New Mart / Fresh Korean produce and groceries — Attraction in New York

I rarely write reviews, but this is a caution for non-Korean or not-passing-for-Asian customers. This was my first visit to New Mart as my usual Trader Joe's and H-Mart were out of the way. I came in to buy a variety of fruits for traditional New Year's luck (Filipino and Hispanic customs). I ended up purchasing $70 worth of fruits. I noticed the Korean customers ahead of me were all treated kindly and the cashier bagged their items. I thought I'd receive the same service, but on the contrary the cashier did not even offer me a paper bag or a bag for purchase to hold all my fruits. I asked if I could buy the big, yellow bag. He laid it on top of my items, he waited for my credit card to process, printed out the receipt and left the receipt on the purveyor belt - did not even hand me my receipt before walking away from the register. I bagged all my items and left. Mind you- I purchased a small crate of clementines, a package of Korean pears, grapes, apples, kiwis, persimmons, etc.- $70 worth. How is it that the Korean customer in front of me who bought less than 5 items was able to get his purchase bagged, while I had a whole purveyor belt of fruits and could not get half of the same courtesy? I don't really mind bagging my own things, but the stark difference in customer service was very obvious. I like to give people benefit of the doubt...maybe the cashier had to rush to the bathroom, maybe it was just this particular cashier, maybe language barrier. But common courtesy and good customer service go beyond language/cultural differences. This small, cluttered grocery is convenient if you're in a hurry and in the area, but expect to be snubbed if you...

This is the most disgusting grocery/supermarket that I have ever seen. Their dumpsters outside in the rear parking lot are always overflowing with garbage, it STINKS and REEKS outside every morning. I get out ever single day to get a bagel from Slim's Bagels next door to them, and I literally can't get out of the car because it smells so bad. The parking lot is full of disgusting cloudy and oily water that first of all is completely disgusting to step in when you get out of your car and secondly, it is a hazard because it is slippery since it is a water/oil mixture that is running throughout the parking lot and becomes slippery. I go next door to purchase breakfast everyday, and as I come out, I loose my appetite when I smell the dumpsters and see the cloudy water on the floor. Honestly, I dont even want to put my feet in the car because it will bring the reek in mt car. Moreover, dont even think about trying to walk along the rear sidewalk as everyday, there is a mountain of empty boxes thrown all over the back, around the compactor awaiting someone to come clean them. The landlord is completely oblivious to this situation and the Department of health seriously needs to assess this situation. If this place is this dirty outside, imagine what's inside, better yet imagine what your eating!!!! In the attached photos you can see the employees emptying the grease trap sewer from their basement, into the parking lot drain, and then attempting to wash it away...

Produce and banchan here are top notch, compared to H Mart. The meat cuts are good with less fat and freshness. Everything seems fresh, maybe because the place is small and they have a high rate of rotation, and their section chiefs are dedicated towards quality. Yes, they are a little pricier, but I think it's worth it.

Their downside is lack of variety on things like sauce, ramyun, and snacks, but variety is not their mo bcause of their small size. If filling up a costco sized cart for your monthly stock is what you want this place is not for you. However, even if I lived closer to H Mart I would come here for their banchan and meat.

Edit: after a couple of years visiting this place, I must say that the lack of variety is not too noticable; they do have just the right amount of stuff and unless you want something really unique, which you probably won't find easily elsewhere anyways, you've got what...