Junction QFC vs Jefferson Safeway

[johnnyblegs]

Just wondering where my fellow West Seattleites sit with the new addition to the Junction. How has their experience been? Have you ventured into the Safeway as of late? I for one have not been back to the Safeway since the QFC has opened. I went into Bartell’s on Sunday and noticed the semi-empty parking lot. How are they doing with the new competition?

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I’ve been pleasantly content with the QFC. It has it’s weird quirks…How do the checkers cope with unloading carts and not having a place to put them? Cramped front of the store. Narrow entrances. I HATE the self-check. I pay for customer service and I expect to get it in the store and in the check-out line…But I’ve been happy with the product selection and will continue to go back again and again. Great looking produce & meat. Fantastic deli & beer selection. Not cheap prices like Safeway, but not as expensive as Thriftway & Met Market.

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Thank you QFC! Sorry Safeway. You served me for a few years but now I will have to break up with you. I found a new Junction love.

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[Jerald]

I tried QFC today and used the 42nd Ave. parking floor. What a nightmare. Made the Jefferson Sq. lot seem like fun. Don’t think I’ll go there often, too difficult with my minivan.

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[add]

I was there on Saturday – parked in the lot from the 41st entrance but it was OK even with my wide car (I got a spot near the elevator and it wasn’t too crowded).

I found the store a little claustrophobic but the staff was friendly and helpful. Maybe a little too much – a fellow shopper near the olive bar remarked that maybe there was a commission offered because 2-3 clerks kind of swarmed around us extolling the virtues of a certain type of olive. And, the milk/dairy section is really hidden away – I was about to check out when I realized I forgot to get milk!

Overall, I would probably choose this place over the Jefferson Square Safeway – but I still think Safeway has the best prices for staples, so I guess it depends on what I’m shopping for.

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[swimcat]

I haven’t been to the Safeway since QFC opened. But now that the parking lot is supposedly half empty there I will think about going there if I need a few last minute items for dinner.

I like the new QFC, but they need to turn up the heat/turn down the A/C!!! It is like a meat locker in that store. They could save thousands of dollars a month if they get that thermostat under control.

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[JenV]

keep in mind that the 41st street entrance will not be usable after the apartments upstairs are finished…that is what a QFC employee told me. So it’s the 42nd entrance or nothing in the long run.

That being said, I had to go to Bartells last week – it was the first time in maybe 6 months since I had been in that parking lot at Jefferson Square..what a nightmare. Almost got backed into by a taxi who started to go the wrong way down the aisle, then nearly got hit head on by someone else going the wrong way.

there’s a word I am thinking of here…starts with CLUSTER and ends with something that rhymes with DUCK.

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[JoB]

The new QFC reminds me of the markets on Madison that are geared towards shoppers who are on foot.

If you bus from downtown it is well placed to jump off.. do some quick shopping and catch the next bus.

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[austin]

I’ve found myself walking past QFC to go to safeway for certain things, but QFC’s alright. They have a much better produce section than safeway. It’s too bad there isn’t one great grocery store so we wouldn’t have to choose from the five (!) in the walk between morgan and admiral. Or, that there isn’t a week-round farmers market so we could just avoid the behemoths entirely.

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[mannamc]

I try to do Amazon Fresh/farmers market for anything I possibly can so I don’t have to deal with either of them. But when I absolutely have to, I’m still choosing QFC over Safeway. I love self checkout, so points for QFC there. Both parking lots are bad but the Safeway one is worse, IMO. I have a little car though – I can’t imagine trying to get around that QFC lot in an SUV or minivan.

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[KBear]

Self checkout was great when it was new and most people were unaware or afraid of it. Now that the masses have discovered it, it can be a disaster. Always seem to be 3 people in front of me who just can’t figure it out, while the 4th machine is out of order.

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[Escondido]

I really like the new store. I find the parking off 42nd quick and easy, and quite a bit easier than Jefferson Square. When the rains come, the covered parking will be very nice. I cannot buy everything there due to price, but I find the produce much, much fresher than Safeway’s produce and the same goes for the meat. I hope that they will continue the specials because it certainly gets me to go there. Some of them have been incredible.

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[rockhills]

QFC has been my fourth pick, after Trader Joe’s, Safeway, and Albertsons for three years, because of the high prices. Having one across the street from Safeway won’t change that. I do go to the Westwood QFC when I’m looking for something the others don’t carry, or feeling lazy enough that the convenience outweighs the 30% price hike on my staples. I haven’t been to the Junction QFC yet, because I’m really annoyed they came in instead of TJs! I’ll have to do at least a walk-though soon, though…

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[JoB]

if it’s a choice between the two junction markets.. i choose QFC.

but if i am going to be in the car, there are so many other good options.. such as the roxbury safeway… though i am less likely to shop there since they terminated their gas program.

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[Schmitz Park Dad]

I do not find the parking any worse that that of the Jefferson Square Safeway. The new QFC overall is much more pleasant for us. We have found some great deals in the weekly flyer, including 2 for 1 Starbucks coupons every week. We’ve also been give $5 coupons for out next purchase of $25 each week. I do not think our family will ever visit the Jefferson Square Safeway again. In the past, we have driven well out of our way to shop at the Admiral Safeway specifically to avoid the parking nightmare at Jefferson Square.

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[charlabob]

Finally went to the new QFC (hint: 3:30 on a weekday afternoon is a great time to avoid parking and other hassles.) Final analysis: They’re a QFC. Newer, shinier–but, nonetheless, a QFC. Which is a Kroger store on steroids.

I did get fresh(er) fruit — peaches and oranges and cantaloupe — that were wonderful. Since it’s past the season, I was very pleasantly surprised. (Bought some raspberries and strawberries at PCC the day before and they were definitely at the end of season.)

Staff at QFC needs a bit more training in their products, but they’re definitely friendly and enthusiastic.

I didn’t find anything objectionable or anything I’d go out of my way for.

Curmudgeonly request: If you want to go and roam the aisles and get acquainted, go at non-peak hours and don’t just plant your cart and your butt in front of people who might actually want to move. And, for the goddesses’ sake, don’t snarl at some innocent person (me) who politely asks if she can get by. It’s not a food museum — it’s a food STORE. :-)

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[beachdrivegirl]

I have gone twice to QFC. Once on a Saturday @ 4pm. And once afterwork @ 6:30pm. I have not had an issue with parking and I even have an SUV. Overall, I have been very happy with their organic section in the fruit & veggie area but wish they had a larger section of organic meats. I defin. perfer the QFC over the Safeway @ Jefferson Square. And yes, Charlabob is right about the store being a store and not a food museum. I dont have hours to waste at the grocery store so be considerate to everyone around you.

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[JoB]

ladies.. the only way to read the d…d labels is to park your behind in the aisle… i always pull over to the side to leave room to go around me…but there is still almost always someone who thinks i should move to accommodate them.

If companies would stop changing ingredients without notice and would be more honest about that word natural on their labels, i would do a lot less reading in the grocery.

that said.. i always shop off hours.

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[charlabob]

Believe me, JoB I’m not talking about required label reading. Given my new glasses, I’m the last to talk about that. I’m talking, for lack of a better description, about gaggles of people who think they’re in a museum. Most of the time their behavior would be rude IN a museum. :-)

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