Potash Markets - State St

Came in on a mission for two oddly specific things: non-alcoholic beer for a party and a decent selection of birthday cards so I could pretend to be thoughtful. Can’t rate the rest of the store, but if you need good NA beer and cards, this place has you weirdly, perfectly covered and your friends will think you’re way more organized than you actually are.

Super organized shelves and very neat and clean. Super friendly and polite staff to help.

A family-owned neighborhood institution of sorts with a loyal Gold Coast clientele who don't mind overpaying. Many, if not most, items feature convenience-store level price markups —and if you plan on purchasing beer, wine or spirits, even the most seasoned of seasoned citizens should be prepared to show proof of age.

WE WILL NEVER ORDER GROCERIES FROM POTASH AGAIN. My wife ordered a bunch of stuff and some we didn't need and some was wrong (we ordered a certain bread and they substituted it for a cheaper kind) When I tried to return the items they said we need to return them to UBER Eats (where we did the order from) Is Uber Eats going to take your merchandise back!? I don't think so. I had the receipt from this store and asked if I could get a store credit and they would not take the merchandise. The owner would not even come down from his throne. He just talked to me through a small opening from his elevated office. We order groceries from Whole Foods all the time and if there is ever an issue they take care of it right away. There is no need to shop here for any reason. I won't even buy a candy bar from this place.

For many years, this store was dirty and run-down, which surprised me because it's in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Chicago. They finally cleaned it up a bit and updated it, though it isn't very economical. Various pluses include the location and authentic bagels. It has the atmosphere of a neighborhood store and is there when you need it.

Felt like a deli/grocery in NY. Carries Boars Head and has a great selection of carryout foods. Full groceries and I even purchased a gift! 100 percent recommend!

I love Potash! Their bakery is amazing! I love their egg bagels! Obligatory I am from NYC area etc etc but seriously their bagels are amazing! Also their mini $5 cakes are something we look forward to all week. Forget Whole Foods, Potash has better sandwiches and a cheaper hot and cold bar selection too. Great fresh produce and they always have my favorite frozen pizza in stock. If you have a chance stop in and grab a sandwich or something from their bakery department. You will not be disappointed! I just bought cold cuts from their in store roast beef and turkey and both were really well seasoned and cooked. Roast beef not to be missed. Better than Boar's Head! Whoever was working deli cut perfect slices too.

I recently visited Potash to purchase a rotisserie chicken for my dog and had an unsettling experience. As I was leaving, I was publicly confronted and accused of not paying for groceries stored in my dog’s stroller. While I understand the importance of staff ensuring that items are paid for, the manner in which I was treated was degrading and disrespectful. If they assumed I managed to reach the exit without paying, it indicates a flaw in their own system. Potash has opted for a self-checkout process while cashiers often stand idly, chatting or eating. I am a loyal, paying customer and deserve to be treated with respect. The security guard’s reaction was unprofessional—yelling at me as though I was guilty of wrongdoing without any real basis. Had they been attentive, they would have seen that I was in the store for less than three minutes, which wasn’t enough time to gather all the groceries I was accused of not paying for. If outside groceries are not allowed, that policy should be made clear. However, chasing me down, shouting, and treating me as if I had done something wrong was unnecessary and humiliating. Not one employee, manager, or owner offered an apology for how I was treated, despite my evident distress. Mistakes happen, but when they do, customers deserve acknowledgment and an apology. Potash’s failure to do so shows a lack of value for their customers—or at least for me because to them I am a nobody.

Although I grew with Jewel and Dominicks, I couldn't be more happy having them as my neighborhood grocer! They have a great deli selection with Boars Head and Krakus with some wonderful bakery items and bread. I liked that they would split things in half or thirds so I wouldn't be wasting a whole coffee cake or something. They had online ordering for awhile so I love the new options they've added.

This place has gone downhill. First of all the place is disgustingly filthy the help is not accommodating and ridiculously overpriced. I had to ask the person in the meat department to change his gloves to cut my meat after washing the sink. After he cut the meat he sliced the cheese on the same machine. I noticed when i got home there was meat residue on my cheese. The checkout people are rude and act like they are doing you a favor for taking your money. Wouldn't mind the high prices if the service was good and the quality of the food was what it used to be. The store is a mess and they have the audacity to tell you to shop local. SHAME ON YOU GUYS. Everyone wants to shop local. But at least give us a clean store and have a good attitude. The kitchen is a filthy mess and the meat and fish are not the quality it was when we moved here 10 years ago We live across the street and most of the people in our neighborhood and condo feel the same way.

