What I like about Jewel

The fact that when I spend $100 on groceries and related items it's easy to carry in from the car and only takes a couple of minutes to put away.

Enjoy,
Gary

I just stopped at Costco and looked around at the cheeses on offer. I was looking for some Gruyère and they had a big brick of a cave aged variety for around $9.00. I passed on it because I only need a little bit for tonight's dinner. I then stopped at Jewel on the way home to pick some up. They had the exact same brand as Costco, only in the little mini size. It was just what I needed, except that it cost $9.75. That's right, you heard right...approximately 1/3 the amount of the same cheese for more money. I didn't buy it and left the store empty handed and disgusted.

I love the commercial-spewing mini-flatscreen TVs at the checkout counters, remdining you to buy MORE overpriced stuff. You can see those advertising dollars at work in the zombie-fied faces of the people in line thinking, "Did I forget something? What was it? Oh, yes. A $10 block of cheese. I must buy a $10 block of cheese."

yeah...Jewel cheese prices are insane...really, really b.s. crazy.

gotta love Walmart tho'...I purchased a thick wheel of Queso Fresco for less than half of what Jewel attempts on the same: um...8 bucks? It's Queso Fresco for f***'* sake

also see: inept deli counter workers who don't understand the concept of the proper slicing of salumi

OK, for a little honest praise:
1) La Brea Bakery Bread
2) On occasion, $1 Pizza Puffs at the fried chicken station by the deli counter
3) Excellent selection and often good prices on soft drinks
4) Vienna-brand neon-green relish, along with hundreds of other condiments

But I find that I buy neither much meat nor produce from them -- it's better and cheaper elsewhere.

Conversely, let me sing, sincerely, the praises of A&G Market at Belmont and Central, which has been mentioned here before (though I can't find where since "A&G" is not a readily searchable phrase).

It's a long hike for me so I tend to only go there either when I have a lot to buy (pre-Thanksgiving, I made a special trip) or I have some reason to be out west (much rarer). But every time I do, I swear it'd be worth the gas to go there for a pack of gum. I half filled my cart yesterday with nice-looking produce, lunchmeat and odds and ends, and got out my credit card because I only had about $20 on me... and it was $17.

I think there are better stores for individual things-- Caputo's for Caputo's stuff, say-- but I don't know a better store in the city for the combination of hitting all the major non-Asian ethnic bases (Mexican to Polish to Italian to Greek), a great bread section that represents every Eastern European bakery I can think of, generally very nice produce that would pass muster for four times the price at Whole Foods (I find the produce at places like Tony's passable at best most of the time), a pretty good meat department (not as good as a dedicated deli, but not bad), and-- as I say-- shockingly cheap prices. Before T-giving I still had to hit Whole Foods-- A&G's tiny herb section didn't have fresh thyme, and it didn't seem to be because they were out-- but it was great to only have to go there for three or four things, while I had four bags of stuff from A&G. I think I spent about the same at each.

A & G Market
5600 West Belmont
Chicago, IL

They also have a Cheap Laughs Department:

G Wiv wrote:The fact that when I spend $100 on groceries and related items it's easy to carry in from the car and only takes a couple of minutes to put away.

Gary,

I did the same thing a few months ago and as I was walking out of the store eighty bucks lighter and barely weighed down by bags, I said to Cookie, "That's it! I'm done with these [expletive]-ing places".

Jewel and Dominick's were always only occasional convenience stops for me, but I'm through. I haven't been in once since and I have no need to return.

Best,
Michael

Between Caputo's Des Plaines store, the new Shop & Save on River Road, Aldi, and our recent membership at Costco (wouldn't give my money to Walmart or Sam's if my life depended on it) there is absolutely no reason to stop in at Jewel or Dominick's anymore.

In fact, the way Safeway and Albertson's screwed up our onetime locally owned 800 pound gorillas (it'll be interesting to see if Supervalu can turn things around at Jewel), the Chicagoland area is more "independent grocer" friendly than it has been in the last fifty years. Witness the rapid growth in ethnic mom & pop produce stores all over the city and suburbs. Those independents that have been around for a few years are either expanding into multiple stores or taking over now closed former locations of Dominick's and Jewel.

