- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
South Square Market
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
17 reviews for South Square Market
Expensive? Compared to what you might pay at TJ's or Superfresh, yes. But when I come home from a holiday weekend away and need milk, OJ, bread, and bananas, or, two days after coming home and when I want pizza and we're out of cheese, this is where I go, because it's just not worth my time or effort to go any further. Super convenient location.
I haven't had any specific problems with outdated food but, as anywhere, make sure you look/feel before you buy. I'm always surprised when I pop in for one specific item and they have it--the selection is pretty impressive considering the store isn't huge. Sometimes the layout of items is perplexing, e.g., peanuts in three different locations (one with baking, one with candy, and one with ice cream toppings or somesuch). And the rotisserie chickens, although about $3-4 more expensive than elsewhere, are still pretty good in a pinch.
I can't remember the last time I had to wait at the checkout area---there's really never a line, as they have plenty of staff on hand to help.
Overall, I don't do a ton of shopping here but I'm always happy to have it around when I need it.
Disappointing but super convenient.
Having moved to the neighborhood I can't deny that I am thankful to have a local grocery store that doesn't have a ridiculously limited selection or prices I would have to sell a limb for. Don't get me wrong, the prices are still higher than your average grocery store, just not your average Rittenhouse Square area grocery store. I appreciate the largish options and the fresh produce available so close, but have to admit that I try to avoid this store for any real grocery shopping. So while it is useful for a few missing items, you may have problems building an entire meal - particularly if you plan on having any protein.
Someone once told me that they spray their proteins with something to keep them pink or fresh looking in the store. I have no idea if that is true so please do not put any stock in it aside from the implication that I am not the only one who is seriously creeped out by their meats. I have always avoided the chicken options as they are obviously scary when you immediately see them. The beef options though are delayed scary. You buy it, bring it home and within a few hours the meat is a strange grayish brown color.
In the end, "yay" for a close grocery option, "boo" for almost poisoning me with your proteins!
I'm a fan because I had my first ever TastyKake from here. A KandyKake to be precise. And I loved it. I loved it so much that I went straight back in and bought a box of 12. And it was 8.30 am.
This market has most things you would want. It's conveniently located at the end of South Street near the residential areas of 21st to 24th streets. One added extra which I loved was the rainforest sound which plays when the water jets come on to water the fresh fruit and vegetables. Priceless.
This store could be such a great cornerstone of the neighborhood, but it's just okay. I never really spend more than about $10 at the store because I will only get essentials. Even then, there is always better milk prices at the 7-11.
I'd give it two stars, BUT, they do have some of amazing sandwiches at the deli counter. I just wish they would think seriously about the opportunities there.
I can't really say too many positive things about South Square Market. I could deal with the higher prices if I was able to find the things I want, but I can rarely complete my grocery list. Also, the produce also leaves a lot to be desired. On a good note, the cashiers are really friendly.
Honestly, I would probably give South Square Market 1 star, but I am a sucker for the produce refresher. I get a big smile whenever I'm walking down the produce aisle and see the sprinklers spraying water over the produce as a stereo plays "I'm Singing in the Rain." I mean, c'mon, that is pretty priceless.
Unfortunately this is the closest grocery store to where I live, ugh. The prices are high, the produce is often rotten right there on the shelves (it makes me laugh when a sign specifically says "fresh" yet the fruit is moldy and shriveled), and their "international" food section leaves a lot to be desired. The staff is very friendly, however, and it's not usually overly crowded.
Bottom line, it'll do in a pinch but for normal shopping, I'd skip it.
Just got back from the store as I needed some quick things and didn't feel like going to acme.
A loaf a bread, a jar of peanut butter, a pint of milk and a squeeze thing of honey = 14 fucking dollars. No lie.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
10/24/2008
God is this place small and overpriced! It's not really a super market but it's a lot bigger than… Read more »
Convenient market. Offers 10% student discounts on Thurs with ID - including grad students!
This is not a Thriftway (well, it is but it isn't). So, don't expect good prices. But they have everything you need and nice deli sandwiches. I like this place. I know they will have everything for my kitchen.
The people here, especially security, are very nice. And they actually have pretty good produce. Not the best. But good.
Here's a tip: First go to Dollar General next door. They will have a third of your grocery list and for a third of the price.
Convenient for neighborhood folk that forgot something at the real store or need an ingredient fast. However this place is waaaay over priced.