I want to write a wonderful review for Potash. They have some of the best pre-made sandwiches and salads ever. Recently I have gone, and the salads(lime tuna) that are my favorite. They aren't fresh anymore. They are pre-packaged. I picked one up, and the tuna salad was made over a week earlier. No thank you. The sandwich section only had multiple re-peats of the same sandwich. The "Rachel". I brought 7 items up to the register, and my total was 89 dollars. I love to support small businesses, but every item is 2-3 dollars more than I can get it at Jewel. Just because you are a family owned grocery store, doesn't mean you have to price gouge everything. I unfortunately won't be a returning customer after this last experience. I was in complete shock how much their prices have gone up. Pickles that are 5.99 at Jewel, were 11.99 here. Nope.

I love Potash! Locally owned, reasonably priced, and very great staff/service. Potash has a hot bar, fresh sushi, charcuterie section, fresh bakery with bagels and donuts, and everything that you'd need at a grocery store with even a decent selection on certain items.

I went in there for the first time and the hot food tray area was toward the back. It was in the late afternoon. It looked like they had pretty much everything a lower size community grocery store would need. All the food looked like it had been there all day unstirred. I brought them home to eat along with some meatloaf (or salsbury steak, not sure) and a tiny amount of mashed potatoes. The tenders had a good clean taste and felt like the chicken was cooked over all of the tender(s). It tasted very similar to the tenders you'd usually get at a major sports arena. I would say they'd be a smaller version of those type of tenders. The only issue I had was that they didn't taste fresh at all. They tasted like they've been kept warm, but all day. That made them taste less greasy but more precooked mocriwavable. I feel like they were initially microwaved to begin with just before they were brought out onto the store floor.

Love, love, love the take and bake buffalo wings in the meat section and the fresh veggies and artisan blue cheese dressing!!!!

What a great store! I'm in town visiting and wanted to grab some groceries and snacks. I got inspired by the vibes and wanted a cheese plate and wine for a light lunch on the balcony. No cheese plates on the shelf so I asked the deli and they delivered! If you want a cute tasty cheese plate ask for Jackie. She hooked it up. She also recommended a lovely Sancerre to pair with our cheese selection. Everyone in the store was so helpful and great! Even the customers were super friendly. Thanks Jackie and the Potash team :)

The man who worked in the cheese department is gone. Very disappointing. He was very knowledgeable and put together a great selection. Without him, this store doesn't have much else to offer.

Cute little grocery store but everything is definitely marked up for general things you can get at the grocery store. BUT the meat department is AMAZING and worth the trip!! Came Here last weekend when Gibsons was sold out of fillets and got a 13 ounce filet that Ty helped me pick out. Also got some board head bacon for Brussel sprouts. Best FILET I've ever had store bought! Worth the price! The bacon is incredible and super thick! Also picked up some bread in the bakery section and it's the best store bought bread I've ever had! My husband keeps begging me for more. I searched online and can't find it online so I just came here again strictly for this bread, and well bacon Ty recommended a steak that's a fraction of the cost of the filet and I also picked up one of those. Thank you TY for your awesome expertise! This is the kind is hospitality jewel and other grocery stores in town need to follow. I will continue to only shop here for my steaks, bacon and bread. Thank you Potash!

Potash has been my go to market for 15 years. The meat, specialty items, cheese selection and the deli are all amazing. The rotisserie chickens usually sell out by dinner time, so get there early to pick up a perfectly roasted bird. Peter in catering does a great job with holiday meals. Jackie makes THE BEST deli sandwiches. Seriously, check out the deli sandwiches and the daily soups. They have a following of neighbors regulars, business people and construction workers who pick up lunch items daily. Thanks Potash team, especially Trish at checkout!!! You made my daily pandemic shopping/cooking an enjoyable task.

