Sherwin C.
Yelp
Just when you thought that Mariano's stores couldn't get any more impressive -- this came along. 18 checkout lines, spacious layout, immaculately clean bathrooms, large eating area with a view to the outside, BBQ and sushi bar, large parking lot (in an L shape so there's more spots close to the front), and a traffic flow that avoids congestion. All this with competitive prices and tons of selection that is somewhere between Jewel and Whole Foods in item selection. Here's some highlights:
Beer: Huge selection overall, especially for making your own 6-pack mix (Comparable to the # of choices you'd see in the Binny's area). Wide variety all the way from Lindemans fruit beers to local craft beers (Lakefront Brewery, Goose Island, Sprechers, Two Brothers, etc..). Did not see any rare items though.
Wine: Very nice display, even nicer than many local wine shops. You'll find items a step above the normal grocery store like Allegrini Amarone or Hoopla Oakville Cabarnet.
Spirits: LIke the wine, good selection with nicer items you might not expect to see like Remy Martin VSOP, 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey, Midleton Very Rare Irish Whiskey, or Pravda Vodka.
Cosmetics: Good selection of conventional and natural choices, similar in presentation to what you'd find in a Target Greatland.
Vitamins: You'll find all the essentials you need in a nice display like Vitamin Shop.
Produce: This is what generally sets Mariano's apart from other grocery stories -- always fresh and tons of selection at a reasonal price. You'll find a good selection of international and organic iems as well. For some items like apples or tomatoes, you'll be delighted to try new varieties you don't typically run accross at most grocey stores.
Deli/Meats/Cheeses: Excellent choice of cheeses locally and around the world. Well stocked salad bar. Fresh seafood (24 hours from shore to store). Tons of choices of fresh and frozen meats. In this area, this store has more seafood and meat choices than other local Mariano's which can be grilled or steamed for free.
Bakery: Tons of selection of fresh baked goods and cakes. Highly recommended are the cookies and the muffins. They also have a big variety of freshly baked breads.
Florist: Tons of flowers, all arranged nicely and with a wide selection of arrangements.
Coffee and tea: LED lit aisle with good selection of whole bean coffees from the standard and premium providers (Starbucks, Intelligensia, Lavazza, Gevalia, etc.). KCup selection was not as impressive nor were the choices of instant coffess. The tea selection was good with brands such as Republic of Tea, Numi, Good Earth, etc. but lacked some of the other premium brands such as Mighty Leaf, Tea Forte, and Two Leaves and a Bud.
International Aisles: Beautiful presentation with flags, signs showing distance to major cities, and projections on the floor. However, all the food was crammed into a few aisles so choices of each type were limited. However, if you're looking for balsamic vinegar or Spanish / Italian Olive Oils, there is good selection here.
Craft sodas: Nice selection with brands such as Sprecher, IBC, WBC, Filberts, Boylan, Sioux City -- but nothing particularly rare.
Ice cream and gelato - Tons of selection of premium ice cream such as Dadu, Magnum, and Talenti -- but even more impressive is their choice of local ice cream such as Oberweis, Three Twins, Graeters, Ruth & Phils, Purple Door and harder to find brands such as McConnells and Teariffic.
Yogurt: Dominated by the usual brands such as Dannon, Yoplait, Chobani, and Fage.
Overall this stands out as an upscale Marianos with more selection than other local stores, excellent signage, and great customer experience. If each subsequent store keeps getting better, I'm excited to see what new ideas they come up with next!