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Categories: Grocery, Drugstores [Edit]
Neighborhood: LakeviewAddison (Red)
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This place is pretty generally a zoo, but you can get in and out fairly quickly...the staff is fairly efficient, never had a bad experience with the employees.
I go here for the cheap loss leaders, be sure to check their sale flyer. There are bargains to be had, along with the grossly over-priced stuff...
Currently this Jewel is a first class pain in the ass, because the internal escalator that led down to the store from the upper level parking lot is GONE. Now you must take an elevator, for which there are traffic jam quality lines.
I had an IGO car for enough time left from my prior errand, so I thought I would just run in and out of here in minutes.
Huh! The road to hell is paved with good intentions. It took me 30 minutes to buy $25 worth of groceries.
Blech.
WTF?! Recently while shopping here, I've been approached by sales-people, trying to get me to sign up for a bank account! Literally, while I'm squeezing grapefruits, or browsing the cracker aisle, "Hi! Would you like $50?! All you have to do is set up a checking account!"
Really??? It's too much. I'd give more stars because the store as a whole isn't that bad... but I can't get over the intrusive bank employees who walk up and down the aisles!
A poor excuse for a grocery store.
The Whole Foods 2 blocks away is cheaper on most comparable items.
Instead of buying 50 cents of a spice that you need 3 tablespoons of (like you can at Whole Foods), you get to spend $7 on a jar that's 5 tablespoons at this Jewel.
Their meats are not the best quality and are higher priced than Whole Foods. Their produce is higher priced. Their eggs are higher priced. Their dairy is higher priced.
Their wine selection is terrible, they carry only whatever whichever large company pays them the most.
Their "sales" are gimmicks, and even after the price reduction you get with some silly card you're not getting a deal. The 20% off price reduction thing is really a marketing ploy.. it's a few items in the store, far from the entire store. And it's "up to" ...which means 10% off--a few dimes.. And it's only slightly less temporary than a sale... it ends in a few months.
90% of the breads in their bread section contain high fructose corn syrup... finding one with real sugar is a real chore here.
Their parking is nice, but kind of a pain to deal with getting in and out of.
The lines here are ridiculous. I've never waited 4 minutes for a line at Whole Foods, let alone the 15 minutes I had to wait for a *self checkout* at this Jewel (the other lines were even worse!).
Why people put up with this shoddy grocery store is beyond me.
So we are out and about after Clark Street Dogs and the BF wants some Root Beer so I say we need to hit Jewel to get some real root Beer, that being Dad's as we can't get Dad's in Seattle this was gonna be a treat
since he works in a grocery store back home we are walking around and looking at stuff, first we see the Chicago style Gardenia, then the Sporty Peppers, and the Green Relish so we are stocking up on the fix-ins for at home Chicago Dogs, too bad we can't get poppy seed buns in Seattle, for some F'ed up reason no one makes them
over all the store was clean and neat, the isles are narrow but the shelf's were stocked and we found what we wanted quick and easy, and got back out fast
Yeah the store is kind of crappy but that's not why I'm writing this review.
I'm writing this review because you Chicagoans have got something that this former Chicagoan turned Minnesotan is green with envy over (and no it's not your superior night life or the fact that you actually have a public transportation system that works, so stop gloating), it's the fact that at this precise moment, there are probably 2 items sitting on the shelves of your local Jewel that cannot be purchased in Minnesota:
--1 lb. of thinly-sliced Chicago-style roast beef from the deli
--1 package of Turano Chicago-style French bread (http://www.turanobakin...)
Recommendation: make this for your boyfriend and you'll have him eating out of the palm of your hand (my husband regularly bemoans the fact that he can't remember the last time we had this meal).
Remaining ingredients:
--1 small onion, sliced and separated into rings (we usually use vidalia's or some other sweet onion)
--1 clove garlic, minced
--1 tablespoon margarine or butter
--1 14.5-ounce can of beef broth
--1/2 tsp. dried thyme, marjoram or oregano, crushed
--1/4 tsp. pepper
1) In a saucepan cook onion and garlic in hot margarine or butter till tender. Stir in broth; thyme, marjoram, or oregano; and pepper. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Add beef, one slice at a time. Return to boiling. Reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes more or till hot.