About three stars is correct. It's in a great location for those of us who live in the Gold Coast, but the price far exceeds both Whole Foods and surrounding stores. I stopped by today and picked up some items because it did happen to be the most convenient option and I didn't have time to shop around but I was definitely in sticker shock. I paid $7 for mini cucumbers - where the exact same brand was $1 at jewel this week. $4.20 for one Asian pear - when they're 3 for $5 at a nearby target. $5 for a 1.5 lb bag of dole Yukon gold potatoes when 3 lb bags are $4 at other stores. I would definitely say it's a inaccurate representation to say things are specialized and local when Jewel and Target carry some of the exact same brands and things. It's convenient and I don't have any issues with the quality of their produce, but prepare to pay out the nose for convenience. I spent $23 on a small bag of 4 items.

Went to buy some meat They sold me old smelly chicken When I was buying it was looking little discolored I have asked the guy Is it fresh Got a positive answer My wife opened it and it's smell like .... So I brought it back they looked at it return the money Didn't say sorry or anything I have a feeling they know they are selling spoiled products Will never be back Never If you can't trust them How you can buy anything Bad business

There aren't many options if you live off of Michigan, so this Potash was the closest, convenient option for me, especially in the winter. However, this grocery store is average. The prices are high and the selection is limited and frequently under stocked. It's good for last minute purchases, but when I lived in Chicago, I preferred to do larger shopping trips elsewhere.

Outrageously overpriced & some of the rudest customer service I've ever experienced. The attitude from some of the employees is embarassing. After asking an employee if she worked there, out of being polite (couldn't see her vest), she rudely turned around, rolled her eyes and pointed at her name tag. Oh, I'm sorry? Was I supposed to pull your shoulder towards my face to see that? The only thing that is great about this place is how conveniently located it is in the heart of Gold Coast. If you live in Gold Coast you know how very little grocery/convenient stores there are in the area.

What a rip-off! I needed a coffee cake for some visitors, and decided to go to Potash. The coffee cake was pre-packaged, smaller, and twice the price of coffee cakes at Jewel. When I opened it, I discovered it was stale, too. I also purchased some flowers--another big mistake! Again, they were approximately twice the cost of the identical flowers at Jewel. I was careful to choose one from a bucket that contained some water, since some of them were dry. The flowers died three days later, instead of lasting 10-12 days, that is normal for this particular variety. Would I go there again if I needed something? Nope.

I like Potash Markets. They have all the items of a larger store but have a cozy feel. Th Gold Coast location is super convenient. There are a ton of residential high rise buildings and hotels filled with people who need to grocery shop or just need a few things. The market has a great salad and soup bar. There's a flower department too. The deli, meat and seafood areas offer fresh selections in attractive display cases. The store is clean and easy to shop in. The staff is always helpful and friendly. The prices are a bit high but this is a small, downtown store. It's just expected. Parking is difficult but bus #36 stops right outside of the store.

Their BBQ chicken pizza is amazing! And the employees are awesome.They have a great meat counter.

This small business has really worked to keep up with the trendy and larger chain grocery stores in the area. Also, they've really brushed up on service (special mention to Dave in Specialty Cheese Etc and Patricia at Check-out). I specifically want to mention that I consider their meat department to be the best when compared to WF, Dom's, Mariano's and Jewel. (Eataly is there and also a contender but since Covid, they changed some things for their business model.) Also, I love their wine selection. Many different styles and prices.

Great meat department!!!! Certain meats priced cheaper than Whole Foods (i.e the Amish Chicken Tenders!!) Nice wine selection!! They also carry Cutwater Spirits in a can Lime Margarita!! It's not like 211.. It's classier and it has 12.5% alcohol in it. I have coming to Potash since I was a little girl. Still excellent customer service and helpful workers!!! Keep up the stellar service!! :)

I like this market. I bought a chocolate keto ice cream from here that was really good. It's a great place to get quick groceries and snacks at an affordable price. Their hours are great and it's super convenient.

The people that work there that receive deliveries are absolutely the worst and most rude people I've ever dealt with!

Just moved in down the street and was excited to have a grocery store so close. They have all the essentials you need but it's so expensive. Everything I got was like 50% more than what you'd get at a Trader Joe's or a Marianos it was insane! I went to pick up food for a quick dinner with the girlfriend. I got stuff for turkey burgers and a couple snacks and what would typically be $30-40 was $60! I get a weeks worth of food from Trader Joe's for $75 and this was just one meal. For example one avocado was like $3.50 which is typically like $1.75 or less at other markets. I will go back for random things here and there bc it's convenient but I will not do my full time shopping here. Also, the guys behind the counter in the back were super nice and enjoyed my conversation with them.

