Ideal Food Basket — Local services in Bethlehem

The southside needed a new grocery store! Ideal Basket was long overdue. Ahart's was disgusting and the health bureau should have shut them down many years ago. The city should be ashamed of themselves for allowing Ahart's to remain open thru the years. With that, the owners of Ideal Basket gutted/remodeled the building's interior. They also added a new parking lot. They offer many Hispanic/Caribbean foods and also non-Hispanic/Caribbean items.

The store is owned by the same owners as C-town on 3rd Street in Bethlehem. So it's kind of C-town however, much bigger with better parking. I visit for my meats and last minute items. I find their meats affordable and fresh. As for pricing on additional items, they are a little pricey. It is about supply and demand. I am sure if there was competition on southside with additional larger grocery stores, Ideal Basket would be more competitive in pricing. I like it's clean, they have the products, and you do not have to drive across town to grab last minute items.

As for customer service, most of their employees speak English as a second language however, everyone is friendly. I think the manager's name is Emilio and I always see him helping customers. I have also noticed more cashiers that do speak English fluently. The store seems to be trying to cater to everyone from Spanish speaking to non-Spanish...

The SouthSide would have no options and be a "food desert" if it wasnt for Ideal and CTown (the same company). These people work hard and for the most part are kind humans. Sure theres some bad eggs, this place has gotten a bit better with the rude customer service. But never the less, even despite that flaw - this place does good for its community. White people ("my kind" - though not really because I dont belong among Whites) dont take as much pride in their stores anymore. Hard working Spanish folks enrich The United States of America. The word "AMERICA" is SPANISH even.

Id like to take a moment to acknowledge the good people working at Ideal. They are apart of the community and its struggles and its strive to be better.

Francisco and Georgina are Numero Uno!!!! Make sure you say hi to them when you are here. They work hard and are incredibly sweet people whom I love.

Thank you to Ideal for the FREE DELIVERY and for being here. We will grow...

Somewhat an improvement over the old dirty store. Prices are outrageous! They are gouging the poor southside people who have no where else to go.They have items not priced. Items on shelves are not in the right place, the price label is not for that item. Look down 2 or 3 items to find correct price tag. Stock people apparently don't care. 2 items reasonably priced, 3 others I bought over-priced but I didn't have time to go to another store. I spent under 10 dollars. I would have bought a few more items but they were way over priced so I will get them next time I go to Price Rite or Giant. Sorry I...