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Choices Market
Categories: Food Specialty Food Health Food Store Food Grocery Health Food Store, Grocery [Edit]
1202 Richards StVancouver, BC V6B 3G2
Neighbourhood: Downtown
(604) 633-2392
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
26 reviews for Choices Market
Review Highlights
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"But buying organic and 'clean' usually is." In 13 reviews -
"I have had some delicious local produce and fresh made deli..." In 3 reviews -
"...foods including a salad bar, healthy prepared foods to go..." In 2 reviews
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26 reviews in English
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Review from Ayaka H.
2/29/2012
I love Choices in Yaletown because of how close it is to where I live. This place deserves 5 stars because it has everything I want in a supermarket. I am tired of going to Save-on-Foods where they have countless rotting vegetables / fruits for a dirt cheap price!
If you are a health conscious eater, I highly suggest Choices. They have foods to suit everybody's lifestyle/dietary needs (gluten-free, low-carb, diabetic friendly, etc) for a reasonable price. Sometimes they have really good deals too. Choices is one of those places where you can get nutritionally dense foods that taste very good.
The health products section is small but packed with lots of great things and I was surprised to find my Toms of Maine toothpaste and other food supplements.
Their salad bar is fresh and worth trying even though they don't offer soup. The readily made food is always nutritious and delicious and good for days when I don't feel like cooking.
The queue is always long but moves very quickly because of their efficient employees. Even though they are busy all the time they are always very friendly.
The vegetables and fruits for sale are never rotting and molding, unlike in Save-on-Foods.
Highly recommended. -
Review from P G.
Vancouver, BC
4/7/2012
I couldn't find shredded cabbage...you know in a bag...because I don't enjoy shredding my own cabbage. I didn't ask the employee but I couldn't locate it anywhere! The produce looked fresh though, even on a Sunday eve.
I settled for some organic maple syrup at a very good price, and some organic tomato sauce...but there was a line-up, on a Sunday, after 10...wtf people?!?!
Next time I'll check out their bakery...I'm curious to see if it's better than Whole Foods. -
Review from Allan-ester D.
Vancouver, BC
5/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
excellent store...always stocked well...pretty much always have what i need
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Review from Kristen M.
Vancouver, BC
3/5/2012
Choices actually has limited choices, although in the last 8 years of living across the street it has gotten better...there was a time when you couldn't even find salsa under $10....
Sadly it's so close that I am usually still there once a week. But I stick to picking up basics like cereal, milk, eggs, etc. and try to get produce & meat elsewhere. -
Review from Gary M.
Updated - 11/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Popped into Choices last night for a snack to cure my hankering for something sweet yet substantial.
Cookie Isle. Choices Bakery Whole Wheat Birds nest cookies. Big, fluffy looking with raspberry jam in the middle. SOLD.
Came home, made some TWG Tea from Singapore. Cracked open the cookies and enjoyed.
Cookies: Not too sweet. Soft, yet slightly crunchy. Love at first bite.
These bad boys are dangerous. Three were gone in no time....
but they were delightful.
Good work Choices Bakery!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/1/2011
I am not sure why I am not super crazy for the supermarkets in my neighbourhood. Maybe it is because… Read more »
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Review from Alice A.
5/8/2011
I made a special trip to Choices because they carry a wide range of West Coast Seeds and I wanted to expand my spring collection.
Upon entering the market, I was immediately drawn to its warm and inviting atmosphere. There are a good variety of organic products and produce. It feels more like a local market rather than a upscale organic store.
Fan. Converted. -
Review from Melissa E.
Vancouver, BC
3/19/2011
I'm one of those people that does their groceries at about 5 different places...yes, i'm a grocery whore and i am only loyal to price and quality... Capers for yoghurt, coffee, almond milk, bread and sale items; Aria Market for veggies and fruit; No Frills for canned and packaged staples; Tango Meats for meats...and Choices I also hit for specific items i can't get anywhere for as good a deal...this can be fish, supplements, soap, tea etc. You can get particularly great deals on sockeye.
And I have to say i'm usually really impressed by the sale items here too.
So if you're looking for quality items at a cheap price...check it out.Listed in: Here fishy fishy fishy
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Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
11/25/2009 8 Check-ins Here
Of all of the Choices Markets in Vancouver I have to chose from, this one get's me every time. It could be the convenience. I can walk here, I can ride here, or when I drive, and in the miserable autumn rain, yes I do drive - I always seem to find parking here.