Your typical neighborhood grocery store if your neighborhood is ultra-wealthy. You won't see people shopping in mink coats because they send their household staff to do it. I'm only half kidding. High priority items are in aisle 1: Cheese & wine. Many of each. The wine is really closer to aisle 2 but it's kind of in its own space. The floral section is close--to maximize your chance of gettin some. Produce section is top notch- 5 stars. Sushi station, deli, salad bar, meat, whatever--I have a story: I used to buy their rotisserie chicken, but I got sick a few times and I was pretty sure the chicken did it. Either underdone or not kept hot enough on their hot-shelves. I'm not trying to establish a lawsuit. I stopped buying there after getting the wrong reaction from a manager (not Art). I approached the guy with a spirit of helpfulness: It's a little too pink and maybe turn up the heat on the display. I was a happy helpful customer but this guy turned angry and defensive and denied my experience. And that was when I decided to shop elsewhere. There's a lesson there, so pay attention. Prices are high. Like Whole Foods & 7-11 combined. But you pay for convenience and it's the Gold Coast so don't complain -- get in the car and drive to a cheaper place. Their bread selection is weak. Lots of factory bread. The kind that you can squeeze into a ball shape and it stays in that shape. Good bread doesn't do that. I miss Treasure Island on Elm because they had a huge array of artisanal or small batch bread. Produce is great, everything else is meh and marked up to the roof. Cashiers and stock boys are very helpful and polite. Edit: Someone said that some places use about-to-expire chickens in the rotisserie. I'm not accusing Potash of this practice. Art seems like a good guy. The manager I dealt with was not a good manager.

Overcharging on produce by charging the wrong items constantly. This is the 3rd time that they have overcharged 2 times on rama tomatoes and one time on the Swiss cheese pre-packaged 2 different kinds and different prices, So today I finally complaint but I didn't have the patience to deal or listen to how she didn't make a mistake and that I was charged the right price. " like I care about few lousy dollars" I will make it a mission to take a picture of the cashier to avoid. Shes is on tho older side maybe in her 60s and super short usually stationed next to the liquer cabinet. My recommendations is to go to the a different cashier and avoid this scam artist !!!

From groceries to household items, I can always find what I'm looking for here! I tend to visit the market for small grocery trips when I don't have the time to drive all the way to jewel and I just need a few things here and there. The staff here is one of the main reasons I love it here, they are all extremely friendly and helpful making it a joy to shop here! My favorites are the guys that work in the alcohol section and help you find whatever you're looking for and even give out free samples sometimes! Even though it is a smaller market, they have such a great variety of everything you might need. Especially the beer and wine selection, it's huge and incredible! Some of my favorite go-tos from the Potash are the BBQ sriracha boneless wings, build-your-own sandwiches from the deli counter, and the fresh sushi rolls!

nice lil place in the city had the claws i needed and decent walk from my hotel overall a good experience -gonefishin69

Still as reliable as most Potash markets are. Most of what you need is available. They had, what I thought was a good selection of fresh fruits and vegetables. One of the good and most complete supplies of grocery needs. Meats are always fresh; stocks are always new due to fast moving accountability. Always clean and tidy. People are friendly and helpful. They work diligently to serve customers quick and this is helpful to avoid having to queue for long periods. The cashier I encountered is kind and accommodating. My experience at Potash market is always good. Definitely a good place for grocery shopping.

Yes it's slightly overpriced. Yes it doesn't have the most basic grocery items sometimes (they never have shiitake mushrooms). But most of the time, I find what I need to make dinner and that's what matters. They have an extensive selection of meats and wine. All the cashiers are efficient so you never have to wait long to check out. They just brought back their rewards program in the form of a mobile app so if you download it, you get a coupon for $5 off on a $25+ order along with many other deals.

Though a tad bit expensive for my standard, Potash Markets still boasts a wide range of goods a local supermarket could offer. Upon entry, you can find stacked drinks and foods including an array of wine, beer, and champagne options. Maybe it's my confirmation bias, seeing those first for some reason haha.. anyway, the options are nice. The meats are on the pricier side, but that depends what other stores you are comparing to. With the comfort of distance, I would choose Potash over Whole Foods for now. If you are looking for a well-organized, quiet market, Potash is a fine bet. They've earned my trust for sure.

