The Common Market — Local services in Frederick

Wow! What RUDE employees they have hired for the new store!

I have been a member of Common Market for decades, since they were a tiny storefront. I was excited about the opening of the new 7th street store, which is closer to my home, but based on my first visit today, I won't be shopping here.

Most of my visit went ok, but when beginning the checkout process, I noticed that the checker did not greet me, or in any way acknowledge my presence. How odd. I wondered momentarily if she was a vegetarian and didn't like the meat in my basket.

When checking out, I tried to use the Thanksgiving special I was notified about by postcard. I never had to bring the postcards in at the other store. I was told explicitly that you don't need to and use of the specials and one-a-months is tied to your membership number.

I don't know if this store has a different policy, or the people who were checking me out didn't know their jobs, but they said I would need to come back with the actual postcard in order to get my discount.

When I stated that I had been explicitly told they didn't need the postcards by the other store, the girl checking me out (unfortunately I didn't get her name) just restated the price. I reiterated what I had said, and both her and the bagger (Kate) did not respond at all, nor even look at me.

Having not received any response, I said I guessed I would need to leave my groceries then, and Kate said, extremely rudely herself, that I "didn't need to be rude" and finally bothered telling me I could come back with the postcard (which was in the recycling bin!) and receipt, which she should have told me in the first place.

There were good things about this store, such as the expanded pet section and the polite and knowledgeable meat counter staff, but I am so angry at the way I was treated at checkout that until and unless I get assurances that staff will be trained better, I won't shop here again.

I cannot overstate what extremely poor, customer-unfriendly attitudes Kate and her associate had. Not worth it to face unpleasantness like that again. One may be a fluke, but two employees in one trip copping extreme attitudes implies to me that there is either a hiring problem and/or a training problem at this location. There is simply no excuse for being rude...

Edit: it’s been a month and I still catch myself thinking about this unfathomably disgusting pad Thai during quiet moments. It haunts me so.

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5 Stars bc staff and service is always excellent.

However, the “Pad Thai” they have in the To Go section intended for lunches is shockingly DISGUSTING. I never ever return food but I actually turned back to get a refund. It was that bad that I feel compelled to write a review and warn anyone if i can!

To preface, I wasn’t expecting anything authentic or super tasty. Just something quick. I kind of assumed it would have some sesame or soy but at minimum a hint of salty or sweet flavors.

NOPE. It was literally cold plain noodles with vegetable oil and apple cider vinegar with chunks of raw carrot. Missing a whole lot of whatever the ingredient label is claiming it has. Sad, bland and sour.

How somebody could slap a pad Thai label on this is nuts! It’s just an abomination of a pasta salad.

Common Market should seriously reconsider this vendor for sub par quality. Additionally, someone should reach out and do a wellness check on them. Whoever cooked this garbage up and decided it was okay to sell for $8 is unwell and sick...

This place's cafe gets worse by the visit and this was my final time being disappointed. They frequently mess up the juices and smoothies they have listed on the menu and will shrug off the mistakes as being "a bit different" or having "more of one type of juice".

Nah there was 0 kale in my juice, they just forgot it and refused to own up to it and frankly after waiting 30+ minutes for it and my sandwich I had zero desire to wait even if they had offered to make it right. If you want a quick bite there are better options in town, and if you want vegan or veggie options in particular quite frankly the sit down restaurants in town with vegan options are just about as "quick" as common market.

The worst part is their original location's cafe is great but it is currently closed. Once that one reopens I won't even stop at this location for...