Reviews
Expensive as hell. Small store. But dam like 3x-4x the price of other stores. Meat counter and wine area. Like almost $2 for a arizona tea. Across the street from our lady of grace.
Al’s is a great, old-school local grocery store. It is small but densely packed and I can usually find everything that I need, with convenient location, parking, and quick checkout. They have a proper butcher counter which stocks the best meatballs I’ve ever found! They have an impressive selection of local wines and craft beers as well, plus some interesting specialty items. Cost for produce, dairy, and meats seems pretty comparable to the supermarket, while processed goods tend to run a dollar or two more. For most grocery trips, it’s well worth it for the convenience and to support a local business.
Great neighborhood market. Staff are always friendly and helpful.
Me and my brown mexican husband came here for some soda, the lady at the register had a very different attitude with the two white customers in front of me, very NICE attitude. As soon as it was my turn she seemed extremely uncomfortable, did not talk to me at all i always ask how a cashier day is going and she flat out ignored me. Great to know Castro Valley is alive with racism!
Wonderful local grocery store. The staff is helpful and nice. The store does not allow backpacks on unaccompanied minors to prevent theft. But totally great place to send kids for a snack.
My first visit and I gotta say, the place is SO much bigger inside than you'd think! It's much more than a butcher shop, it has great stock of all your grocery needs, some really good local offerings, great wine and beer selection and everything you'd want in a grocery store, and best of all, it's a part of the local lifestyle and not a "big box" store. There's something to be said for keeping things local, and nowhere is it more true than in Castro Valley!
Great neighborhood market. Get fresh Semifreddi brrad and pastries. Nice produce selection. Meat counter has all the usual offerings plus sliced to order cold cuts
It is such a very clean store. I was very impressed. It is a small market but it has almost anything you might need in a hurry. They have a meet counter with very good looking meat. There produces was fantastic. Also there employees are so nice. I am from Michigan and we don't have nice little markets like this one. My bestfriend lives only a 5 minute drive away from her home. She told me about it so I had to go and see it for myself. I love looking down each row of there produces. So, so clean and very neat. I wish we has this store when I live at.
So I've shopped here for a few years. It's a place you pay more for the convenience. It's the only grocery market in upper CV. Most of the time , it's a no hassle trip in and out. A few times stand out that I would rate negatively. 1. I stand in line and put my items on the belt at the register. The cashier spends a minute doing something with the register then tells me " sorry it's broken, can you pick up your items and move to the other line" at which point I was made to gather my things and line up behind 5 other people who arrived at the registers after I did. Maybe at least help me move my things and keep my place in line? 2. I notice they high school cashiers didn't age verify young customers of alcoholic purchases. This baby faced boy was a wearing backpack and looked like he was in high school buying a bottle of vodka. Hell let's say he could be in college. Al's should be careful. ABC going to revoke your liquor license one day. 3. Items tend to expire very soon if not already. Always check expiration dates. 4. Always check your receipt. I bought an item clearly marked on sale but was rung up differently. Cashier says , "things are always priced incorrectly" I had to go back and take a picture to show her of the sale sign clearly indicating that my product was on sale. 5. Some crazy old guy driving an old truck works here who is super road rage aggressive on the road. I saw him being impatient behind a cyclist. He decides to pull up and started yelling and honking at the cyclist for just for being on the road. I see him pull into the store afterwards and saw that he worked here. On the positive side, they have rare hard to find items especially in the spices section that I'd never imagine a small store to have.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Al's Market in Castro Valley. Can't beat the butcher counter or the great team of butchers. My hubby has food allergies and we never have cross contamination issues like every other market. Meat is fresh, looks and smells fresh - super happy. Why go to Whole Foods or Sprouts when you can buy from a local market and mostly local meat suppliers. Good selection on local produce, the carry Clover Dairy, decent selection of coffee, wine/spirits and all around diverse selection of both go-to items and gourmet. I've been shopping here for almost 22 years. NEVER been dissatisfied with quality of selections or customer service.
