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QFC Quality Food Center
Rating Details »
Neighborhoods: Ballard, Greenwood
9999 Holman Rd NW
(between 100th St & N 6th Ave)
Seattle, WA 98117
(206) 783-8888
9999 Holman Rd NW
(between 100th St & N 6th Ave)
Seattle, WA 98117
(206) 783-8888
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
19 reviews for QFC Quality Food Center
Grocery stores are grocery stores. This is a review for the staff.
We have arrived! The grouchy clerks now speak to us, and even make jokes after three years of patronage. Now granted, we usually try to entertain them with our witty banter between the two of us (my husband and I) and often apologize for the poor behavior of other customers (lots of rude old folks) when someone is having a bummer day. They notice and appreciate this kind of thing.
After three years, they have accepted us into the clan, and welcome our business. Mission accomplished!
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**updated review for experience at the post office in this QFC store**
We were here to send a fax, at $1/pg, it kind of sucks..but who has a fax machine?
Anyway, we filled out a coversheet before getting in line like the sign says and waited patiently...for several minutes. I don't know what issue the person had ahead of us, but he wasn't even done being helped when we decided to leave. When we left, there was a line of about 5ppl behind us. Why didn't they put another person on? Boo.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/31/2009
This QFC is near my sister's so I stop by fairly often. Back when I lived with her, this was my… Read more »
It's a well known fact that QFC and Fred Meyer are both owned by the same company (Kroger). Then riddle me this: How is it that Fred Meyer can sell the same products for 30 or 40% less and offer better customer service than QFC? Presumably, the common products are purchased by a common source.
When you pose that question of price difference between QFC and Fred Meyer, the answer (at least in part) should be that QFC makes up for it in customer service. Yet time and time again, I experience poor customer service experiences at QFC - particularity at the check out stand.
This is particularly true at the Holman Road QFC. Deplorable is the word that comes to mind. With very few exceptions, the cashiers and counter people act like they have something better to do and that you're bothering them in going through their line or to their counter.
Even the Auto Checkout is poorly managed! There is supposed to be someone watching over those stations to help with auto checkout problems. Most of the time, this person is no where to be seen or else they are standing there doing their best to ignore the problem you're having.
Why go here then? Good question! I only go because I live nearby and can walk there. So it serves me for quick trips. When I get in the car for grocery shopping, Fred Meyer in Shoreline or Central Market are better options. I rate the QFC Holman store U for unfriendly!
PS: the QFC up the road from this on 15th NW is noticeably better in terms of customer service.
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Single Foster's Lager at QFC: $2.99.
Price at convenience store: $2.49.
Price at Safeway: $2.29
Who needs a grocery store that is more expensive than 7-11?
My favorite whole grain Kodiak Jack's pancake mix is $9/box at QFC and $6/box at Safeway.
And I absolutely abhor the deli loaded with the God-awful Boar's Head brand deli items. Who ever heard of a high-end grocery store deli counter that does not offer freshly sliced Jarlsberg Swiss?
QFC offers a more pleasant shopping experience, but I'm willing to give that up to save 30% on my food and beverage bill. It's not like I'm moving in.
I only shop here for the loss-leaders or when I need fancy-pants ingredients for entertaining. We eat what's on sale or we shop elsewhere.
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This QFC was way better when it was Art's. It was still okay for a while after the switch. I still stop in sometimes, especially if I am looking for something expensive/fancy. However, I bought some filet mignon there for NYE dinner, and I was pretty disappointed.
They have this amazing fancy wine area though, but I'm honestly not sure it is worth it.
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I like that this is practically one stop shopping with a Starbucks (and it's a real starbucks, not that annoying in-store kind), a floral department, a GREAT wine department with a wine chiller there in the store so I don't have to wait for my whites to chill to drink them that night, a pharmacy and a post office inside, but I really detest their prices. I tend to hop to a few different grocery stores to get the things I need because QFC's produce is generally five star quality, but everything else I try to get at Safeway or Albertsons.
I do like that the store staff remembers my face and is good at acknowledging me. I hate that at night they block off part of the entrance with carts, it's just lame, do they have that big of an issue with late night run-through shop lifters? I also have issues with some of the other patrons. I've gotten the snottiest looks from old women in this store and I can't for the life of me figure out why! I also hate that for some reason every QFC in the country has no cell phone service. Am I the only one having this issue? How am I supposed to call my roommate to find out if we're out of ketchup if I have no service?! cheese and rice!
Bottom-line is they're good for fruits and veggies and meats, everything else though you should jsave yourself some money and ust go to Safeway.
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It's a grocery store that is better than Safeway. What makes it unique is the north and south entrances/check-out stands & post office with a Tickemaster outlet. Definitely a handy-dandy QFC. Lots of people seem to enjoy the China Panda inside, but I can't say I've partaken. It definitely blows the other grocery stores in the area (including another QFC just under a mile away) out of the water....yet it remains just a grocery store.
