Arianna S.
Yelp
Honestly I do quite like this store because it's usually very convenient to get to and the hours are good. They've been open until 12AM... forever, which is a big bonus for me and a lot of other people on my life. Also, I always see customers running in there late at night. I'm giving a 2-star rating after this experience, though, because checking out was bizarre. Recently I've been going to the Hicksville location, not NHP, and I noticed they were changing their hours at Hicksville and closing at 10PM.
I just finished a visit at my usual New Hyde Park location, albeit a late one, finishing around 10:50PM. I went to the self-checkout where I usually go and how I usually check out. I did assume they were closing at 11PM after looking at their hours on Google (forgot to check their app) but then when I went to the store, the hours were still listed as still closing at 12AM 7 days a week. Regardless, I went there early enough where even if they were closing at 10PM, I'd still be good. Anyway, I wound up spending way too much time in there and was a bit sporadic trying to also pick up some things for a family member as well. I get to the self-checkout where most of the checkouts are closed, but a couple are open and being used. There's no line, so I stroll my cart to look for some open ones- they wind up all being closed. Meanwhile, when I finally realize that, I also notice this employee who had been talking at me, saying "ma'am!, ma'am!," over and over again. Initially I did not know she was talking to me because I was looking at the screens of the self-checkouts to see if they're open, and I also had my AirPods in. A bit embarrassing, whatever. She then tells me she has to check me out at her station at the head of the self-checkout, I said that I didn't mind waiting to use the ones that were open, but she informs me that she's trying to close the other couple that were open. I don't really have a choice at this point, but okay. Let me note that there's NO screen whatsoever to see the items that are being scanned, the prices, if they're being scanned properly. Also, I personally use the self-checkout because I hate feeling like someone is breathing down my neck, and sometimes I'm trying to decide between a couple of different items, so I don't like the rush. And I think all the points I've stated about the self-checkout is largely what draws people to them in the first place. I understand I got there late and close to closing unbeknownst to me, but the manner of checkout myself and others had to use was just STRANGE. The woman checking me out also made me feel quite uncomfortable. I'm standing there with all the stuff in my cart, I pick up an item unsure if I'm getting it, she asks me "are you okay?" like what?! Huh?! I have such a pattern when I go here that I'm used to and all of a sudden I'm trying to check out, I can't see prices, I can't make sure my items are being scanned properly and not potentially getting scanned for more than what I have, I'm feeling very bombarded. This employee is telling me they've now been closing at 11PM and she usually closes the self-checkout at 10:45PM, she's telling me and another employee and other customers how badly she had to "go to the bathroom" and "I have to pee, but people keep coming!"... she asks me if I want bags, I expect her to have them but she doesn't, then she's scanning a mile a minute and I have ZERO time to bag... I got three bags and had enough time to bag about half of one of my three bags, and no, she isn't helping, nor offering to help. She says to me "sometimes I get frazzled when I'm shopping, too,"... at this point I'm almost finished and I'm just brushing it off as this girl is peculiar... I wound up walking out rushed as hell with most of my groceries still in the cart rolling around. I didn't even know they were closing, they didn't say anything over the loudspeakers, she wasn't turning people away, but was complaining to everyone around how badly she "had to pee." I guess try avoiding the blue/green-haired employee at the self-checkout, or maybe I'm dramatic. I think I was just most bothered by her asking me "are you okay?" because I didn't know wtf kind of weird system she had running, all because she "had to pee."
Also, to take a turn onto the store itself, some entire areas of the store were totally barren, mostly the frozen vegetable aisle. They didn't even have the basics like frozen mixed vegetables, frozen spinach, corn, broccoli, etc. It just sucks because it's basically the only real, true grocery store in New Hyde Park. Whatever.
Lastly: barely ANY mask wearing on behalf of the staff. As another reviewer stated here 4 months ago, that's still true. Despite the fact they deem COVID risky enough to change their hours, they cannot just wear masks, which is very disappointing. There are signs all over about the state mask mandate, but their own employees do not oblige. More customers than employees wearing masks