Stop & Shop — Local services in Boston

I was comforted [in a strange sort of way] to read these reviews and realize I had lots of company with some of my concerns about this store. Where do I start! I suppose with the parking because that's the first encounter. the street leading up to the garage is not meant for parking but people often park of BOTH sides leaving one lane for two-way traffic. then there's the complicated ticketing process. I'm too short to reach the machine so have to stop the car, put it in park, open the door and stretch to reach. By then there are often several cars behind me annoyed because I have to do this. once inside the garage, the signage is pitiful. The first time I went, I couldn't find the S&S entrance. The park and exit signs are challenging too. Some of them have makeshift papers covering them saying exit or park and some of these are falling off so they can't be read. when at the checkout the people at the register NEVER ask if you have a parking ticket to validate. The least Stop & Shop managers can do is train your employees to ask about this. As I was exiting today, a bewildered gentleman who what there for the first time didn't know about the ticketing validation. A nice woman in a car behind me went into the store and had them validate his ticket. By the time he exited, there were about 5 cars behind me some yelling at the lady for her kindness. Another time the machine wouldn't work. I called inside the store and they told me there was an attendant there. There wasn't...there never has been except for the first two weeks. I go to Trader Joes where there's an underground garage and they ALWAYS ask if you need your parking validated. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE start doing this and reinstall the attendant who is supposedly there at all hours. --

And then I want to agree with the people who commented on the more "vintage" workers being so helpful while others not so much. One exception is a lovely young woman who always wears a mask and often seems to be in the front. She was at S&S when it was on the other side of Guest Street as well. She, along with others who survived the transition across the street. Others not so much. One day I had a checkout person who didn't know what bananas, red potatoes, or limes were [he thought the latter were avocados. Another customer finally went to the register and pushed the proper buttons for these items so they could be rung up.

Then there's the signage around the store. Some crackers are near the deli section. But others are in the cookie aisle with no signage saying there are crackers there. I've finally gone there enough to figure out that one. Cheese is in three different places which was confusing at first. Deli meat and processed meat are in totally different areas of the store and ice cream is displayed according to the size of the box rather than the brand. For example, Hagan Daas is in about 3 different places.

The final piece of confusing signage which I solved by not purchasing anything in that section is that Starbucks is not Starbucks. You can't use your Starbucks gift cards at Starbucks. This is not true of the Starbucks in the...

Let’s start ….

I was excited to have a grocery store within walking distance. Initially, the large, well-lit store seemed promising, but after shopping here a handful of times, it really leaves much to be desired.

As someone who loves to cook and spends hours in the kitchen perfecting dishes with the right ingredients, I had high hopes for this new Stop & Shop. I expected to find everything I needed and discover new items. Unfortunately, I was sorely disappointed.

First off, there is no meat department whatsoever. No butcher, no dedicated area for fresh cuts. I enjoy visiting a butcher to select cuts, talk to the staff about what’s fresh, and occasionally buy aged meat. Here, everything is pre-packaged and stored in a freezer at the back. It’s a huge letdown.

The produce section is equally unimpressive. It offers only the most basic fruits and vegetables. There’s nothing unique or exciting, and they don’t even have a dedicated mushroom section. It’s very standard and lacks variety.

If you prefer pre-packaged meals and don’t enjoy cooking from scratch, this store might suit you. It’s reminiscent of the Disney movie Wall-E, where everyone rides around in carts, sipping cola, consuming frozen dinners, and becoming overweight. This store caters to that lifestyle and seems to encourage it.

The cheese section is another disappointment. It features only the most basic brands with unremarkable cheese selections. There’s nothing unique or inspiring here.

In a rapidly developing area with new construction, this store had the potential to be a strong competitor to Whole Foods. Instead, they chose to create a cookie-cutter store that appeals to the mass market. It’s essentially the same old Stop & Shop with a slightly updated look and higher prices.

I still find myself going to Costco for bulk items like meats and home goods and to Whole Foods for top-quality produce, meats, and specialty cheeses.

Honestly, I would rather shop at Star Market than come here. Yes, it’s new, but you’re not missing out on...

Okay, the place is brand new, VERY CLEAN, and big, which was awesome. But parking garage can be difficult to find because the initial direction from the main road says "Truck loading/Stop & Shop parking/Residential Parking". The proper entrance is where you have to get a parking ticket. It's just confusing and not easy to find if it's your first time. The proper entrance is a lot inner/you have to drive more into the small road. And you get the ticket validated at Stop & Shop which is on the second floor and there is a machine for parking validation, up to 90 minutes.

To make most out of the shopping experience, I would recommend you download the app and make an account to get deals and clip coupon. Note, however, that the deals don't always get applied automatically and you may have to ask for help several times. Sometimes, I was told, the deals get applied right at the end of the check out. Annoying. Also, you get "original price" and then "discount" as a 2 line for each item, instead of just the final/sale price. I personally found it more cumbersome to interpret and created extra clutter. Some customer support staff were nice but some were visibly annoyed with me asking for help or for clarifications. Did not enjoy my experience. Oh, and "$5 off when you spend more than $15" only applies to DELI. It does say it there but not as apparent, and when I asked I was apparently the 5th customer to ask the same question. I mean, why make things so confusing - I find that Stop & Shop forces you put in additional (and quite unnecessary) mental work in order to use the app functionality (for pick ups or deliveries; the fees are not apparent and only appear after you do a trial run) or take advantage of the deals.

The items themselves were pretty good (so giving 3/5 instead of 2/5 stars), and a lot of products in one place. Almost has a Walmart feel. But I'm not a fan of their app or the system or the...