I can't believe I just reviewed grocery store.
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Like a tard I wrote an awesome review of QFC but I wrote it for the wrong location. No problem, I thought to myself, I'll just copy my previous review and then add it to Yelp! under the correct address and phone number. But then I found that the QFC I meant to review wasn't even listed in the Yelp! system.
I wanted to be a productive member of society so I immediately sought out the correct address and phone number. In a tardlike stroke of genius I copied the address from the QFC website. Doh! By doing so I erased my original review which I had copied to paste into my new review!! So I guess you guys are fucked.
Postscript: My soon-to-be-wife managed to salvage the original review by repeatedly pushing the 'Back' button. Here it is in all its glory:
I really like this grocery store. They have a great selection, the aisles are well-organized, and they have an awesome wine selection!! The lady in charge of the wine is named Patty. She's super nice and will find wine for you in any price range. I can't place my finger on it. This store seems to genuinely care about its customers and about this neighborhood. And I just don't get that feeling at any other stores.
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I can't believe I only recently discovered this place. I' ve always had back luck at QFCs, so I wasn't particularly interested in going in, but my friend wanted some Starbucks and there just happens to be one inside.
After grabbing coffee, I wandered over to the rest of the store and was amazed that they had such a huge selection of the things I used to buy at Larry's Oak Tree. They have all my expensive organic frozen meals for lunch at work and the crazy $3 fruit drinks I like to try. Their wine selection is indeed impressive. And if you ever need to pick up flowers for someone, they have tons to choose from.
This is my new stop to pick stuff up for lunch. I went here on a Sunday afternoon to get my dinner groceries and wasn't as impressed. Their organic produce section is really small.
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This place is a block away from me so I go here at least twice a week (usually more). They have a decent selection of organic products (which is my thing). The staff is pretty friendly. Open 24/7. Nice to have around.
It has all the grocery store standards and then some: pharmacy, deli, self-check out, flowers, cards, beer/wine (great wine selection), a PANDA EXPRESS restaurant, and a Star Bucks Coffee a-joined.
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I live right down the road from the Holman QFC, so it's fabulous for late-night ice cream and cookie cravings (dear sweet heaven, they have the BEST baked goods) and forgotten dinner ingredients. And the Post Office is convenient. And it has that cool spinning globe outside.
But that's about it.
QFCs are generally way too overpriced for me. Safeway has much better deals and a better selection. But beyond the whole price thing, the Holman QFC has been royally pissing me off.
- They constantly block the bike racks with their stupid ugly patio furniture that nobody is ever going to buy, despite my requests to move it so I can park my dang bike. Who buys a patio set from the grocery store? Let's see...I need a dozen eggs (check), a gallon of milk (check), and a lounge chair with ugly mesh cushions (and check).
- I've had two bad experiences with Naked Juices and Odwalla Juices there. First time my juice was downright fermented. They kindly refunded me and apologized. Second time I didn't notice anything strange, drank my juice, and wound up really really sick for the day. Something's up, and I'm boycotting.
- The speedy self-checkouts are closed in the morning, and usually only one lane is open. This sucks when I'm trying to catch my bus at 7:00 and the sole checkout has a long line because some weird old person is doing three weeks worth of shopping at the ass crack of dawn. I just want my sandwich.
- They close off the side exit by Starbucks in the AM as well, which is just inconvenient.
QFC, I want to love you more, but if your juices continue to make me ill and your general morning inconveniences continue to anger me, I'm going to have to call it quits.
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QFC's Bakery become my favorite must check item in that particular store now. I've tried many different types of in-store bake cookies and their "Cranberry Orange cookie" is one thing I can hardly leave the store without. And you got to check out the bakery displace in the bakery department, yesterday when I walked by (again), the beautiful christmas tree cake definitely can 'wow' your guest!!
I live right behind this QFC, which makes it super-convenient for late-night runs (actually, I walk) for things like milk, toilet paper, mindless magazines, and Mint-Chocolate Newman-O's. I don't normally like chain, mainstream grocery stores, but the Holman Road QFC has all the stuff you usually find at the big stores, but they also have made a real effort to carry organic products and high-quality foodstuffs. You will pay a small premium for most of these items, but if you count the time saved by not having to drive to PCC or Whole Foods, it evens out.
The other thing about this store is the WINE SELECTION. I would wager that this QFC has one of the best-stocked wine sections in Seattle. They also have a special "cellar" with high-end wines, and a full-time wine steward who is just as happy to recommend a $10 bottle as she is to offer a $50 bottle.
The staff at this store are by and large friendly, personable, and most of them have been there for a long time. They know my husband and me, and I think quite a few of them live in the neighborhood. I don't love the piped-in soft hits music at this store, but it certainly feels a lot better and has a lot more perks than shopping at a Safeway, Albertsons, or any other grocery chain.
