Trade Fair — Local services in New York

Everytime I go into this store I leave angry.

I want to like it, it's a local chain, there's a good selection of foods from different cultures, produce is usually good quality, they sell all the things I want but...

THE WAY IT'S ORGANIZED IS A FORM OF TORTURE.

It's like whoever designed the layout made it so illogical that you can't find anything on purpose to trap you in there.

When it was a smaller store it was cramped but easier to navigate, because there were fewer aisles. But now it's 2x the size and makes no sense... and somehow with all that space, the aisles are still cramped so that you can't pass people. Here's what will happen when you go to the new, larger Trade Fair.

-Check your bag

-Be hit in the face with a rotting, foetid odor

-Navigate the rat maze of a store where a) frozen and refrigerated foods are in at least a dozen places scattered in the middle aisles, corners, along walls-- but not together; b) the same foods are shelved in different locations depending on what culture it's associated with; c) the signs don't reflect what's actually in the aisles. You will look for the things you want and feel crazy because you can't find them. Want pesto? That'll be in the special pesto fridge in a random place. Want oat milk? Don't look by the milk like a normal store, you'll have to find the special non-dairy milk fridge. Want cheese? Good luck, cheese is in at least four different places in wildly different parts of the -- now huge-- store. Trying to find pasta? Joke's on you, because they sell pasta, but it's not on the sign for the aisle, so you have to take a world tour snaking through aisles feeling insane until you accidentally walk past it. I went in there yesterday for a box of pasta and a jar of pesto -- that's it, two things-- and it took over 20 minutes to get out of the store-- there was no line for check-out, 100% of that time was spent on the least-fun treasure hunt.

-Leave the store, and HAVE TO WALK AROUND THE CORNER TO RETRIEVE YOUR CHECKED BAG from the entrance. Why not have the entrance and exit in the same part of the store? Because Trade Fair hates you.

Trade Fair -- if you're reading this -- please fix how your store is organized and deal with the rotting...

I am honestly so sick of this store. I am convinced they have an ongoing scam of prices that are not updated in the system, even by a few cents, so when you check out, it can be easily missed and ultimately overcharging thousands every week! Then when you point it out to the cashier who then retrieves the manager, they either give you a hard time about it, act surprised when they see in fact the error presented to them or act like they are doing you a favor by adjusting the correct price as listed on the shelves—just mistakes in general the employees and store constantly make. I’ve actually gone to purchase the same items I’ve had trouble with consecutively over a week or two and the problem would still persist and each time the same female manager would act is if she didn’t see it before. Funny how prices are never underpriced as marked made in error. I’ve been coming here for years but only in a pinch since the 24 hour open times can be convenient. The cashiers and other staff have made so many mistakes I can’t even list them all right now—but they have an attitude as if it’s the customers fault and not theirs. The heavy set either Latino or Arabic male manager has a terrible attitude. The female manager is better, but also sketchy. Also, it always has a funny smell inside and do not, I repeat, DO NOT buy food from the hot bar! One time I witnessed one of the employees Windexing the glass covers which are so high up and have gaps in between each section (not fully protecting the food) and leaving space and area for the chemicals to get contaminate the food!!! I very politely pulled the heavy set manager aside to let him know (and so no one would hear) and he was so unbelievably nasty and sarcastic, and he did NOTHING to stop the problem as I saw the worker practice the same cleaning methods as I continued to shop. Disgusting, mean and idiotic management and...

first visit review.

it's 24 hrs so that is a big bonus. i went there at night and it was quiet and not crowded. so much variety including international food i enjoyed my visit. the store is pretty big and it took me a while to walk around and aee what was where. they have prepared food, salad bar, bakery, deli. my main reason for giving 4 out of 5 stars is that something i wanted to get was sitting expired on the shelf. it wasn't by a day or 2 either. like months expired. unfortunately this is an occurance in most supermarkets. they don't seem to have a good process for filtering such things. to me having expired items is a big no no as it risks a persons health and well-being besides money loss. everything else i bought was fine. i have had too many issues with expired foods in many locations that i always make it a habit to check. i will be coming back again though because overall i had a good experience. checkout was a breeze. the male cashier was pleasant. had no issues with me taking a little longer as i was using my own bag. he gave me a smile on my way out and wished me a good night. i work retail so customer service is the most important part for me. will update after some more visits.

10/10/17 So update. Went to buy cheese and 4 different ones in the front had mold at different stages. It was so obvious but still there it sat. I love all the variety and the fact it is open 24 hours but that almost every visit I find expired and or moldy things like this makes me wonder about the food I am buying where you can't tell so easily. So I dropped this...