Food Bowl Market & Deli, San Diego CA

I am a preschool teacher who provides care for some of my family’s on the weekends and off school days. This store has been a fun stop to take the children for waters, fruits and snacks on our neighborhood adventures.
On December 31st, I stopped by with two of my children on such an occasion. We bought 2 waters, some zucchini, pasta, and $2.48 of salami. (One of the children’s favorite snacks which they get into immediately).
As we left, I realized I didn’t have the hand wipes I usually carry to clean them before eating.
We turned about and went back in to the store get the wipes, and asparagus (@ 18 all said for the day) I hoped to couple with the zucchini and pasta. When checking out the SECOND time, one of the women pointed out that the children were eating the salami, that I hadn’t paid. I said, ‘oh no this is our second time through, and had checked that out the first time. I offered to retrieve the receipt from the bag in my backpack. The woman responded, ‘have a happy new year’. I wished her the same, and we left.
I was again under the charge of these children on January 2, when we made the same trip to the market. We went to get their treats at the deli counter when the same ‘happy new year’ woman began accusing me and the children of stealing the $2.48 of salami on our previous trip. I tried to explain the mistake and she YELLED at myself and the children that we ‘could no longer shop there! That there was video of US stealing the ($2.48) meat and ‘never come there again! ’
I was flabbergasted and ushered the children from the store. I couldn’t fathom how this person would feel the need to publicly chastise and humiliate any person, much less some woman and children.
IF in fact I had forgotten to pay the salami, I had paid for all of my other groceries. IN FACT, a few months prior, an elderly couple was shopping when the gentleman collapsed onto a shopping cart. The children and I rushed to his aid. His wife was close behind and we helped them to the front. I PAID for THIER groceries along with mine and one of the staff ran it out to their car. The woman came back in to thank me, and I told her, ‘just get him home and you take care of each other’.
THAT is behavior I expected from a neighborhood grocery.
I am appalled at the treatment I received from this establishment, not just for myself, but for the children I had to explain the episode to. They, and I, were in absolute shock and shaken by the whole experience.
Even if I had been some woman who had stolen $2.48 of meat to feed children, THAT is the response of the staff! Absolutely DISGUSTING!
Once I gather myself up enough to go in and talk to whom ever runs this store, I will, but know that this is a small community and I will spread the word of my encounter.
Respectfully,
Nancy Starkey

South Park San Diego's independent grocery store. Carries a decent selection of everyday food items and dry goods with an emphasis on northern Mexican food stuffs. Excellent selection of craft and mass-produced beers. Full service butcher counter and San Diego's finest homemade salsas and chips.

Pretty expensive supermarket.
The closest target is cheaper and they offer similar selection, you better go there if you don't have anywhere else to go.
The service was ok.

Pretty pricey compared to how it used to be be when it was a cool little Mexican market back in the day. Gentrification

Convenient? Sure. And I'm all for spring small business. I work for one, always have. The prices though. Yikes. Try Target first. Sorry to say, but when it's nearly half the price. It's hard to argue. $6 for eggs? !

This is no longer San Diego’s best kept secret, since everyone now knows about it. Great little local grocery market and even better deli. I was looking forward to the street tacos since starting a cross country drive back here. They did not disappoint.

The house made salsas are awesome (wide selection) along with their own tortilla chips. Very friendly staff. Highly recommend.

My favorite place to shop groceries and cash my paychecks, everyone is very polite and helpful

Having a market like this in the middle of the neighborhood is a life saver. The deli and meat department never fail to impress.

Nice and clean market, quality produce and meats, delicious Dali sandwiches, tacos and food, plus great customer service from employees

This place is a little bit pricy but they have a good selection of goods and they take Apple Pay so that’s a plus! They close at 9pm

My family lives nearby- since I was a little girl this is the only place I will eat Queso Fresco from. It’s the best! They also have good quality meat & produce- friendly and helpful people too. I highly recommend coming here.

If you like tacos from T. J. (south of the border) then you gotta try these $2 tacos, they are just like TJ tacos. Ofcourse they have othe items as well.

I live in the neighborhood and it's convenient great prices and great prices in great quality food

I like coming here when I need a few grocery items, for convenience and their quick check out. Their prices are usually better than Target (on produce) and they're a lot less crowded overall.