Almost bought a red pepper here, but it rang up over $5, for one pepper. When I asked the clerk to take it off, the manager came over and gave me a lecture about how they only stock jumbo imported Mexican red peppers. (apparently the finest in the world) He went on for what seemed like forever, when I told him I had had enough red pepper knowledge, he rudely replied he was just trying to "educate" me. Thanks for the schooling.
Like Coco D, I have also bought moldy pita bread, but neglected to return it cause I did not feel like dealing with the manager.
I have lived around the corner for 3 years or so...like Eric said the sandwhiches are very good - extremely fresh and cheap - a footlong is like $6 - so big I usually have it for 2 meals.
As for everything else - insanely expensive. Literally across the street is the Dollar General with a lot of the same items for 2/3 the price. Dollar General carries the same brand of milk and its a few dollars less per gallon. Same with toilet paper, breads, chips, sodas and a ton of other stuff.
South Square is good for those things you might have forgotten to pick up at Trader Joe's.
Things worth noting:
1. they have sandwiches! tasty ones! yay. i'm so gonna keep getting up on it.
2. zomg, i murdered their lemon hummus from the rear endcap. just don't expect edible salsa or guacamole. edit: for those who are not into reading drunkspeak: i very much enjoyed their hummus, yet found their salsa and guacamole selection to be subpar.
3. i.....bought some whole wheat pitas. they.....were all moldy. i.....ate them anyway. my.....body hates me right now.
4. the employees here look super friendly!
I've lived near South Square for years.
Great deal: SANDWICHES. They are big, good quality, and around $5.
Good deal: Whole Chickens. Priced competitively, taste good.
Bad deal: Produce, and almost everything else. The prices are like 40% higher than other places in the city. Sometimes I see people doing actual grocery shopping in this place, and I can't even imagine spending that kind of money when there are so many other places you could go.
It's open late, and good for last-minute things you forgot you needed for dinner.
Buy a bag of 25 cent pretzels, and get Cash Back, it's like a free ATM.
Wah wah wah. It's a privately owned store so I'm not surprised it's a bit over priced. If you want to support corporate business, go down the street to Pathmark. Otherwise, if you go during weeks that they have sales, you can get some good stuff for a pretty decent price. They do have great sandwiches and soups. And if you are lucky and go there before they close, you can get reduced price meat (usually just the ground beef) and reduced metropolitan bread or their other bagels and stuff. They also sell their bananas for realllllll cheap if they are a bit spotty.
Given an option, I'd go somewhere else -- even if it means a bit more. I love Max's for produce (across from Audrey Claire), and Food & Friends market for other snacks and groceries. They do have a good selection of things, including some DiBruno's cheeses. The staff is generally pretty un-helpful, and their product selection is really spotty.
Five words to desribe this Fitler Square / SOSO / Rittenhouse West local (not so super) market. Expensive. Convenient. Local. Normal. Eclectic. For those that don't got to Cherry Hill for shopping (and need something other than fresh produce to be purchased as Max's, Sue's, or Gin's), this not-so-large market is way bigger than a Wawa, but a far cry from a supermarket.
Normal, convenient, local and expensive. Yeah, South Square has most of the normal items you may need in order to make some grub, but the prices are pretty high (I guess not as expensive as owning a car and driving to the 'burbs for groceries).
Eclectic. You can find all kinds of soy products and vegetarian items. You can find an entire ailse of paper products, but the paper/plastic plates, cups, and cutlery are on a different ailse. BTW, you can find "fancy" plastic forks, spooks, and knives for those dinners that you may dread clean-up (read: have kids and are wiped out after hosting a party).
If you want nice reasonably priced food, and have access to a car, go to Wegmans in Cherry Hill, Shoprite in Cherry Hill, or some other 'burb-like supermaret. If you need something quick, run over to South Square - just be prepared to pay the price for that convenience.
The only good aspect to this place is that it fulfills a neighborhood need for a grocery store close by. That being said, the management should be ashamed about their produce. They are selling the most expensive rotten produce on earth. I am consistently amazed by this. It is nearly impossible to find an onion that isn't rotten, for example. They sell moldy bread items as well. Skip this place and go to Sue's for produce. Other items in the store are also outrageously expensive. It's crazy to buy overpriced staples here when you can hit up the Dollar General right across the street. Why pay $5 for a box of cereal when you can get it across the street for half that? I recommend this place only for items you can't get at Dollar General, Trader Joes, or Sues.