2) Remove beef slices and onion rings from liquid. Arrange atop rolls. Serve with individual dishes of broth mixture for dipping. Makes 4 servings.
And because my cookbook is awesome and provides them--
Nutrition Facts per serving: 283 cal; 8 g fat; 59 mg chol; 654 mg sodium; 21 g carb; 0 g fiber; 29 g protein.
Enjoy!!!
I have no [major] problems with this Jewel. I've been coming here for years and I know it very well. I know where everything is which makes it easy and quick to do my shopping. I've been to other Jewels, and yes, they were nicer and perhaps friendlier, but I couldn't find anything, and I wasn't about to waste my time standing in front of aisle and aisle trying to read the signs.
Parking is alright. I'm lucky to find a parking space outside, but I have no problems going upstairs. The cashier's you really have to pick them. I know which ones to go to and which ones to stay clear of (if you need those PM me)
The floral lady is the nicest. She arranged a beautiful piece for me when my mother was in the hospital and she was so sweet. The cig/photo center...well depends on who is working there. Its really a hit-or-miss. The stock boys are a joke, they throw things and laugh and scream across the aisles.
The place is always packed, which sucks but I never do my shopping during the busy hours (usually just go at night or overnight) and its fine. One time i went overnight (about 1am) and at that time you have to do a self-checkout (only downside) the guy working the self-checkout was telling me how he comes to work drunk and most of his coworkers do too. At that time, a bunch of coworkers (who were obviously off-duty) came in and started talking to the drunken worker at the self-checkout and then proceeded to take some food and walk out.
Its a grocery store. I get my food, i get out. Whatever.
2.5 Stars:
Remember when Jewel announced that they were drastically dropping their prices? Well, in this last minute ditch attempt to not go under, they also cut their employees' hours. The check-out lines used to be moderate and reasonable. Now, there will *literally* be three registers open during peak hours. The check-out lines run well into the grocery isles, across isles, etc.
That said, lately whenever I go to Customer Service to buy CTA passes - which is frequent - there is literally no one working the desk. After waiting 5 minutes with no action (at about 10 am on a Thursday), I asked an employee if anyone was working said station. He told me, 'No, we don't always have a regular person there anymore; that's why they put up that moniter" (points to a security screen above, with us on it). He explained that someone working in "the back" is supposed to keep track of the monitor, coming out to serve customers only as they appear at the counter/on the screen. Wow, what a zoo.
Also, check the expiration dates on their bread, bagels, etc before buying. Twice, I have found whole piles of items (once Sarah Lee bread, once Jewel brand bagels) that were about a week expired.
Jewel brand chicken (all parts, uncooked and unfrozen) looks mad sketchy/unfresh, and sometimes the packaging is beat-up, too.
The redeeming qualities of this place are:
A) Some of the deli personnel/meat cutters are really nice and accomodating, offering samples.
B) They have dropped their prices, granted.
C) There are two Redboxes right outside the door.
D) They are open 24 hours.
E) A 30 pack of PBR cans sells for $11.99. Priorities, people.
F) On Friday and Saturday, there is usually a table set up to give out shots of cocktails, to sample. If you like what you tried, you can take coupon(s) for the necessary ingredients. There is really no limit to how many samples they'll give you, so long as you have the moxy to ask. Usually, two drinks are featured, sometimes three.
G) Perhaps as a response to the long lines obstructing shoppers from easily passing through the front of the store, they now offer plenty of 'mini carts' - light shopping carts the size of two handbaskets, set in tiers.
H) You'd have to be Alpana Singh to complain about the wine selection.
All in all, given the stock issues and moreso, now short-handed staff/ RIDICULOUS lines, I wouldn't shop here for groceries if I could afford to go to Treasure Island (across the street, one block south), or Whole Foods (Halsted and Waveland)...a solid place to buy bulk booze though.
This Jewel is probably better than the one a little farther north on Sheridan.
I am really writing because this Jewel, as of January 2009, carries circle pretzels. Yes, the round pretzels that you use to make those delicious Rolo Pretzel Turtles:
http://steamykitchen.c...
Sure, I could use regular pretzels, but the circle ones are more fun.
