City Fresh Market — Local services in New York

The effects of gentrification are evident at City Fresh (formerly Associated). The other location owned by the owners of this location (116th & Lex) closed due to rising rent. While this location has gradually expanded its hours over a period of a couple years and is now open 24-hours-a-day (partly in response to the then-inevitable closure of the 24-hour Pathmark a quarter-mile north due to the sale of the leased property to a building developer likely intending to build a tower on the lot at 125th & Lex as well as the failure of the parent company A&P), it pales in comparison to the typical 24-hour supermarket I have patronized in my lifetime as a native of New York and resident solely of it and its suburbs, though most of those were Pathmarks as well, and the former location at 125th St. is the basis for much of my comparison to City Fresh in this "review."

Pathmark was a hub of supermarket activity for residents even beyond walking distance of the market. In its final year the lack of building maintenance meant that several tarps were strewn across the ceiling to catch rainwater from leaks. But the prices were pretty good and the sales were pretty good. The selection was outstanding--elite even--compared to your typical market in this city; superior in breadth even to upscale chains, perhaps. And the freshness and variety of the produce was a stark contrast to City Fresh, a market which is pretty typical in a neighborhood like East Harlem. In Pathmark you could buy delicious pluots. In City Fresh you will buy bananas that turn brown just because you looked at them. In Pathmark the leafy green vegetables were crisp. In City Fresh the leafy green vegetables are... present.

The prices for many--probably most--items at City Fresh have risen ~15-40% the past couple years. I'm not too loyal to brands, but I am loyal to my own routine, and that means even with my limited cooking ability and limited shopping options due to my shameful existence as a slovenly, antisocial bachelor, I purchase a decent cross-section of items at the supermarket with great frequency, even typically buying only the brand on sale for some types of products, valuing frugality over say the marginal benefit of loyalty to one particular bottler of unhealthy bubbly sugar water.

I used to shop at Pathmark because Pathmark was just superior in selection, price, and quality. The walk to it was longer, the store was occasionally host to tabloid talk show caliber drama, the patronage occasionally too... New York, and some of the the staff so very... East Harlem. But it was nonetheless the best supermarket in East Harlem. I would go to City Fresh only to buy fizzy water since I didn't have to carry it nearly as far. Even need of a simple staple would usually cause me to just go to Pathmark to do real shopping instead of around the corner for a pop-in.

This City Fresh compares somewhat poorly even to its own differently-named but identically-owned/staffed previous incarnation known as Associated. While the store is now open 24 hours instead of 14, and there are now a hot food bar, salad bar, juice bar (though the juice bar is only open for eight of the 24 hours, like how Pathmark had a pharmacy that I want to say was open only 13 or 14 minutes total any given day), and sushi (rolled fresh each morning and still present late at night to satisfy your desire to play Food Poisoning Russian Roulette), the prices for most stuff is higher, the produce is just as bad, if not worse (and more expensive), the discounts during sales aren't as deep, and many items don't go on sale as frequently.

There is supposed to be another supermarket opening across the street--Super Fi Emporium... yes, that's the name. Really. Really. They have a location at 104th & Lex. I don't expect the prices to be good. I do expect if the produce is actually good, the prices will be awful. But I think it's going to be a good size--not quite Pathmark, but bigger than most. And maybe that means at least it'll have more selection, which is actually the thing I miss most...

Good supermarket with a variety of items, foods, drinks and selection. VERY expensive though. Do have a hot food bar featuring Hispanic foods. Has an already made & packaged sushi bar next to the hot food bar. Deli section is great. If you're in a crunch for time, hungry and on the run, check out the deli section's premade sandwiches and premade sandwich kits complete with sandwiches on a bakery roll (I find it's usually a selection of ham and cheese, turkey and cheese) with a bag of chips and a canned soda all in a food service container and ready to go! Produce is high in prices, but I do find them, honestly, fresh. When you first enter the store, there's a yummy bakery section with an assortment of cakes, cheesecake, etc. As well, I believe there's a section off to the left side from the bakery that, too, has more cakes, pies, etc. If you don't have exact change, but are in need of a way to get on the buses that stop right on 3rd Ave, you CAN purchase NYC MTA MetroCards (bus, train passes) from the customer service counter by the hot foods bar.

I have NEVER, truthfully, had any issues with staff or management while shopping here. So I will honestly say they're courteous and if you have any questions or issues finding something, etc., feel free to inquire and they'll assist you.

The supermarket is ALWAYS fully stocked with products and merchandise.

NOW...the 2 BONUSES in addition to these things are the fact THIS store is open 24/7!!! So if you need something late night, or forgot something or have a taste for something to eat and it's after hours, THIS store is accessible, open and available..

BONUS 2.. Also, it's centrally located right on 3rd Avenue, in East Harlem (Manhattan) in walking distance to the cultural and shopping districts of 125th Street with a plethora of stores, shops, houses of worship, street vendors, restaurants, medical & urgent care clinics, state, city & federal government facilities, museums, housing/residential facilities, public transportation (4,5,6 trains at Lexington Avenue & E 125th street) Metro North Railroad (to Grand Central Station or going North to The Bronx, Connecticut and further up the NY Hudson River coastline to cuties, towns in the upstate NY region)

Right on 3rd Ave, across the street from the supermarket (in front of Foodtown of East Harlem), there are the NYC MTA M101, M103 buses, as well SEVERAL BXM (Manhattan/Bronx) EXPRESS BUS LINES taking you from Manhattan to different areas of The Bronx (Riverdale, Parkchester, Co-op City, Albert Einstein...

Let's clarify. This is not the only supermarket. I can name at least three others nearby. There is a new Food Bizarre on East 125th Street.

Yesterday (11.9.22), I visited City Fresh at this address on 3rd Avenue. The cashier scanned a small Badia Tarragon for 2.29. However, she never scanned the second bottle and punched in a large Badia Cilantro for 6.99. Please look at your receipts before you leave.

I returned to the supermarket, and two of the night supervising staff insinuated that I had purchased the item and was now claiming not to have purchased the item. I caught on to their scam when I encouraged them to look at the cameras. They refused. They were trying to justify where the thing was. I stated that if I had purchased the Cilantro, why was only one tarragon charged when there were two? The cashier was overcharging me, and if I had not looked at the receipt, I would have lost 5.00. The manager is just as dense as the cashier and his subordinate. He wanted to charge me 2.99 instead of the scanned price 2.29. The most humiliating thing was them making me feel like the thief because she tried to steal 5.00.

City Fresh is scamming customers, and we are nonetheless wiser. They pocket that money. Imagine her doing this to 1000.00 customers @ 5.00. It is 5,000.00. More than that, enter a daily. She tried to play dumb, and the assistant was nervous. I'll never step into that market again. Their meats are always foul. Their vegetables are plagued with mold. You are looking at being infected with Salmonella or Ecoli. My mother has been sick from eating their meat. Disgusting. Please...