The big winners here are the consumer and local manufacturers of specialty foods. For the consumer, lower prices, better selection, and better overall quality are the prizes. Easier shelf placement and a more patient, even appreciative attitude from ownership toward higher priced items that might need time to grow in the hearts of consumers are the reward for the local specialty food marketer.

We should all send a big thank you to the giant corporations who have ruined our once proud local grocery chains. By chasing away their old customers they have opened up the doors to new entrepreneurism, and a better grocery shopping experience over all.

Just not at their stores.

Buddy

Why I like Jewel -
brand name soda prices, and self checkout.
They take expired coupons. And once you figure out what the numbers mean on the coupons, you are in SERIOUS business.
I also love the fact that when something rings up incorrectly, there's no hassle at the desk. They know you get the item for free.

Based on my experience with Jewel going back about 18 years, I don't understand why there ever was anything to like about the place. My first encounter with a Jewel was in 1988, the location was North Broadway (or is it Halsted? The one with the parking garage on the roof.) I was appalled by the unconscionable prices and the Soviet Blok perfecta of dirty floors, dim lights, 18-inch wide aisles, and incompetence veiled in rudeness ... and did I mention the prices? The single thing that raised my hackles at the time, and which I remember so clearly now, was that they were charging $3.69 for a gallon of milk ... in 1988, when every other grocery store in the Midwest (other than Dominick's) was charging about $1.75. And this was the "good old days?" Now, I realize that Jewels vary widely in quality based on neighborhood, and the suburban Jewels I subsequently frequented were quite better -- although still deeply flawed and EXPEN$IVE.

One last side note, back in 1989 or so, there was a Jewel outpost in Bloomington, Indiana, out on the east side near the College Mall. It was like a little slice of Chicago-style chain grocery incompetence beamed down into the Yuppified suburbs of this tidy little liberal college town ... it sucked, and it was inexplicable. They apparently also had imported a cadre of Chicago Jewel staff, or perhaps just some magic gruffness-inducing foo-foo dust that was sprinkled in the break room every morning. Its only virtue was that it let those who were from Chicago or had Chicago connections brag about the supposed superiority of the baked goods. Long story short, the place went belly-up around 1990 and by 1991 was occupied by a local independent called Mr. D's (actually, I think, Indianapolis-based; what I presume to be the original location of this family-run business opened in the early 1980s near my home on the Northeast side). The contrast was unbelievable.

All Jewels are not created equal. True, everything said above is the same at the Evanston Howard St. Jewel, but the Kosher deli has some good stuff (albeit at less-than-terrific prices) and I like the "natural foods" section.

That being said, it's only an occasional stop for me as well. Oddly, my favorite Jewel item is the PC brand of canned (yes, canned) ground coffee. Don't ask me what lead me to try it, but I find the flavor better and more consistent than whole-bean varieties - and it's less than $3 per can for the small cans (which then can be recycled to collect bacon grease.)

seebee wrote:Why I like Jewel -
brand name soda prices, and self checkout.
They take expired coupons. And once you figure out what the numbers mean on the coupons, you are in SERIOUS business.

Those are basically the only reasons I ever set foot in a Jewel.

The ONLY time I have spent $100 at Jewel was back in October when they had a cart full of kid's school back packs for $2 on clearance. off tehy went to Cincinnati's Crayons to Computers, a free store for inner-city teachers.

I suspect that the reason I don't dislike Jewel as much as some folks -- aside from the discussion we had in an earlier thread about suburban Jewels being nicer than their urban counterparts -- is that I don't shop with a shopping list, I shop the tags. I look for the deals and lost leaders, and I always walk out feeling like I've done very well. Living alone makes this easier, I realize -- just as it makes it harder to buy the super giant size of stuff at the warehouse clubs (life is full of tradeoffs). But I find that, for $40, I have enough groceries to require two trips.

