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| - Oh, Shadyside Market District, why can't I quit you? Let me see, perhaps because I lack a car and you're the most conveniently located grocery store, a mere 2 mi. from my apartment and on the route of the 71A & C? No, let's be honest here: the real reason is because I'm too cheap to shop at the "whole paycheck," Trader Joe's is too inconvenient, and the product selection at Aldi is limited.
On the positive side, this store is larger and fancier than the grocery store I grew up with, and the cheese and bulk foods sections are impressive (the latter includes a make-your-own trail mix bar!). They also have a lot of prepared foods, and though I don't often buy them, the quality of those I've tried has been high (esp. the fried chicken!). This store has a wide selection of groceries, ranging from the inexpensive (Valu Time) to the pricey (organic and natural foods), so, like Barnum's circus, there's something here for everyone. On the weekends, store employees often hand out food samples, and there are sometimes cooking demos at the test kitchen near the seafood section.
On the negative side, the employees working the checkout lines are often taciturn or surly, and the crowds in here on the weekends are a force to be reckoned with. The aisles are narrow to the point of awkwardness when passing other shoppers. Product placement is unintuitive to the point that I often have to ask employees for assistance when locating an item I don't usually buy. Also, as others have mentioned, the produce--particularly the loose green vegetables--is often of questionable quality. Compared to Trader Joe's and Aldi et al., the prices are on the higher side, though they still look like a deal next to Whole Foods.
Thankfully, because I don't have a car, I don't have to deal with the parking situation, which I'm reminded of when I come here in a car with a friend on occasion. However, I do have to schlep my groceries across the street and onto the bus, which is equally annoying. While I wouldn't call shopping here a pleasure, it's preferable to the alternatives, so they have my regular business--for now. 3.5 stars.
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