20 minutes is just enough time to do a big grocery shop, complete with aisle browsing for deals. 2 for 1 organic jam, don't mind if I do!
Choices has made me a a bigger shopper. Spend over $15 and you start earning points towards $20 off your next shopping trip. Spend over $60 and you earn even more. I gotta say, it's rewarding cashing in that $20. Smart on Choices part too - I inevitably use the collecting of points as a reason to buy an expensive artisan oil, pricey Candied Salmon or a few extra boxes of Nature's Path cereal - even when it's not on sale! -
Review from Faraaz J.
Vancouver, BC
1/22/2011
The best place to get organic items and those obscure baking needs.
It is a little bit expensive, but you get what you pay for. And if you follow their online newsletter, you can get some pretty great deals. They're the only place downtown that I know of that sells "Elevate Me" Protein bars and my number one place to grab freshly squeezed bottle juice (they sometimes have 2 for 1 sales).
Awesome place and great location (few blocks up from the canada line) -
Review from Kelly K.
Vancouver, BC
9/19/2011
I only shop here because I live next door - but wish I had pretty much any other grocery store here. It's way overpriced, their meat selection is horrible (as is the selection of most other items), and they always leave expired product on the shelves. My gf came home today with expired Ricotta cheese and this prompted my review as I'm so sick of it. I'm going to start driving to Whole Foods on Cambie and suggest you do too.
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Review from Victoria R.
Vancouver, BC
4/15/2010
Choices is my go-to when I can't make it to a farmer's market or have run out of groceries mid week.
Lets start with the bad:
-Not everything they sell is eco-friendly; they have some products that are more 'green washed' than green. You still have to pick and choose and weed out the liars, but it's one of the best.
-Yes, it's expensive. But buying organic and 'clean' usually is. By using your purchase power to educate the grocery stores of what you would like to see in their shops, the price of organic foods will start to drop and meet conventional food prices (here's hoping!)
Now on to the good:
-They sell organics, and lots of it. I buy my tomatoes, my onions, my potatoes, my garlic, my EVERYTHING here because it's just so easy.
-They let you have the choice of packaging with paper or plastic, and I choose paper because it's recyclable and doesn't take 100 years to biodegrade.. so please, think about that before you default to plastic. Even better, bring your own bag, you get a small discount for doing so.
-They carry local food, and always state where the produce came from. That means I can pause and think "wait a sec, these tomatoes came from mexico, those tomatoes came from BC.. lets go with the BC ones and help a local farmer out while also reducing the carbon footprint of my food" - that little pause has a huge effect on our environment - so please do it.
-They have knowledgeable and friendly staff. Let's face it, when your'e dealing in fresh produce, sometimes you'll run into an apple that's a little bruised, a tomato that is softer than it should be. Point it out to them and they'll remove it. Ask them which apple is best during which season and they'll tell you the timeline in which they personally switch from ambrosia to gala to pink lady. They also will carry your bags out to your car, or wherever you need within reasonable distance.
-They have a great checkout system. It's one line. No more standing in one and realising that the line beside you is moving faster than yours, switching only to see your previous line breeze through. Everyone lines up in one place, and you get the next available attendant.
-They sell so much more than just groceries. I buy all my makeup there because it's natural and plant based and paraben/preservative free. I also buy my cleaning products there (laundry soap, dishwasher soap, detergent and cleaning cloths) because they offer plant based alternatives that aren't cruel to the planet. They sell unbleached toilet paper and unbleached kitchen roll, I'm sold.
-They have a loyalty card that gives you $20 back. I think they've given me $100 to date, possibly more. That makes me happy - I earn back the pennies more that organics cost from conventional foods. Now you have no reason not to make the switch.
-They have organic meat, organic eggs, organic milk, organic yogurt. While I prefer to buy my eggs at the farmers market where I can talk to the farmer about his chickens, and I prefer to buy my meat from somewhere that can tell me it's grass fed, this is still the next best thing because I know it's organic. -
Review from Peter S.
4/16/2009 3 Check-ins Here
I shop at Choices because it is way better than Capers, they sell a decent amount of local produce when in season, and they often have gnarly sales on very random but crucial items like Green & Black's Organic Chocolate (quite often 2 for $5).
