked up some creamer and proceeded to the cashier, who throw my stuff in a bag, as if to say get out. I appreciate the Front Line Workers, but some of them could use some friendly flavor creamer in their morning coffee. read more

It has been 20 years, and two generations, of the 4th Street SW Safeway store. Different building; same deficiencies. I am reminded, with each time that I absolutely have to shop in this store, how poor the store represents the Safeway brand. Food Lion stores are managed better. Today, I walked up to Safeway. Only to be reminded how the employees are in desperate need of customer service training; the technology poorly maintained; and, the stock hit and miss. Such a shame. I will continue to patronize Giant, Trader Joe's and Harris Teeter. read more

No beer and wine, no bakery, not much of a selection for pre-made foods. But there is also no people in line... meaning that this Safeway is usually not to busy. It is right next to the Waterfront Metro station and across the street from where I've been living. If you have a Safeway card the prices are not horrible... but there is no where else to shop in the area so take it or leave it. Then again, unless you live in the SW why would you be here? read more