Also, I would like to note that I saw one of the most disturbing/crazy things of my life at this Jewel. I had just moved to Chicago and was doing my shopping here one day in 2002. An older man was in line in front of me with a cart full of Pepsi and Busch Light. And well, the next thing I knew, ahh, well, ummmm. Let's just say his colostomy bag was not working correctly. I felt really sorry for the worker who had to clean up the mess/$hit. People didn't believe me when I told them this story. I really couldn't have made this up.
Now those Rolo Pretzel Turtles don't sound so good. Sorry.
Horrible customer service! Unorganized store, poor managment obvioulsy reflected in employee moral. Long lines, no one to help you, annoying people trying to force you to buy newspapers! Way overpriced! Too expensive! Don't shop there at night you will find yourself trapped and navigating through pallets of merchandise that are conveniently layed out in aisles across the floor blocking the nice juicy steaks and produce.
Just an overall unpleasant shopping experience. If I return it will only be for one or two things, I'd rather shop at 711! You can find me now shopping at Trader Joe's. Thank you Jewel, but our relationship has now come to an end!
I think the only reason I consistently shop here at this point is that my work schedule means I am not caught in weekend or rush hour crowded periods and it is usually cheaper overall than Treasure Island down the street. That said, you can really get as good a deal on most items at the Treasure Island, but it's less predictable.
Jewel also has the biggest store in the neighborhood, even if it's small compared to suburban standards (um, this is still a major city with limited space, no?). Honestly, it's not even small, so I don't know what people are talking about. Go down to Lincoln Park Market, Big Apple Foods, or The Marketplace to see what a small grocery store really looks like.
They also have self-checkout lanes, which at slow periods is an easy way for me to slip in and out of this soulless chain without having to deal with any of its disgruntled workers. I also bring my own bags and it's easier for me to bag them than to constantly have to rearrange the bagger's poor Tetris skills at the little bench by the exit.
Often the only contact I will have with someone working here is when I go to buy rolls of quarters from the customer service desk, which pretty much consists of saying "Can I have a roll of quarters?" putting down a ten-spot, and then being handed the roll and leaving. I've never met someone totally rude here, although sometimes a person will hold up the customer service line with some kind of weird issue like getting a marriage license or something and so I walk down to Treasure Island and get my quarters there.
The produce is fine. It's not Whole Foods or Treasure Island produce, but you can usually save some money. Never have really bought meat from here, but maybe that's because it doesn't look all that appetizing.
One silly thing about Jewel is the Preferred Card. It's a discount card that you have to have in order to get their "special" savings, but it's free, and if you don't have one, you can just ask the clerk at check-out to swipe one for you. I've never understood why they don't just offer regular sales, other than that maybe they track all your purchases for the government this way.
Oh, and of course, another plus to Jewel is the wide selection of booze in the hooch aisle. Treasure Island's got the better wine, but Jewel's all about the liq. These items also go on sale often and you can get 25-40% off bottles of liquor sometimes. Yeehaw!
So to all you stuck up people who won't shop here, I say good riddance. The place is too crowded anyway, and you clearly aren't sharp enough to find the gold amongst all the trash.
This is the stingiest most poorly, run stocked and just all around bad Jewel I have been too. There parking situation is sketchy at best. I have had stuff missing from my groceries on 2 occassions and if you buy alcohol well expect even if you're in the express line to wait at least 15 minutes extra for someone to come over to the register. Might as well pick the register with the old slow dude ringing, because he doesn't need permission from higher ups. Their produce is not nearly as extensive or good as the location on Ashland. So seriously make the trip this is the most poorly managed grocery store I've ever been to that I had to review it on yelp.
i'm torn between 2 and 3 stars on this one. it's jewel. we all know what to expect from jewel... subpar fruits and vegetables, expensive cereal, ok... expensive everything. (and, call me crazy, but the "new lower prices!" seem to be more expensive than they were before. a red tag does not a sale make!)
i deal with it because it's my local neighborhood grocery store, and it's generally cheaper than treasure island & whole foods. BUT, the one thing that really kills me about this particular jewel is the horrible fried chicken smell. oh my GOD does is stink. i am fully aware that i can't go here without smelling chicken on myself for the rest of the day. so gross.