Still, it's not the main place I shop. I don't really have a main place anymore, as I cycle between Produce World, Glenview Produce, Carniceria Jimenez, Seoul Market, Asia Supermarket, Caputo's, Sam's, and Costco. But I find Jewel to still be a pleasant and cost-effective (especially with the price of gas, and that fact that the nearest Jewel is only two blocks away) option.

so...I just got back from Drool's(I switch off between them, T.I., Potash, and Trader Joe's)...they're within walking distance...important as I don't own a car

and I agree with much has been said upthread, however I DO clip coupons(it's the last thing I do after finishing the Sunday Trib each weekend) and I DO look for deals...Jewel's soda prices are a bad thing in my case as there's always some in the fridge when I should be drinking tea or egads...Brita

so...quickly...I think it must be mistaken identity because I don't believe I've ever been waited on by this particular worker, but the woman handing me my fried chicken lunch asked after me saying she hadn't seen me in awhile...asked how I was doing, etc...then wished me a happy, healthy new year

I thought her unexpected hospitality quite nice(esp. since she and the only other worker were swamped with deli customers) and it took the bite out of my typical Jewel attitude(i.e. dear god not this again...repeat as necessary)...then again it could just be the massive load of Benadryl in my system ameliorating this horrible cold.

Speaking of the smaller ethnic grocers, I can go to Edgewater Produce, spend 30$, and barely be able to carry my 5-6 bags to the car and up the stairs to our place!

I've shopped there a million times and I am always stunned when the checkout person tells me my total.

5509 N Clark St (ironically, across from the Jewel )

seebeeonce once you figure out what the numbers mean on the coupons, you are in SERIOUS business. "

What does this mean?

G Wiv wrote:The fact that when I spend $100 on groceries and related items it's easy to carry in from the car and only takes a couple of minutes to put away.

Enjoy,
Gary

That's what I like about Dominick's, too.

aschie30 wrote:

G Wiv wrote:The fact that when I spend $100 on groceries and related items it's easy to carry in from the car and only takes a couple of minutes to put away.

Enjoy,
Gary

That's what I like about Dominick's, too.

Except at Dominick's, it would be $125.

Okay, I can't wait for this thread to make its way down and out of the screen's view. I haven't been able to get that incessant tune "What I Like About You" by The Romantics (I think) out of my head.
Of course, "you" is replaced with "jewel".

kafein -
If you do a little research on coupon numbering, you will do VERY well on
some items at jewel.

I'm the person who goes to jewel, and buys 30 units of a particular item, uses 30 coupons, and my bill is generally not much more than the pack of gum I have to buy to throw the cashier's attention off. Recent example off the top of my head - some hot cocoa brand (nestle or carnation boxes of the packets) was one of their "10 for 10.00" items a few weeks ago. I happen to have a stash of $1.00 off coupons for whatever brand box it was.

I also love how one week an item will cost $1.00, and the next week it will be "buy one get one free" and the single item cost is now 2.19.

I only go there if I've got a stack of coupons for a loss leader, or I've got some coupon number "magic" to work. The prices are just ridiculous otherwise. 9.00 /lb for sara lee turkey breast at the deli? The same brand is 3.99 /lb at the stores I shop at.

I used to be happy that our apt. is 2 blocks away from a Dominick's, until I realized that that wasn't necessarily a selling point!

Seriously, $3.69 for a dozen eggs? Are you kidding me?

Saint Pizza wrote:I used to be happy that our apt. is 2 blocks away from a Dominick's, until I realized that that wasn't necessarily a selling point!

Seriously, $3.69 for a dozen eggs? Are you kidding me?

When Eagle filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and closed, Woodstock had a single Jewel store, the only grocery within 10 miles. I went to get eggs (which I purchase about every two years). 1 dozen eggs for $2.09.
I was dumbfounded that eggs could get that high and I not notice it.

The next day, I dropped in the Jewel in Crystal Lake where there is competition and the same eggs were $0.89.

Unbelievable but true.

