Center Market — Local services in Salem

I have been going here for over a decade because it is within walking distance. The staff used to be very friendly, especially the older Caucasian gentleman that used to work the overnight shifts. I don’t know if they have new owners, but when the staff changed (younger ladies with limited English vocabulary), the level of service dropped to zero stars. I am a disabled veteran. I have tattoos and piercings. I’ve never felt judged or discriminated against by this location with the previous staff, but that all changed. They recently started selling bundles of wood, and due to the convenience of their location, I started purchasing it from them. As usual, I purchased 9 bundles, which is the perfect fit for the trunk of my SUV. As usual, I paid inside up front, then loaded my vehicle. My girlfriend’s daughter helped me load. That was that. Today, however, when I stopped in to grab a few Red Bulls, the young girl comes up to me and says, “so you going to pay for the wood or we call police.” I am well groomed, well dressed, have been a customer for over a decade. I’ve always been polite and friendly, even when they’ve been rude or dismissive. There was absolutely zero need to speak to me in this manner embarrassing me in front of everyone in the store. I never take a receipt because I usually pay with my credit card. I KNOW that I paid for 9 bundles and paid for 9 bundles. The girl said I took 10. I disagreed but said, fine, perhaps I miscounted or my girlfriend’s daughter grabbed an extra without noticing, and am more than willing to pay. I was 4th in line to checkout. The girl stayed on me as if I’m going to run out of the store. When it was my turn to checkout, she changed what she had said and exclaimed that I had taken, “ten, maybe eleven.” I told her to charge me for twelve. I told her that I’d been shopping there for over a decade and have never stolen one single time. Since I don’t have a receipt (what ch I learned the hard way, I should always get), I one-upped her and was willing to pay for more than the false amount she said I took. I said to her, “so you see a dark skinned guy from your own ethnicity (they are Middle-Eastern, as am I) your own ethnic identity, with tattoos, piercings, and a Marine Corps cap on and automatically assume that I’m a bad guy, a thief?” She shook her head and said “yes.” I have experienced racism plenty of times in my life, but the worse discrimination I’ve ever faced has always come from Middle Easterners. They see an Americanized Middle Eastern person and see me as a traitor. I will never shop here again. These girls are beyond ignorant and racist. I’m a Christian, and left Islam when I was 12 due to abuse at the hands of my Muslim family. Even still, I have respect for anyone who has a faith they follow, Christianity or otherwise. These girls are immature, unprofessional, and rude beyond measure. They should be ashamed of themselves and their father, who was in the store witnessing all of this, should be ashamed of how he’s raised them. As Americans, we are supposed to be a melting pot of all different religions, cultures, and origins living together peacefully. Someone should educate these girls on customer service, courtesy, manners, and...

Previously this place would have gotten 5 stars. I first started going to this market to find a newspaper when ours failed to be delivered and we stopped delivery. I found each of the staff very friendly and attentive to me as a customer. In fact ,once they realized that I was coming daily I most often walked in to one of them handing me the newspaper before I hardly got through the door. It sounds like a small thing but there were days when it made a huge difference to me. I felt very comfortable and although I could have gone to another store closer to my residence, I found myself going back there. There is certainly something to be said for starting your day with a smile, good morning and have a blessed day. I chose to start every morning that way because it was a positive for me. However, the owner has certainly made a mistake when he replaced all those great employees with new staff. I guess one employee got to keep his job and I am very glad for him as he is one of those who always has a pleasant disposition and friendly attitude however those that lost their jobs will be missed and frankly should be reinstated. The employees you traded them out for are employees but that's all they are. Maybe they say thank you as you leave, maybe not but it doesn't feel genuine. I no longer feel important so I will now frequent another establishment unless it is during the hours of the remaining employee however his schedule doesn't always fit mine. I hope those former employees find another employer who can see...

Even with the demands effectively placed by Covid-19 - this is still a safe, comfortable place to go for all you corner-store needs. The prices are fair and competitive; cooked foods are typically fresh & yummy in quality (indicative of items that are cooked fresh throughout the day (rather than cooked once in the early morning and left to dry out in the hot case!) We've been coming here for years. The staff here are all friendly, helpful & knowledgeable and even in spite of potential cultural difficulties (like myopic patrons who make things more difficult with their one sided thinking, workers at CM 16 put forth every effort to make sure patrons have as much help & support as they can give! Both my husband & the kids agree: going to Center Market 16 is the best! It's like stopping off at moms on the way home to pick up a...