I feel a little lame writing a review of a grocery store. But hold on folks, I'm about to get a whole lot more lame with this confession : I normally like grocery shopping.
Yes, I like it. I like clipping coupons and comparing price per ounce and making it a contest to see how much stuff I can get for how little money. I like planning meals for the week. In other words, I'm a thirty five year old homemaker.
Except that in reality, I'm not a homemaker and I don't have a million years to wait in line to checkout. And, I don't have an unlimited amount of patience for confused, directionless people that can't pick a type of canned tomatoes to save their lives. This store makes grocery shopping about as pleasant as being punched in the face.
What really put me over the top (and into my car to drive to the Jewel on Ashland) is how dirty the store is and the fact that I brought home spoiled chicken breast twice. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. I won't go back.
Oh Jewel, why do you have to be the most convenient store for me? :( How I wish I lived closer to Trader Joe's...
I've resigned myself to the mediocrity of Jewel to some degree. It's a short walk for me, they have cheap milk, and cheap 100% whole wheat bread, and sometimes, SOMETIMES, they have in season, quality, cheap produce. Man do I love strawberry season! Oh, and clementine season!
But I've given up on having a pleasant experience. Weeknights you can look forward to the crowds of other young professionals trying to go through the express lanes in an untimely manner. Weekends you can look forward to general mayhem. Weekdays are kind of ok, though the staff looks just as depressed to be there as usual. I sympathize, my first job was a grocery cashier, it seriously blows sometimes and these poor guys seem to be so understaffed. A few times I've gotten a cheery cashier, which is nice. But I don't really get too bothered by it if I don't, simply because I've gotten apathetic. This place is close, and I can generally find what I want, which is more than I can say about the Southport location.
One pet peeve though, about the redbox locations outside. I hate when people take forever scrolling through their movie options as a long line of people grows behind them. Then we all start blocking the entrance/exit and the carts. Figure out what you want to see beforehand for crying outloud!
Why does Chicago have such crappy supermarkets? I thought DC was bad with their Giant and Safeway, but the Jewel/Dominicks pairing is as bad if not worse. How I long for the sparkling goodness of Dierbergs down in St. Louis.
This Jewel is a mess. Lousy selections of meat. The produce at this store is hit or miss. Avoid the prepared chicken at the Deli counter unless you want to spend your night sick as a dog, as I did just 2 nights ago. The store is often dirty and over crowded. Every other thing I buy from the bakery is stale.
The sales are pretty good, but this is just a lousy store. I much prefer the Elston or the Ashland stores, if I have to go to Jewel. Lately I've been going to Whole Foods, where you pay through the nose but at least you're getting what you pay for (most of the time.)
I was in the store at 3531 N. Broadway today, and I was treated very rudely by a woman named Johana who is some sort of assistant manager. I was trying to buy 2 Visa gift cards for $200 each, and some other small items. I tried to pay with part cash, part credit cards, and the checkout man, whose name I cannot recall, had an issue ringing me up. I politely let him know I was in a big hurry. He called Johana over, and she said I could only pay for the gift cards in cash. I did not have enough cash to pay, so she told me to go to the ATM and get $80 to make up the difference. The line of customers grew behind me as I went to the ATM and got the money. I handed over the $80, and then I was told I needed to go and get more to pay the gift card fee. I went and took out $20 more dollars, and was very angry at this point. I tossed the money over the edge as I walked up to the register, because I was frustrated at having to do this twice. Johana told me I shouldn't throw my money. I told her not to lecture me on behavior, and that if she had let me know how much money I needed I wouldn't have had to make 2 trips to the ATM. She told me I should have come to the store prepared with the cash in the first place. Nowhere on the gift card package does it indicate that they can only be paid for in cash, nor can I somehow be expected to know this in advance. I told her this. The cashier told her I was in a hurry, and Johana told me I should have woke up earlier so I would be on time. I told her I was going to report her behavior and she told me she didn't care, that the camera would show me throwing my money, as if that excuses her behavior towards me. She then told the cashier that he should have voided my entire order so I would have left.
Clearly she does not know what she is doing, unless this is Jewel's approach to customer service. If that is how Jewel handles customers, I can guarantee we will not return to any Jewel in the future. I would gladly pay higher prices and drive further out of my way to avoid being treated that way again.