All of the Choices stores seem to be slightly disorganized, the Cambie one being the champ, but they make up for it with quality organic produce and foodstuffs. The odd time I am totally let down with crappy wilted veggies and overpriced fish and poultry, but I'd say it is a very rare occurrence indeed. Their products really aren't that overpriced if you can appreciate paying for local organic food from a Canadian company.
I used to spend my money on quantity, oblivious to what I was consuming. Thankfully, I now spend on quality. They say "ignorance is bliss" ... Uhhhh, not so much when it comes to the food that fuels your brain and body. Organic all the way! Plus it just tastes better.Listed in: Organic is the way to go, Fruit and Veg, Grocery stores
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Review from Bradley C.
Vancouver, BC
8/10/2009
I used to avoid Choices because I assumed it was just expensive. However, since it's on the way home from work, it's become a bit of a habit. And you know what? I really like it!
Choices has a great selection - organic meats, local vegetables, and clear information about where their food is from. As someone who aims to shop local as much as possible, this is essential! Their sales are really decent, and I've almost earned enough frequent-shopper points to get some free groceries! Can't complain about that!
I bought one of their free range BBQ chickens the other day - it lasted the two of us three meals, along with 3 cups of chicken stock. And I know the chickens are happy chickens, which makes me happy, too! -
Review from Kirk C.
Vancouver, BC
10/9/2011
Decent produce and very nice staff.
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Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
2/1/2010
I really like Choices... it's different, more upscale I would say.... and lots of unique selections, things I would never imagine myself eating. and for that - I give Choices 4 Stars... but thanks to fancy schmancy supermarkets - I can tell you where to find:
UDDER BOYS ICE CREAM - aka. 101 Things to Eat before you die!
- Van mag recommends you try the roasted Coconut... Rachael (that would be me).. SECONDS THAT!
In a little tub like Haagen Daaz, I could not justify paying 6.99 for it... but it was on sale for 3.99!!!!! cha-ching! seriously I wanted to buy all the flavours - Mango, Real Coffee, Vanilla Bean, soo chocolate... but I jumped on the roasted coconut bang wagon.... and I was dreading the amount of fat this ice cream had (sorry I'm a health freak.. who happens to love apple pie).
I refused to get another flavour although I was worried my bf would not eat it... oh well that would mean more for me.
One bite of this ice cream and you are absolutely in coconut cream heaven. It was soo coconutty and creamy and .....
.. I can't talk about it anymore or else I might go and eat the rest of the little carton. Wishful thinking, my bf LOVED IT and we had to have seconds.
UDDER BOYS - haha nice name! You get 5 stars for creativity and deliciousness.
CHOICES - you get 4 stars because I cannot afford everything you sell.
.... and for my 250th post.. I was going to write about apple pie... but roasted coconut ice cream won the war this time.... now what would roasted coconut ice cream taste on apple pie??? hmmm.... -
Review from Jeremy S.
Vancouver, BC
3/24/2010
Choices... Hmmm... The choice are somewhat limited. If you love organic overpriced food, this is the place for you. I guess I'm only bitter because shopping here regularly is slightly out of my budget. However I live a block away and it is the only grocery store within 10 minutes.
I still give this place 3 stars, because the quality is great! I have had some delicious local produce and fresh made deli items. You just have to pay a premium for them :(
The location is great and pretty central however, and I guess for yaletown it fits right in! -
Review from Dani B.
5/21/2009
Great, selection, reasonable prices, and BC owned and operated. These things are all very important to me when I do my grocery shopping, and their organic and locally made selection is top notch. I love their deli selection and the set up is really easy to find what you need. They also sell plants and little gifts, so I would recommend this place for several goods and not just food.
Some things can be a bit pricey but they have a lot of specials that can't be beat. -
Review from Whitney L.
Vancouver, BC
2/1/2009
I may have a grocery store fetish. I scope them out wherever I am. It doesn't matter what city or the time of day. I don't care if it's The Grocery Outlet or if i have to pass through security in order to step foot in Dean & DeLuca. I have to see and experience every last one of them. Perhaps this is a little extreme but that's why we call it a fetish right?!
Choices is my favourite grocery store in Vancouver's dt core. It offers prepared foods including a salad bar, healthy prepared foods to go, a rice flour bakery ( partly why i love the place so much ), fruits, vegetables, a great selection of cereal and anything else that you could possibly ask for. And in case that's not enough it's completely Canadian owned and operated so you know that you are supporting the locals.