Saint Pizza wrote:I used to be happy that our apt. is 2 blocks away from a Dominick's, until I realized that that wasn't necessarily a selling point!

Seriously, $3.69 for a dozen eggs? Are you kidding me?

The "special" on eggs at the Jewel and Dominicks this holiday season was a hoot: buy one carton of 18 eggs for about $5.xx, get one free! Who is going to use all those eggs before they expire, and if you would use all those eggs, get them at Costco, where you don't pay $5+ for 36 eggs!

kafein wrote:

seebeeonce once you figure out what the numbers mean on the coupons, you are in SERIOUS business. "

What does this mean?

It means that what the coupon claims to be good for doesn't necessarily mean that's all you can use it for. For example it may say " 1.00 off 3" when in actuality you may be able to use it on just 1 item or you might be able to use it on a completely different item from the same manufacturer.

Obviously price is a huge consideration, especially for families. But I prefer to shop at stores that are employee-friendly, whether it be employee owned like Woodman's, or a union shop. I won't buy food at stores like Wal-Mart (or anything else, for that matter) because of their employment practices. I don't mind paying extra so that people earn a living wage.

I especially love:

That most of the beef is no longer Choice grade, but Select
That "Select grade" is in two-point type on the label
The Deli prices everything by the half-pound
The flat panels popping up everywhere - they had Sissy Biggers hawking something the other day! Sissy Biggers!?!
The two-dollar avocado
The dollar bunch of flat-leaf parsley
That they used to have baby artichokes at 10 for a buck
The four-dollar large artichoke

I only shop at Jewel now for two for five buck laundry detergent, cheap soft drink deals and such.

tcdup wrote:Obviously price is a huge consideration, especially for families. But I prefer to shop at stores that are employee-friendly, whether it be employee owned like Woodman's, or a union shop. I won't buy food at stores like Wal-Mart (or anything else, for that matter) because of their employment practices. I don't mind paying extra so that people earn a living wage.

I have had several discussions with friends lately that are enlightening.

I walked into a local bakery and as I was leaving, the lady told me that this was her last day. She told me that she would be working in the new WalMart Supercenter. She was ecstatic. I asked her about the new position. She told me that she would be working in the bakery and received an increase of $2.50/hr. She also noted that it was the first job that she has had in the past five years that had any paid healthcare.

I walked into Joseph's the other day and was talking with my favorite cashier. She told me how much she liked to work there as opposed to her first job at Jewel. She liked the greater flexibility of hours and that being non-union, she did not pay union dues. She told me that the union dues take as much from the part-timers, who get no benefits, as from the hourly people. I know this to be true as my boss's kids in Cleveland received at least one negative paycheck when working at Giant Eagle - that is, where the dues EXCEED the earnings.

Finally, a good friend of mine works at WalMart as an supervisor. He has a high school diploma and started off coralling the carts. I asked hin his take on all the controversy. "I have taken interviews at a few other places and I don't think that I can do better elsewhere. I have more opportunities here."

Personally, I think that there are two issues in the press. WalMart is the 800 lb gorilla and is subject to constant scrutiny that quite honestly, few others are. They are one of the few retailers who selected a strategy and have remained pretty consistent with it. Second, the UFCW has spent millions in a (dis)information campaign against most non-union retail employers (most notibly WalMart and Food Lion) that has been picked up upon by a sympathetic press. At least, they didn't go to the crazy extent that ABC did in trashing Food Lion.

If you don't shop WalMart (and I wouldn't as their food merchandising is absolutely miserable) because of their low pay/benefits, you shouldn't shop at Target or many of your local independents who offer in many cases, less than WalMart. Do realize that in the Chicagoland area, pay at Target is identical to WalMart per a recent Crain's Chicago article.

One of the posts above reminded me of my newest Jewel peeve:

Pre-bagged green onions. What used to be 4/1$ are now $1.29, slimy and often out of stock.

mchodera wrote:The dollar bunch of flat-leaf parsley

On the plus side, they almost always ring up my flat leaf parsley as cilantro (at 1/3 the price)