Nick's Super Market — Local services in San Francisco

Unacceptable Customer Service and Discriminatory Behavior

My morning started with a simple plan: make spanakopita. Realizing I needed a few more ingredients, including feta, I checked online for nearby stores since Trader Joe's wasn't open yet. Maps indicated a local shop would be opening shortly, so I walked over and waited patiently outside.

About 15 minutes before their stated opening time, an individual who appeared to be the owner emerged from inside. Instead of a friendly greeting or an update on the opening time, he abruptly asked, "What do I want?" I explained I was simply waiting for the store to open to purchase some items. He quickly retorted, "We're not open," with an increasingly annoyed expression, despite their advertised opening being just ten minutes away. I calmly reiterated that I was just waiting for them to open. He then looked me up and down before turning and going back inside.

At this point, I was already feeling uncomfortable, but I still needed my ingredients. A new concern arose: would they accept EBT? I'd had issues with other local shops not accepting it, and the last thing I wanted was a humiliating confrontation with this already hostile individual. Taking a deep breath, I approached the entrance and asked if they accepted EBT. His response was dismissive:

"Machine is never working. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It's not reliable. Just go to another shop down the road. They have another grocery shop with a green awning."

It was clear to me then that regardless of the machine's actual functionality, this individual had no intention of allowing me to shop there, especially with an EBT card. His behavior was unwelcoming from the start and felt discriminatory. No one should be treated with such disrespect when simply trying to make a purchase. I left feeling disheartened and frustrated by the blatant rudeness and the obvious disinclination to serve me.

I didn’t make the spanakopita after all. Sometimes experiences like this can really zap your day and even if you start out with a lot of joy like that of making something to eat that brings you smiles, but instead the optimism can be slapped out of your head and somehow you’re almost made to feel foolish for wanting to do something you always have...

Sweet, delightful, friendly owners. Everything you need, and pricing that is more often than not equal to or less than Safeway, they also have some extra good deals. They have everything gluten free flour, Guitard chocolate and cocoa for baking, a well curated section of fresh produce. Candles, cleaning supplies, booze and beer, flints for lighters, etc.. incredible, generous and kind personal service. And very, very generous with treats for dogs. Imagine if a corner store, priced like Safeway, had everything you needed, including multiple brands and price points on most items. Then imagine kind owners, eager to please, who will go out of their way to help including ordering something just because you asked.

If you live in the neighborhood, and haven’t found it, go, go as soon as you want anything…. if you live on the other side of town, Nick’s is right off Gough, and can be easy pit stop on your way to 101. Stop and pick up what you realized you forgot. Thank you Charlie and everyone at Nick’s, you are the...

This place is a block from my house and I absolutely LOVE it.

They stock up on fairly fresh produce and they reasonably priced. They have a pretty large selection of stuff -- ranging from daily essentials like bread, eggs, and milk to more specific things like palm of hearts and three twins ice cream. Most importantly though, the guys who run this store is amazing. I always get a greeting when I go in. One time I didn't have any cash on me and was just trying to buy a tomato, so I asked them to put it on my credit card. They told me the fee they would charge me for the credit card transaction would be more than the tomato and told me to pay them back the next time. Of course when I offered the next time, they said it was on them. How awesome is that? I saw them bring out candy and give it to a baby once!

Truly your...