Family Farm & Home — Attraction in West Chicago Township

I generally don’t leave reviews but my experience with H-Mart at 711 W Jackson Blvd in Chicago has motivated me to leave one today. What should have been a typical trip to the store soon became an instance of racial profiling, as my family and I – the only Black family in the store – were constantly followed down every aisle. Regardless of where we were in the store, there was the same plain clothed ‘security person’ lurking and watching us. Neither my husband, daughter nor I were doing anything ‘suspicious’ or even remotely related to criminal activity; there was no cause for anyone to watch us shop. When I spoke to the manager about this blatant disrespect, I was dismissed with a simple statement of “she was just doing her job”. To add further insult to injury, the same stalker/security officer who followed me and my family around the store approached us as we were leaving, with what I will describe as one the weakest excuses for poor behavior that I’ve ever heard. She comfortably disclosed that “the store has been experiencing liquor theft” and used that as justification to follow us because “my husband’s coat looked puffy”. I may have been willing to reasonably speak about this shameless stereotyping if it were not the middle of January; puffy coats are popular because they provide more than adequate protection against the cold of winter, as was evidenced by the high number of other patrons in the store wearing puffy coats – none of whom were Black and none of whom were followed through the store. I  can’t say what makes this experience worse for me. Is it the idea of my family being racially profiled by someone from an ethnic group that, in recent times, have been singled out, harassed and physically harmed (or worse) for simply existing; someone that I would expect to be sympathetic to the plight of being systemically deemed to be ‘less than’? Or is it the fact that the person who did it was so grounded in the false narrative crafted around people who look like me and my family that she is completely comfortable with not only doing it, but offering up the lamest, most unoriginal logic with the expectation that this would somehow make it all make sense? I understand how business and commerce works – my honest review of my experience in this store may not result in anything. It might not change the staff’s views of certain types of people and it might not change the amount of business the store receives. I would hope that store manager(s) and/or owner(s) will read this – as well as all of the other negative reviews – learn from it and do better. The one thing that will change is where I do business … it WILL...

So, generally whenever I’ve come here it’s a fine experience. They have a very large variety of produce and meats that I don’t get elsewhere and the quality of their food is pretty great. Lots of amazing imported foods to try- and I get a lot of my fresh ramen and yakisoba packs here for easy meals during the week.

But I have to say, I did have just about the WORST grocery check out experience I have ever had anywhere, here. I didn’t have any reusable bags with me, but in the past when I didn’t I never had a problem being asked or having them add them on. Anyway, when all my items had been scanned and I paid I started bagging my own items using the plastic bags. The employee patiently watched me bag all of my items, and right after when I finished she grabbed the bags from me, turned them upside down and dumped everything out and said in a rude tone “you have to pay for those”. I was pretty shocked in the moment, and then I thought, well maybe there was a miscommunication?? So I said oh no, sorry can I pay for them then? She IGNORED ME and started checking out the person directly behind me. After a few seconds she turned back to me saying “can I help you?” I decided against interacting with her at all after that because I was SO upset, and just ended up CARRYING all of my items cradled in my arms and hands (about 2 bags worth of items) to my car so I could get out of there ASAP. I stayed pretty mad all day about it to be honest.

That being said, everyone else I have interacted with at Hmart before that incident has been lovely and people are generally pretty helpful and friendly there. I enjoy their food court and they have a variety of yummy options. While everything at hmart is a little pricey overall, I love coming here for the special imported treats and foods I enjoy throughout the week.

Thank you to everyone else who is very friendly at hmart, but I’m leaving 2 stars for now because that experience...

It seems as though my review may have been deleted and I will make this review again. I brought my partner who is a darker tone black woman for groceries. I should also mention I am of Asian descent. I wanted to do a little grocery shopping with my partner and to introduce her into foods I grew up with. We saw seaweed for around maybe 15 or 20 bucks. As we continued walking I saw cheaper seaweed and asked her if she could put the original seaweed we got back. We separated, as she was walking to put the seaweed back, she was chased down by security and as she placed it down she turned around and told the security that she was just putting it back. The security just told her that they always have to chase down people and turned around and went to talk to an older Asian employee and told them that she was just putting it away. I put things away all the time and I've never been chased down in the store. This is disappointing that this has occurred and that my previous review was deleted and not addressed. Originally I put 2 stars, but now I am at 1 stars. What's disappointing that there was no apology just a poor excuse. Sadly, she does not feel comfortable anymore leaving my side in Asian stores, out of fear of being discriminated. I'm just glad it didn't go...