This Jewel is no jewel at all. Always crowded, rude people, and the way the lines form at the front of the store is terrible. And there is always long lines. It is like they tried to cram a full size grocery store into half the square footage or something. I avoid this Jewel and go to the one on Southport instead if I can - but my pharmacy is at the Broadway Jewel so I still have to go in now and then. Either way - Trader Joes kicks butt!!!!
Love, love, LOVE this Jewel. It's clean, fully stocked no matter when I go in, and even when it's busy it's easy to get in and out in no problem. The self-serve lanes tend to get pretty busy, but it's worth the wait to bag your own stuff.
Long live Jewel. Now ... if only they'd put a Dominik's over here. Rawr!
Called the "Boystown Jewel" by residents and visitors, this Jewel-Osco is in the heart of Chicago's premier gay village on a block perimeter consisting of Addison Street, Broadway Avenue and Cornelia Avenue. The layout needs a lot of work but the atmosphere is okay for evening to late night grocery shopping. As a result of the Supervalu purchase of the company, the Boystown Jewel underwent remodeling and reconstruction of its layout. It's still horrible.
The Boystown Jewel is extremely busy and situated in a major nightlife hot spot so don't be surprised to see long lines at midnight, usually for beer and wine; quickest service is through the self checkout lines. Surrounding residents that shop regularly at the Boystown Jewel tend to be young adult professionals, which means the busiest shopping hours are mid evening through late night. Thursday through Saturday tends to be the busiest. Avoid it at all costs on those days!
One plus is that the Boystown Jewel is Jewish friendly with a large kosher selection with special attention made for the holidays. Throughout the year, there are also bread and pastries from local Jewish bakers. If you're not Jewish or like to try new things, there's an okay international section selling British, Irish, Mediterranean and other goods but the Treasure Island down the street has a better selection. The health food aisle has an okay variety but other Jewels have larger selections.
The staff is friendly and try to make an effort to remember customer names and create special friendships that makes the grocery shopping experience so much more pleasing. One complaint about staff is that the male evening supervisors come off pretty unfriendly and too serious.
There is a TCF Bank branch inside, a full service deli, fresh meat and fish counter, pharmacy and photo counter. The store is open twenty-four hours a day, six days a week, closing for a few hours from Sunday night to Monday morning. I would like to say there is a need for more parking spaces but the clientelle is mostly made up of "granny-cart pushing" neighborhood walkers who live just blocks away.
Bottom line: This place is okay but if you're looking for a large variety for your home needs, go somewhere else.
Whole Foods is my heaven, and Jewel is my reality. I go to Whole Foods for my bulk nuts, fancy cheese, and other specialty items, and I come to Jewel for every thing else.
Because I can't afford to spend $20 on a filet, I shop at Jewel and get it for $8. Because I can get 3 string cheese sticks for $1, 4 rolls of toilet paper for $2, and a (surpisingly tasty) package of frozen tilapia for $1.50, I shop at Jewel for all my every day purchases.
Prices are lower here on basic items than at Treasure Island or at Whole Foods, but the quality of produce, meat and seafood, and the quality of service, is lower as well.
The seafood selection is decent and they often have some good specials (get the Jewel card) like filets for $5 or a pound of snow crab for $6 (stock up if it's fresh and not previously frozen). They also have these really good crab cakes that they sell for $3 each, but I am convinced they are the very same ones they sell pre-packaged in a box of 6 for $6.
Don't come on a Saturday or Sunday morning if you can avoid it. Lines are exceptionally long and it seems every octagenarian in the city has come here to do their grocery shopping, pushing their cart at snail speed, taking up the entire aisle so you can't even get around them.
Bonus points for the Red Box, which has a decent selection of movies and is a pretty cheap rental option.
Don't go late at night. The guy who works the self checkout lane in his striped Where's Waldo hat will infuriate you beyond belief. The machines never work, and he disappears constantly, leaving you standing there for ten minutes. I finally had to stop going in there after he revoked my out of state ID because he couldn't find my date of birth on it. There were only seven square inches to comb over, and it exceeded his ability.