This review is for the deli/bakery counter at Potash Market. This night, I was too tired to go out to a restaurant for dinner. So, I decided to go by Potash Market to pick up some stuff and eat a light dinner in my hotel room. I got to the deli/bakery counter and just wanted one of their chocolate desserts. The gentleman behind the counter who was cleaning acknowledged my request and asked that one of his coworkers come and help me. She did not greet me or even make initial eye contact. She was wearing headphones and was either listening to music or talking on her phone with someone. After I politely told her what I wanted, she grabbed the item, printed out a price tag, and put it in the container. During this time, she was either muttering on the phone to the other person on the line about me... or she was just talking under her breath. I could tell by her body language and the way that she treated me that she was annoyed. After I got my dessert item, I saw a sign that was partially hidden that said that they were closed and grab any deli/bakery items from the grab and go area. Look, I made a mistake and did not know that you were closed. If you told me that you were closed and I couldn't get anything from the display case, I would have understood and looked for something else. You didn't have to give me attitude as I was a paying customer. It has been a long time since I've received horrible customer service...but I definitely got it this time. Great way to treat your customers. The market itself was nice and had a lot of great items for purchase... I just didn't appreciate the treatment that I received. Sounds like this would be a good incident to use for some positive customer service training.

love this market. makes the neighborhood. cannot imagine life right now without it.

Average market in the city with adequate selection and okay prices. Not the cleanest/brightest/most welcoming market in the world.

A small grocery store right in the gold coast, not super expensive but not cheap, they have a pretty good craft beer selection, they also have hot food to go, and a deli for sandwiches to order, I got the italian sandwich, comes with cole slaw and a pickle for 7.99, not a bad deal, they have chairs and tables in front to eat and hang out, I have a friend who lives in the area so I've been here a few times now, staff is always nice and helpful and I'm always in and out very quickly

EDIT: bought charmin ultra soft mega roll toilet paper 6 count which is normally around $10 or below. The price was nowhere to be found where the TP was displayed. Got to the register and it was $14.... A little bit of an excessive up charge IMO. Potash has a pretty good selection of wines, beers, cheeses, meats, and prepared foods, which is the only reason I rate them 2 stars. However, the produce is very over priced for the quality - it's almost too easy to find rotten fruits and vegetables. Sometimes they don't carry simple grocery items. And I've purchased ice cream/popsicles that have melted and refroze. One of my fondest memories I have of this store is when a few items I was purchasing did not have a price tag on them and the cashier just made up prices on the spot (which of course were overestimated). Most of the staff isn't friendly and ignores you. I really only come here for the convenience given the close proximity to my apartment. But if you're on a budget and enjoy quality food, spend your money elsewhere.

The best word I can use to describe this place is interesting. I was very hungry, stopped in, saw they had a deli with boars head products, so figured it was worth giving it a try. The service was hit and miss. The person seemed very disinterested but was way more pleasant with me than another patron. The patron wasn't happy and the person was pretty much like yo badd.. what do you want me to do about it. A few others left as well because of the wait. So the food - they are VERY slow, so don't go when you are in a hurry. Bonus was that you can pick one of the set sandwiches but you can switch out the type of meat and cheese. They had some great recommendations, which I appreciated. Sadly, they were out of some key ingredients - sun-dried tomatoes and thought you could swap out regular tomatoes with sun-dried tomatoes.. uhm no sir! But he didn't seem very interested in helping me resolve and put them on there (gross)! The guy at the cheese counter was a gem! The people at the checkout counters were friendly. Wouldn't go out of my way to get back, but if options were limited, I'd go back.

Half a gallon of organic milk was $8.89. The cheese and deli meats that were in the fridge section were already expired by over A WEEK. Not a great selection of just about anything. Have fun getting hassled by people on your way inside and enjoy standing around waiting a cashier. I'm going to look into buying my own cow after my single shopping experience at this establishment. It's probably cheaper, fresher, faster, and moos less.

Potash Brothers- I think you can find everything in this store that you might need except for world peace and condoms... They have a decent wine section...if you are on a date you should probably spend more than $5 on the Sutter Home variety... There prices just cant be beat at thick awesome steaks for under $7. The cheese is awesome and always fresh. My one complaint would be that if you are shopping late in the day, the bagels are not fresh and appear to have been made earlier in the day. Other than that...everything is ok.

