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We're pretty lucky to live within a short train ride to the South Loop, where we can choose between Jewel, Dominick's, Whole Foods and (on Sundays) the Maxwell Street Market. Sometimes, though, even Jewel and Dominick's can be too pricey. Which is why we're glad to know about Pete's Fresh Market. It's one of our secrets, and today we're sharing it with you.
If you're a fan of Cermak Produce and live on the South and West sides, you'll be able to find a Pete's Fresh Market nearby. We've shopped at five of their six locations and are simply astounded by the amount of fresh produce, baked goods, meats, seafood, ethnic specialties and other fresh prepared foods available. Another thing we love about Pete's is that, for a store that carries a fair amount of Certi-Saver products, they're pristine. We've never walked into one and not seen a floor buffer in operation, someone restocking produce like a house of cards, or a bagger wiping down the checkout conveyor. It's an attention to detail that one normally doesn't find in an independent grocery.
Moreover, the cost is unbeatable. We loaded up on fresh produce, chicken breasts and sandwich meats, our bill barely cracking $40. We have enough food to last us a couple weeks, at least. We've uploaded some photos as a tour of Pete's Fresh Market on flickr, so you can get a sense of what is available.
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Pete's Fresh Market is the best - if you can make the drive, you'll think twice about Whole Foods prices - the value is outstanding (and the parking lot is a whole better, too!)
I'm looking for a good place for fresh fish. Do they have any there?
thanks for the tip. pete's fresh market sounds incredible. it reminds me of similar markets that are all over texas. i don't live in the area, but it sounds like it's worth the trip. it's pretty cool of them to name the stores after me, too.
They do have fresh fish at Pete's. I've also picked up some quick seafood cocktails and ceviche for gatherings.
@herstory: Yes! They have very good seafood. It's fresh and the price is good. They also have a real meat counter. Pete's has been one of the best things we have found since we moved to the south side. My wife is one of those people who refolds sweaters and realligns product on the shelves when she goes to stores. At Pete's she doesn't get to do that because the employees bet her to it. :)
I've also noticed that the employees seem to be generally in a good mood. Which makes shopping there even better.
This is a great store! Like Chuck, I've visited several and have never been disappointed. I make a special trip there for ECKRICH Jalapeno Loaf. Makes a great sandwich on a bollilo.
I spend more than $200 a week at Whole Foods. And that does not include lots of snacks or meat. Maybe one bag of chips and 3 meat/fish meals for the week...the rest would be tofu, which is dirt cheap. I still can't believe it when I come home with just 4 bags of groceries that I just forked over $200 for!!
This is just for myself and one child. It's outrageous. I mean, $13 for a whole chicken!!! Up to $13.99 for a pound of salmon!!
But I justify that because it's hormone and antiobiotic free, and blah blah blah.
Is the meat at Pete's good quality? I mean, does it have hormones and all that? Is it dyed yellow like Perdue?
Is the produce organic? Can you get, say, salmon there that is not farm raised?
I haven't tried it yet but there is www.freshpicks.com which delivers organic produce, meat, dairy and bakery goods. They use all local farmers and products which is a concept that I like. So you're going to get mostly seasonal produce. I haven't done a cost analysis on them though, but from what I gleaned they seem pretty pricey as well.
When I think of what I spend on just two people I just wonder how people with larger families feed them if they want to be organic and healthy. I mean...how in the heck can I save money AND be organic and healthy?
ingrid: Pete's, like many Certi-Saver stores, does occasionally carry some organic produce from local organic wholesaler Greenness Goodness. they sell to everyone from Whole Foods to Fairplay, and keep produce wrapped separately so as not to come in contact with other, non-organic produce.
AS far as the deli and seafood are concerned, I can't be entirely certain. Being bilingual helps, in that you can ask the counter folks in both English and Spanish, but from what I've asked all they can tell you is that it's fresh that day. Maybe a manager can go into more detail.
But you should try it out.
I was just here on Saturday because I live right down the street and I've already been to the 4 OTHER GROCERY STORES in the neighborhood so I thought I'd give it a try.
There selection of produce is amazing and so pretty to look at. The prices are pretty average for the neighborhood but definitely fresher and a bigger selection. I got a package of blueberries for 99 CENTS!
unfortunately, I don't eat a lot of meat besides fish and I tend to not eat much bread either, so I couldn't really take advantage of the meat/deli or bakery.
and I gotta admit, for the staples (milk, eggs, bread, pasta, beans) I'd rather go to Aldi or the local, albeit smaller, grocery a block away. It's just cheaper.
cool. i have to ride in from midway, as we're neglected out here.
this looks like it's comparable to whole foods, but cheaper...
There are many other locations too.
1. 4343 South Pulaski Rd
Chicago, IL 60632
Phone: (773) 927-4300
2. 5724 South Kedzie Ave
Chicago, IL 60629
Phone: (773) 925-6200
3. 4700 South Kedzie Ave
Chicago, IL 60632
Phone : (773) 523-4600
4. 5838 South Pulaski Rd
Chicago, IL 60629
Phone : (773) 581-0600
5. 3448 East 118th Street
Chicago, IL 60617
Phone : (773) 646-6400
6. 2526 West Cermak Road
Chicago, IL 60608
Phone : (773) 254-8400
LOVE love love this store for everything
pete's is rad! we go there all the time. a must for pilsen people. they have bob's red mill muesli and the yogurt i like. so i'm pretty much set.
pete's is rad! we go there all the time. a must for pilsen people. they have bob's red mill muesli and the yogurt i like. so i'm pretty much set.
I waited a long time for Pete's to open in Calumet City. Beautiful store but George the Manager is a racist. I noticed very few African American workers. This town is 53% Black, 39 White, and 11% hispanic. I asked the manager why the demographic of the store does not represent the demographic of the town. His reply was "I am not going to hire anyone who will not do their jog." I asked if he was implying that black will not do their job and of course he denied this was his mean. Poor little George is a racist tyrant and a bully. Suppose I believe the assessment that Mexican are dumb and slow learners. How fair would this be. George, sorry to enlighten you but there are people in every culture who are lazy. Yours included; I work with some of them. Pete's is a beautiful store but I will NEVER I step foot in Pete's again thanks to George.
It's unfortunate that you feel this way about a store because of one employee. I have been to all the stores and I don't go to make friends but buy the great stuff they offer.