On top of that, I don't like paying $5.50 for a small tub of Philadelphia Cream Cheese, and it bothers me that they don't seem to care that homeless people hound you relentlessly 100% of the time on your way in and out. No I don't want you to carry my bag to my car. I think you're gross.
I dread going here if I need anything. I swear, it's unbelievable that I should feel like I have to leave work early in order to not stand half way down the cracker and cookie aisle in order to check MYSELF out, not even have someone do it for me.
Before Whole Foods opened up we use to take the car to the Southport location where there's an actual parking lot and not the garage where you have to tag team with someone on getting your car our of the garage and then get BACK out on busy Broadway and hope there's a spot where you can load your groceries!
BUT there is salvation! Whole Foods is now open a couple of blocks away at Waveland and Halsted! And believe it or not I'm SAVING money since doing all of my shopping here. It's incredible.
So now if I need something so speicifc and W Foods doesn't have it I go to Treasure Island, or sometimes just Walgreens.
This Jewel is just ridiculous, produce WAAAAy too high for nothing...junk that rots in a few days. Usually if I don't use the self check out lines I end up bagging my own groceries in the end until someone notices that I am and pushes me out of the way.
And one of these days I'm going to get the name of a horrid supervisor there. She has long shaggy hair and the worst look on her face all the time. Usually seen at the "customer service" desk where asking for a CTA pass is too much to ask. One time I had her check me out and wow...uncomfortable experience. I never catch her name tag though. Watch out for this one if you know who I'm talking about.
Let your money go to something decent and better for you at Whole Foods. At least you don't feel like your taking your life into your own hands with the food and the poeple who shop there. (Who HASN'T been literally pushed out of the way by someone at the Jewel?!)
I'll be writing this review for fellow New York transplants, because the biggest gripe about this Jewel from other Chicago Yelpers is its "small" size. You people have clearly never had the pleasure of trying to maneuver a shopping cart through the aisles of Fairway.
So NYCers: it ain't small. It is an actual supermarket, with aisles wide enough for carts to be wheeled two abreast and then some. Satisfactory selection, though produce could be better, and internationals/organics take up a tiny section of the store. And hey, there's a passable boozemart and Osco drug built right in!
On the other hand, the whole place smells like fried chicken all the time, thanks to the little chicken stand near the entrance. Blech.
And minus one star for not delivering on Sunday. If I could, I'd snatch another half for the fact they don't deliver after 5 pm. Booooo!
You'd think this would've been my first review considering I'm at this store EVERY FREAKIN DAY. Ok, more like twice a week but it feels like I'm always there.
This store brings out the absolute worst in me, including:
1. A total lack of patience that I wasn't aware of.
2. Hatred of everyone who shops here. Outside of this store, I love everyone! Inside, I'm just a bitter old hag.
3. Sometimes I'll say something like "I can't BELIEVE they'd charge $2.40 for a HALF gallon of milk! THAT'S INSANE." And I swear, I hear my mother's voice instead of my own.
So, in short, "my" Jewel is:
- Very conveniently located
- Very crowded
- Very overpriced
It's a love/hate relationship, really.
ETA: I have decided to award Jewel one more star because they always have those $4 flowers. I'm not sure it's worth a whole star but flowers make me happy so whatever.
Grocery Selection: 4/5
As far as selection is concerned, I think this place is great. I'm really choosy about certain things like breads, tortillas, pita chips and stuff like that but I'm not a choosy Mom so I don't choose JIF, and this place has the stuff I like as far as the above is concerned. That alone is enough for the high rating, but recently I found an item here that has alluded me for months: Chipotle chiles in abodo sauce. I was ecstatic about the find. They also have this pancake mix that I really like and all of the dairy stuff I get (but i can find the dairy stuff anywhere) But! I couldn't find the laughing cow cheese I like and they didn't have lamb the other day so minus one star on that.
Produce: 2/5
The produce often sucks. Badly. It's also organized very poorly. :(
Staff: 2.5/5
They mean well (sometimes) but you ask 3 different people where something is and you'll get 3 different answers, all usually wrong. But occasionally they'll get it right.
Some stuff can get a little pricey.
So if i average out my scores I get a 2.83/5 for this place.
The End.