I found the large woman that is typically in the first cashier lane near the frozen food section to be incredibly lazy and unhelpful. She's relatively young and able bodied, but she acts as though her knees will collapse if you ask her for help retreiving an item. I have been coming here routinely for years, but her attitude soured me on the entire expierence.

Very posh, upscale urban market with an unbelievable wine and liquor selection as well as fantastic culinary gadgets that I have seen nowhere before. It's right around the corner from Loyola so I'm sure the young feel emanates from the young buying clientele. I bought fifty bucks of stuff I didn't need so anyone afflicted with Impulse Buying Disorder (IBD), as I am, should walk in with a fixed amount of cash and no credit cards.

A tad bit on the pricy side but that's not a total surprise given the location. The staff are nice and helpful. The store is always clean and I've never noticed a stock issue. I stopped in here daily to pick up what I need for the day. Happy to support a local business.

When Treasure Island closed...R.I.H. (Rest In Heaven)... Potash Bros immediately became Bae. Their meat dept is like the best. I hate getting meat from Mariano's or Jewel. Potash Bro.'s meat is super fresh while also giving you local butcher vibes. Last year, they had little bitty pot roasts for those who didn't have big families to share with. The Chili you get from the salad bar is some of the best in the city. Its super flavorful and spicy. The store isnt the biggest and was clearly created for the high-rise upstairs but it gets the job done.

I only shop here out of convenience. All store clerks are rude and only concerned about themselves and their personal conversations. Today the women checking me out at the service desk was on the telephone having a personal conversation about tickets she purchased. She did not once acknowledge me. On other occasions the clerks are having personal conversations with each other and can barley look at you in the eye! Management needs to take the staff on a field trip to Trader Joe's!! Some great learnings could be had around customer service. Especially if you want to be know as a neighborhood grocer.

They have a great wine selection, their sushi is tasty and nicely prepared, the fresh, hot food looks delicious, and they offer Boar's Head deli meats! So why 2 stars? Their staff. I've visited this store maybe 4 times, and only managed to get what I wanted once. The people behind the counter aren't very friendly, and more often than not they range from being slow to straight up ignoring you (hence why I mentioned that the hot food LOOKS good. I wouldn't know, because I can't ever get someone to actually serve me). The store is set up inconveniently and uncomfortably, but even the best layout in grocery-store history wouldn't help Potash until the staff get their act together.

I was in town for the weekend, and it was the closest grocery store from my hotel. It's very small; however, you get what you're looking for. Leaf vegetables in a salad bar weren't fresh even though it was in the morning. I rather go to the other grocery stores if I want to get better a salad bar.

4 stars because I really want this little market to survive. I don't go there for cheap prices. I do go there for convenience and good service. Now and then you may experience the issue of small store vs what you're looking for. Yesterday, no butcher at around 9 am. So, we went to Jewel. Still, we appreciate this store and thanks for being here for us.

I am a huge fan of this place if only for the fact that they offer Boar's head lunch meat. The wine selection is pretty good although some of the prices on packaged goods are a bit higher than at Mariano's and even Whole Foods. I did get a couple of nectarines- one was stringy and the other was perfect- but that is more reflective of an inconsistent summer fruit situation than this particular market. It's odd that the olive bar is behind a deli counter but perhaps that was a conscious decision to save space in this 'cozy' store. The location isn't as close as other stores that I frequent but now that I know I can source my Boar's Head deli products from here, I'll be back.

This place is absolute trash. Constantly Has the worst produce I've ever seen. Everything is overpriced and they fail to have the simplest of items, like French onion soup. Today they just started making up prices at the cash register for things they didn't know. For example they charged $10 for a cheap meat thermometer and $5.99 for corn that was marked $3.99 ON THE package. Customer service is terrible. Just walk an extra 3 blocks south to jewel osco. Edit: They did refund us the money after we asked about it but they still had no idea how much the thermometer cost. They literally made up prices on the spot. Super odd

This is an excellent neighborhood market! Many of the hot food items are very affordable and delicious.

Store is so dirty! Prices are exorbitant. If you're desperate for one or two items while in the Gold Coast, it's sort of OK.