Prices are very reasonable although i always recommend getting your produce at a market (think kits, commercial, main, chinatown) and buy your chips and ice cream at iga or safeway....Listed in: Grocery shopping at its best!
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Review from Molly D.
Vancouver, BC
4/1/2010
This is my favourite grocery store deli. Excellent salads, and hot food. As for the grocery side, it is on the pricey side, unless you happen to find your items on sale, but it's so convenienent to just run in and run out again without having to traipse through a giant store.
Molly -
Review from Kat D.
4/4/2011
Choices Yaletown, I beseech you, stop putting Barbara's White Cheddar Cheese Puffs on sale week after week. I am only human, fallible and as soon as I get inside without even having had time to dig my list out of my purse I have to pass a mountain of cheese puffs bags almost as high as the ceiling. If I keep my eyes averted I could trip on one of the small dogs waiting near the door. Now that Barbara's is owned by Weetabix they have all the power to discount the product. It's Easter time and the same is happening at this store with Green & Black's organic chocolate which is actually a Kraft product. I come to Choices for affordable wild fish, Sesame Tamari salad dressing, ground turkey, lettuce, oranges designed by Ferrari,(I assume that given their price) and the sign they put at the head of the line that asks customers to finish any cell phone conversations before approaching a cashier. Given the predilection of so many Vancouverites to treat cashiers and service staff as if they were not worthy of anything more than hand signals to indicate an answer to "paper or plastic?"
or "would you like to order?", "hi, how are you?" or, worst of all, to express "wait" while I finish this terribly important phone conversation,
with an upturned finger, I am very glad that Choices will not accept such rudeness and disrespect toward their staff.
One quibble: wIth their good selection of non-wheat, dry pasta I am disappointed that they don't have my favourite brand of Italian spelt pasta, Pantanella, which is tastier than wheat and has more protein. -
Review from Brian L.
Vancouver, BC
11/5/2010
Great local market that isn't like Whole Foods all done up. Unfortunately the selection isn't as great as Whole Foods, but satisifies all your needs. I once had a coconut lentil soup here and it was absolutely delicious!
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Review from Greg G.
Vancouver, BC
1/11/2010
I just moved into a new condo right on Granville St at the foot of the bridge, so I'm new to the area of Midtown. This is pretty much the closest grocery store to me and while it's not exactly my favourite, it is close. I like the organic selection and their commitment to local providers. I would like to see a couple more Choices, *ahahah, get it? open up to the Midtown area though.
Listed in: Moving to Midtown!
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Review from Sebastian P.
Vancouver, BC
6/30/2010
Choices convinces me only in the terms of food quality and certain basic products. When they have special pricing you can but the one or other addition as well. I find their juices especially very much overpriced when they are not marked down. The deli and bakery products are great quality and the vegetable&fruit department has always fresh and organic goods available. The service is pretty good and I only live 33 steps away so it makes the 'choice' somewhat easy. I wouldnt come/drive from further away though - then you might better go to Costco right away, this is a Neighbourhood Market !
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Review from Ali L.
Montréal, QC
11/19/2009
Choices is at the midway point between the major groceries, like Safeway, who sell lots of junk I don't need and waste my time, and the high-end groceries like Capers/Whole Foods where there is a lifestyle premium charge on everything. It's BC owned, has good quality without astronomical prices, and the specials can't be beat.
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Review from Luisa D.
9/9/2009 43 Check-ins Here
Although I order a lot of my groceries online through SPUD I still make an almost daily trek to Choice's on my lunch break to pick up any missing ingredients for dinner. I love to be able to buy organic, local produce daily and they often have really good specials on cheese and meat. I don't find that their prices are more expensive than Safeway but the quality is a lot better. Their selection is smaller than Urban Fare but they still have the essentials. I use their Choices Preferred Shopper card and rack up the points every time I spend more than $15. Once you hit 2000 points you get $20 off your purchase and I've actually had this a few times now. I figure you might as well take advantage of any chance to get cash back when it doesn't cost you extra. One other way to save a few cents is to take your own bags. It's not a lot of money but at least you're helping the environment too!
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Review from J G.
Vancouver, BC
9/5/2008 1 photo
Like all of the Choices, this one is airy, well-organized and fresh. What is lovely about this Choices is the salad bar with a nice range of fresh goodies and the outdoor tables where you can sit down, Yaletown style, and have a bite. Of course, this store carries all the organic, sustainable groceries, paper products and wellness/beauty products your enviro-friendly imagination could dream up.