I'm glad that I was able to help Erik T out with his first review of this place. All the reviews of this particular QFC are spot on. The wine selection is awesome and Patty is super friendly and always says hi. If you enjoy wine, be sure to introduce yourself to her, she knows her stuff. She's not pretentious, she's just a cool, regular lady who knows a lot about wine and enjoys wine and helping people find wine they will enjoy.
I'd say this is a medium sized grocery store, not super tiny and not gigantic, but just right. I usually find everything I'm looking for, but usually after missing where something is the first time. That pretty much happens to me at every grocery store though. Seriously though, this QFC is one-stop shopping for me. I can go pick up my prescriptions at the pharmacy, I can rent a video, I can send off a package at the post office counter, buy stamps, buy concert tickets at the Ticketmaster counter (same as video and post office, check hours for each service), get coffee at the in-store Starbucks, and if I was in the mood for gross fast-food Chinese food, I could pick up dinner at Panda Express. If I'm looking for something fast, I'm more likely to pick up some sushi from the sushi kiosk at the front of the store or some sandwiches in the deli. The roasted chicken in the deli is also good for a quick dinner, and quite tasty. Speaking of the deli, this QFC features my favorite deli meat of all time, Boar's Head. Why buy the pre-packaged prosciutto for $5.00 when you can get FRESH prosciutto cut to your specifications in the deli for about the same price, sometimes less? AND-sometimes they offer you a sample, hehehe. As mentioned in another review, this location does have some self-checkout lines, but I try to avoid those. Not because they are difficult like at other places, just because it's easier for ME to have someone else to do my check-out and conversing with other people is nice too. As mentioned in a previous review, the parking lot is kinda weird, but I live so close, I usually walk here. The only time I'm driving is if I have a lot of shopping to do, or I'm stopping by before I come home from where ever I've been. The chirping bird thing is super annoying. I thought that was exclusive to the IKEA parking lot, so I was really irritated when they put the automated chirping in this past summer here at my favorite grocery store. So, if you're ever in my neighborhood and find yourself needing to visit a grocery store, I'd suggest stopping by the Crown Hill QFC.
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This grocery store has an exceptional wine selection. Great obscure CA wines I wouldn't even be able to find in a very good wine shop in CA, and of course not to mention the NW wines. I was suitably impressed without even getting to go in the cellar or speak with Patty, since I went late at night, and the cellar was locked. Lucky Ballard people! I wish this were my local grocery store. My wine shop would lose a lot of business!
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This is our neighborhood store, and I like it for its Post Office/Ticketmaster abilities as much as anything else. They do have self-checkout on the south side but the checkers are always so friendly that I've yet to use it (and we do BIG shopping here while I find self-checkout better for just a few items). As mentioned, the wine selection is good, I can pop into Starbucks (b/c relatives keep giving me gift cards), and we've even picked up dinner from the Chinese Panda place inside. My only weensy complaint is about the parking lot which is manageable on the north side but confusing on the south. Also, they have this electronic bird sound to keep the birds away that can be very annoying. But all in all, we're thrilled to be able to call this "our" QFC.
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I liked it better when it was Art's. Now it's just an overly-large QFC like all the other QFCs.
There are a few good things: Large wine area, decent 'deli' (yay olive loaf!) and there's a nice Starbucks there. Apparently it's no longer cool to like Starbucks, but hell with all of you, I like 'em. Where else can I get a damn Frappucino that has as many calories as I'm supposed to consume in a whole day???
But I digress.
There's also ticket sales there and a semi-decent natural foods and bulk area.
The workers are so-so friendly, but they must be doing something right because a lot of them have been there for a LONG time. Including a chick I went to high school with; she's been there at least 15 friggin years.
Their produce looks good at first, and if something's on sale get it, but I have been reduced to fruitless cursing there more than once to find that they were charging so much for LETTUCE that I literally changed my menu on the spot. Okay, I'm kind of Scottish and cheap but overpriced lettuce pisses me OFF.
Does anyone one else here get really angry when you can't buy apples for less than $2./pound? Even though they grow here in this state???? That ticks me off.
Anyway, I guess QFC is pretty cool.
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It seems like Art's because most of the employees there used to work for Art's. Place is great but expensive. Having a QFC discount card is a must. Love the Post Office, and don't be dissing us Rug Doctor renters! That is a great service, you only complain if you don't clean your rugs! Hardwood floors people excepted. Metro passes sold there, too. QFC improved over Art's with better customer service and express check out. Incredibly, Art's did not have an express line all the time. Once I had to stand behind a woman with two full carts when I had 6 items. So QFC made some things better. I like the Starbucks attached to the store. I like the deli even though it is a Ballard style deli, not an east coast style deli (which are better). The wine selections here are as good as anywhere. Up there with the Central Market, which I actually like better than this store. For organics and seafood, the Central Market rules.
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i'm basically in agreement with the previous review. i work at another qfc and we are all angry scumbags. everyone at the crown hill location is very helpful, and its an organized store. great wine selection, and it is always nice and quiet in there. i can shop in peace.
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