This is a very large store drawing customers from the diverse socioeconomic groups who live in the region. Other than size, nothing is particularly extraordinary about GE on West 117th Street. The international aisle falls short of breaking monotony with too much shelf space given to run of the mill Italian American pastas and tomato products. Cleveland's considerable Eastern European population is snubbed completely. No bottles of morello cherries are in the international aisle and no fresh dill can be found in produce.
There are few above average departments in the store. The submarine bar unexpectedly offers reasonably priced sandwiches that exceed any from the area sub shops I have had the misfortune to visit thus far. The hot foods and salad bar are very expensive. But I find the salad bar is quite convenient if I use it just to buy the toppings for ramen or to select cooking ingredients, e.g. sliced mushrooms, green peppers, onions. I infrequently purchase freshly brought out meats at the hot bar but never the vegetables at those prices.
The bakery has some excellent bread. Some are not that excellent so it is hit or miss. The deli in front of the store is filled with overpriced but higher quality prepared foods not found in most grocery stores. The deli in the back of the store has the standard preserved-processed-water-added-salty products. Meats and fish are premium priced for average quality. I rarely drink anything alcoholic but there seems to be a wide selection of beer and wine plus a separate state liquor agency.
I expect we are the lone major market served by only one large grocery chain. Until another large chain enters Cleveland, GE will enjoy non competitive pricing.
I shop here for proximity to my house. I can get everything I need as long as my needs are national brands. I really enjoy most of the workers I have been fortunate enough to get to know. I find this store is the appropriate place to be a good Samaritan. Often I help someone who has trouble at the self check aisle. I offer to scan while she bags. As a rule older persons walking painfully slow are at that pace for just that reason. They are in pain but forced to do their own shopping. To them I offer to get something from another aisle. Or I help someone who may be disabled by taking his cart back for him. This store is not in outer suburbia where everyone is healthy, 25-45 years old, white, straight, middle class and demanding. So far despite my many happy years on this earth I remain fairly able and was taught to offer a helping hand.