You'd think that I love the grocery store because I spent about 2 hours here every week. In line. Perpetually understaffed and the customers need to learn some etiquette. I've witnessed customers berating the staff (it's not their fault there's not enough of 'em) and it's customary to almost get mowed down in the aisles by people walking 3 across, one with a cart, and not wanting to move over. Meanwhile, I'm forced to walk sideways with my basket. Exercise some consciousness and this Jewel will be a much more pleasant store to visit.
Nasty greasy smell of those roasted chickens hits you in the face when you're in the produce department. I Don't like being solicited by vendors in the store or beggars in the parking lot. The cashiers are desperately in need of some customer service training -- and if they need it, then so do the managers. Worst Jewel in Chicago.
Sorry, but to me, this Jewel sucks. It's the worst-stocked Jewel I've been to in this great metro area of ours. There are some positives, like the international section, the friendly and helpful staff, good produce, and the self-checkout area moves pretty fast. However, if you're used to bigger Jewel stores, you're going to be pretty disappointed with this one. The renovation has freshened thing up a bit, but the layout of this place still baffles me.
I can walk to this Jewel, but when I have a car, I go to the Jewel at Broadway and Montrose or the Dominick's near Diversey and Clybourn (has the bonus of an adjacent Aldi).
I personally don't have any problems with this place. Sure, it is small, but it's in Wrigleyville, where everything but the Wrigley Field is small and bunched together. I don't buy the produce from here, though. They look kind of gross, and the avocados I bought had already gone bad (despite its "ripeness" from the outside!)
I liked their organic aisle, especially the way it's decorated.
It's a basic grocery store. The key to shopping here is to go during the week or late at night. So basically any non peak time is ok, make sure to buy what is on sale because it is not worth paying full price, as damn near everything is on some sort of sale with a Jewel Card (easy to get).
Granted this was the first grocery store I've been to since moving here. Maybe things are different in Chicago than they are in Boston or Philly. Well, of course they are, but I meant more like food prices. I thought this store was on the pricier side for normal things. I wasn't buying snazzy fancy gourmet prepackaged stuff, literally the bread and butter.
It's relatively close to me, and the store clerks were friendly enough. I think, due to the prices, I'm going to have to investigate for cheaper alternatives.
After spending two years doing most of my shopping at the tiny two-story Dominick's on Fullerton and Sheffield, this place seems huge. Then I go home to a Minneapolis suburb for a weekend and this place becomes tiny again.
The layout does suck as badly as everyone says. The signage is pointless. The overheads listing what's in an aisle misses a lot--one lists "cereal, tea, crackers", but manages to not mention cookies. (Seriously, people are looking for cookies more than they are tea or crackers. Or at least I am.)
The staff clearly doesn't make much more than minimum wage, and their attitudes show it. Ask where something is, they don't know. Question a price, they don't want to do the extra work to find out. If they're in your way, they don't care.
The selection isn't bad, nor are the prices. They have a lot of "10 for $10" sales, which is actually really nice since you don't have to buy 10. Liquor selection is relatively decent, but I only use it if I'm in a rush or something is on sale. Produce isn't the best, but it's generally tolerable. I try to go to Trader Joe's for that instead, but if you don't want to go that far west, try the Whole Foods a block away on Halsted.
They have a pretty good natural section for a large grocery store. It's not the range you'll find at WF or TJ's, but compared to Dominick's, it's impressive. They have a bunch of natural/green household supplies too--cleaners, tp, tissues, diapers, etc.
If you're planning on biking there, be careful. The people who park there do not bother to watch you! I've almost gotten hit 4 times in the past month.
Not a fan of this place at all.
The reek of fried chicken welcomes you into the calmly interior. Really, that stink clings to your clothes and you'll be smelling it all day. Nasty.
And they always have someone soliciting something.
Selection is fine. It is a large chain grocery store after all. Pretty tidy and neat, cleanish... Relatively organized but they move things around a lot which leads to confusion.
If you can't find something in the section you think it belongs in (and by the way, you're right, it DOES belong where you're looking) try their "ethnic" section. Seriously... Why do they do this?
I hate coming here but... You know, gotta eat.
