JW's Foods — Local services in Kalona

DO NOT SHOP HERE. As an employee who worked here, I do not condone the quality checks they do. For the time that I've worked here, I've had to pull cart-fulls of product off of the shelves, and it is still not enough.

They sell expired products and (if you're lucky) some products can be months to a year or two old. Most of the time it's stuff like chips and drinks that get sold expired, but every product (except most of their dairy) is bound to be overlooked. They do have a separate section for expired products, but it is poorly maintained (it should be more full with all of the products this store sells). They only regularly check one aisle (the cereal isle), but the frequency that the business checks their expiration dates throughout the entire store is way too low compared to the likes of Hy-Vee, ALDI and Walmart.

The owner does not care about his consumer base in this specific manner.

If you want FRESH groceries at a decent price, shop...

This isn’t your big-box grocery store — and that’s exactly why I love it. You won’t find ten brands of the same product lining the shelves, but you will find almost everything you need, and you’ll be supporting a place that genuinely gives back to the people who live here.

What this store might lack in flashy signage or massive selection, it more than makes up for in heart. You’ll see familiar faces behind the counter, employees who remember your name, and owners who reinvest in local schools, sports teams, fundraisers, and families in need. They’re not just running a business — they’re a life source for the town!

Every dollar spent here feels like a vote for the kind of community I want to live in: one where people care, show up, and support each other. If you're tired of supporting faceless corporations and want to make a difference just by buying your groceries, shop...

The restaurant inside JW's Foods. I liked it. Practical set up. A gathering space for local guys it seems. I had a cheeseburger with ketchup; turned it into a combo with large fries and soft drink, had it to go. Good hamburger, hot, and crispy hot fries. They also have a typical deli case, and she had a small taco salad and liked it. Dessert was a $.75 cent cup of ice cream we bought after our main meal. No little wooden spoon with it. My combo meal was $10.15. Took about ten minutes to cook it up for me. The two staff working were friendly and helpful and doing the best they could. When we visit Kalona again, we will eat here. Restaurant is to the right when you enter the store. ...