Skokie International Market (Asian Grocery Store) — Attraction in Niles Township

I was excited to finally check out their market and walked in Monday 7/8/24. Unfortunately I had a very sad experience shopping. And I mean all this as constructive criticism because I thought this place could be a real nice addition to the area, but there was a lot off here when I visited as a first timer.

Empty shelves. I don’t know if it was an off day but the produce section was stocked pretty thin. Not a lot of assortment of vegetables. Primarily only Chinese broccoli, bok choy - as though it were due for a restock. Nothing like it was in some of the other reviewer pictures.

Also there were shelves all around the store with lots of product gaps. Very little meat left in the meat section.And there was only 1 person working the cashier; she was the only employee in the entire store!

A second thing, the whole store seems a bit haphazardly put together. The items lining the window when you walk in are a bit random. Then there’s a random section lined with different international Lays potato chips to your left, mixed in with sparse baked goods. The shelves on the west side of the store are a random assortment of chips, candy and snacks and then beauty goods from all different countries. none of it seemed intentional. I was seeing an assortment of fresh packaged noodles sitting right above the raw poultry and offal section.

I think what bothered me the most as I was walking through was the isles didn’t seem to make sense to me. I was shopping to buy dinner ingredients but I couldn’t tell where I was supposed to go. Also no fresh fish - only frozen.

The constructive criticism part… Stock up. Or maybe compress the sections of shelves so the emptiness isn’t so blatant? Similarly, work on the assortment and intentional stocking. For the most part things like veggies, meats, dry instant noodles, sauces were in consolidated areas, but there is something that can be changed. Could use much better signing and organization. Shoppers need some guidance. Maybe within categories all the items are at least grouped by region so it’s intuitive for people who are looking for the specific regional things. Put signs in the frozen area too. There were items that seemed so randomly placed as tho it was an afterthought. … but if nothing else, some better signs. Take a hard look at the planograms and floor plan. Some things are off. There are snacks almost randomly everywhere. It would be good to keep them all in one very clear section - again maybe sorted by region. But I found them in some of the most random places of the store, sometimes isles away from each other. Also do a walk through. My walk through the store seemed awkward for reasons I can’t put my finger on, but I don’t get the same awkward confusion from the other “Produce Markets” in Skokie. I don’t know if the stores “identity” is right. It’s somewhere between modern grocery with the new signage outside, mixed with an Asian market the likes you’d see in Argyle. You can see the generic brown Chinese wholesale boxes stacked underneath product and random veggies in a cardboard box lined with plastic in the middle of an isle. I honestly thought it was gonna skew more modern and clean and tidy, almost “westernized” but with many international highlights, but it was not that. Also for an international market there was a lot of Asian food, over indexing on Chinese foods/brands and maybe Japanese type snacks. I expected more Mexican, other European countries, more Indo/Pak and so forth to be included. Maybe we need an Asian grocery store, but then I’d rather this place just own that title and ride with it.

I don’t know what it is, but I suggest the owners get more insight about how they plan the layout and how they choose to present the assortment to customers. For me it didn’t work and I’m certain there are lots of others who may agree. Look and learn from the H-Marts if you’re going the Asian food angle, or the Produce Market on Oakton to get ideas. I don’t see this market succeeding if it stays the way I...

Skokie International Market is a culinary treasure trove! This place is a food lover's dream come true. From the moment you step inside, you're transported to a world of diverse flavors and ingredients.

The variety of international products they offer is simply astonishing. Whether you're searching for exotic spices, fresh produce, unique snacks, or specialty ingredients from around the world, Skokie International Market has you covered.

What truly sets this market apart is the knowledgeable and friendly staff. They're always ready to assist, offer recommendations, and share their expertise on different cuisines. It's like having a personal food guide while you shop!

And let's not forget about the prepared foods section. The ready-to-eat options are a delicious adventure in themselves. Whether you're craving sushi, Middle Eastern dishes, or something else entirely, you'll find it here, and it's always top-notch.

Skokie International Market is a culinary gem that adds a world of flavor to our local community. I can't recommend it enough, and it absolutely deserves every one of...

Well stocked Asian grocer that's a great addition to the neighborhood!

Much bigger and cleaner than Richwell nearby, smaller than Park to Shop and H-Mart, but more than adequate for daily needs, with specialty vegetables, meats, pantry items, frozen desserts, snacks, and Chinese bakery items on weekends. Their baked goods are usually in stock until evening due to low foot traffic.

Unfortunately they no longer sell live seafood and never offered Chinese BBQ, so we still have to visit Richwell or Park to Shop.

Sadly their Asian beauty section has shrunk from when they first opened months ago and they sold Japanese sunscreens like Biore and Hatomugi toner. Those days are no more, but they still sell the popular Fino and Tsubaki hair masks and hair care. They also have a handful of Sanrio items!

Check out is usually fast as the store is...