Food City — Local services in Mesa

I was looking for Vermouth to marinade chicken for a recipe. I looked around for about 15 minutes and couldn't find it. I asked someone who worked there, he went and asked someone else. A young man came out and asked me what it was, I explained that I didn't know, his response was that if it wasn't in the mixer aisle they didn't have it. I asked if he could search in computer, he said he would call manager, but seemed very put out. After speaking with manager, he again said they didn't sell. I asked to speak with manager, after about 10 minutes, the manager finally showed up. I told her I was looking for Vermouth, she asked what it was and I again explained I didn't know what it was. I asked if she can check in computer, she just simple said, we don't sell it. She never offered to search or acknowledge my request. At this point, admittedly, I became flustered, set my basket down and begin to walk out of store. All she said, was "have a nice night" It was at that point that I noticed a glass case up front that had bottles of liquor, and to my disbelief, there was vermouth right there! I called this to her attention and explained that if she would have taken the time to look, she would have found it. All she did was say "have a nice night", following me out of store and saying the same thing outside the store, in front of the security guard, who confronted me and asked if I had a problem... wow, great customer service, you can be sure that if I had to drive miles out of my way, I will never step foot in...

It was a little after nine p.m. I had just left QT and Mobil. The former for drinks and the latter for $5 pack of cigarettes. I was pressed for time but I had a little bit of a cushion built in and I felt that I could accomplish it all and still make it on time. It was three miles from my last stop. I took the gamble and off I went.

Arriving I quickly found a parking spot at the top of the row close to the door.

Jumped out of my car and grabbed a cart as I entered the store. I had added a few extra items on the drive still feeling confident about the time.

Looking up I zeroed in on the Dairy and started heading that way as I checked the aisle signs for Cookies. Turned in and found the wafers for 99¢. Grabbed two packages and kept moving towards Dairy. I just happened to notice the Guava fruit roll. A giant one for $4 and gabbed it. Making a left I stopped, backtracked to the juices and picked up two Guava's and a Lemonade for $2.99 each. Made a U-turn and came upon the cheese. Queso Fresco or crumbling cheese. Opted for the 32 oz. double pack for just over $10. On the way to the self-checkout grabbed four Kerns cans of guava at two for a dollar.

Arriving at self-checkout I was the only one in line. Scanned the goods, bagged and paid and I was out of there in record time.

Not bad for a spur of the moment decision and I made it back with...

Ran into this store to get some apples for the week as I tend to eat one a day. This was such an experience. It shouldn't take me 10 mins to find gala apples that don't look beat to death. Each one looks like it had been dropped/kicked repeatedly and had numerous squishy dents. It doesn't help that they insist on keeping the apples in the pyramid style stack where they all tumble if someone happens to breath the wrong way at them. On top of this the store was very dirty, outdated, dark, and broken. There was a huge divot in the floor after the registers that looked like someone took a sledgehammer to it and just walked away. The cashier REEKED of smoke. Honestly will never go back. Will spend the extra time and drive up to the Fry's on Mckellips and Stapley which blows Bashas away. I used to be a fan of Bashas because I prefer to keep my money local wherever possible but I won't be back. The store chain as a whole has been deteriorating for years. It seems the owners refuse to step into this decade and do what needs to be done to fight to be in the same ranks as its competition. I hope Bashas can pull itself out of this slump for the sake of the local economy but I don't...