Van Til's

I give this store 4 stars because for me they are a better alternative than the other stores in the area. There are not that many to pick from within a 5 mile radius -- basically Van Til's, Food 4 Less, and Ultra. I hate swarming crowds, so Van Til's wins.

This is simply your average, everyday grocery store. I like it because I'm a single guy, and this store conveniently happens to be close and have all the things I normally need for my daily meals. They are not the cheapest store, nor are they the most well-provisioned. They are average, and for me, convenient. They are usually not that crowded, which is a plus for me. I work nights, and they are open until midnight, so that is another advantage since I can go after work and it's even less crowded.

On the down side, sometimes they are out of the things I want. This is not just with things on the shelf. I love their sour cream and cheddar macaroni deli salad, but sometimes they do not have it when I go on Saturdays. They are not open on Sundays, so I'm at a bit of a loss why I occasionally find them under-stocked on Saturdays. You'd think they would want to be sure and have enough product on weekends when most people do their shopping. I get there generally about midday, so it seems odd if they have run out by then.

The only other complaint I might have is with some of their checkout / bagging staff. Most of them who have been there a while are nice, and some of them treat me very well... opening up a checkout lane and pulling me over when they see me waiting. Others who seem to be new hires are not very friendly. They're not rude, but they give that attitude like they are too good for their job and would rather be doing anything else than mouthing polite words to customers. I would like to see a few self-check lanes here, which they do not have.

One positive thing I would like to say here is there is a carry out person who is mentally challenged. I have only talked with him once, but I think he has a great attitude. I am impressed that Van Til's gave him a chance, and I think they made the right choice. This carries some weight with me in wanting to reward this store with my business.