I don't like this Jewel for several reasons:
OK, I won't complain about the size, I realize its in the city and there are space limitations, but for a smaller store, they should be able to keep it clean! It is so filthy! I have also had really bad experiences with with rude employees at this store. They definitely do not go out of there way to help you out in any way.
I love to grocery shop. And I'm not sure why there are so many complaints about this particular Jewel. Yes, it gets insanely busy but it's in the middle of a very densely populated neighborhood. What do you expect? There are always plenty of sales on a wide variety of things. For example, some type of cereal is always on sale, same as soda, frozen foods, etc. I wavered between three and four stars. The deli selection at Jewels in general is terribly outdated. They should spruce it up and bring it up to date.
EDIT: I had to subtract a star. The produce at this location SUCKS. I've only been shopping there for about a month. Everything I get rots within a few days. It really is true. However, this is still my go-to place for non-produce items. I'll stick to Whole Foods for produce. At least I get to eat what I buy before it rots.
I had no idea that so many people had such high expectations of a Jewel-Osco!
Prices are pretty typical, weekends are annoying (just like they are at Jewels in the suburbs), aisles are TINY, slow people work the registers/bagging area... It's Jewel. They have your typical Jewel sales... buy things when they are on sale and then it won't be such an issue when it's not because you already have it. I think that's a good plan regardless of where you grocery shop. Yeah, the produce and meat hardly compares to Whole Foods, but the standard items are just as good, if not better, and plenty cheaper. The parking garage is nice and they'll help you carry things to your car or carry them around front for you while you pull your car around to load. They surprisingly don't act sad about doing it at all (I would. Although I would probably never work at Jewel..). They also now offer delivery within 1 hour of your purchase for about 10% of your total (minimum $10). Not sure if I would ever need to do that, but someone without a car and a lot of groceries might.
Like I said, it's Jewel.
I'm basing this rating for the Addison/Broadway Jewel on memory. I used to live in the neighborhood and did 90% of my grocery shopping there. I thought the place was very good in terms of products and services, PLUS that upper-level garage space was WONDERFUL on those days when the weather was bad and I didn't relish the idea of shlepping bags of groceries across a semi-frozen lot to the car, then wiping new snow off the car before driving home!
I now shop mostly at the Ashland/Clark location, sometimes on Southport or Lincoln near Montrose. At this time of year I really, really miss that garage.
It's a corporate grocery store...What you get is what you see....Sure the lines are long,what do you expect when you are one of the three grocery store in a heavily congested neighborhood!..If you want to bitch about waiting in line, use their PeaPod service.....or don't go here at all...The shelves are always well stocked with variety and they are open 24 hours to satisfy any cravings at all hours ....get a "preferred card" for even more savings.....staff is so-so but it's Jewel not Barneys....Put your Ipod on and tune out all the craziness. Overall, it's good.
Its a shame the people of Chicago have to have the awful grocers of Jewel and Dominicks...these places are such trash it makes you wonder if the people that shop there just dont know any better or just dont care that much. Awful produce, awful meat selection, what is good? the fact that after spending $100 on groceries you can carry everything to the car in one hand...and that is it.
Ever been to a Woodman's or Wegmens? if Jewel could be half of what those places are it would be an improvement. It doesnt help that Jewel is in cahoots with a very shady grocery delivery service company that has had all sorts of problems with the department of labor and this location know's it and does not seem to care. Hey people at Jewel...your family friendly business is doing business with shade balls and some of you know it...after you fix that go to some of the grocery stores mentioned above and figure out how to become real grocers. Why would anyone in Chicago go to Jewel when we have such wonderful independent grocery stores that want your business and carry products you couldnt find at any of these garbage jewels. Sure it might take a little more time to go to a few of them or drive to one but man you make ip for it in savings and quality. Places like Super H-Mart, Tony's finer foods, Patel Brothers, Jerry's Fruits, Marketplace on Oakton and even Treasure Island are far above da jewels.
PS-please make like a real grocery store and have more than a few people working the checkout lines and not one or two. Man I cant wait for the day a real grocery store moves into Chicago and pushes Jewel to the back of the line...where they belong.
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Category: Grocery
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Category: Grocery
Neighborhood: Roscoe Village
Category: Grocery
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Category: Grocery
Neighborhood: DePaul
Category: Grocery
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