Coles

Choosing between Coles and Woolies is kind of like choosing between the Beatles and the Stones. You can pretend like you like them both but deep down it’s one or the other. We got sucked in by Coles’ rewards points system early on, and have been with them since. I don’t really complain, because I find the prices reasonable, the selection pretty good, locations are usually convenient, and if they’re ripping me off in a broad corporate kind of way, I don’t really notice it.
This location next to the Central Market is by far the worst Coles in Australia. The produce is always poor quality, the bakery shelves are often empty, and the aisles are so narrow and cramped you can’t turn your head without smacking into another customer. The store invariably smells of rotting eggs. And the trading hours… if you’re going to be closed only 3 hours a day (for cleaning, they tell me) why would you choose the 3 prime hours of 9pm-​midnight? Why not close from, say, 3am to 6am? I’m not a marketing expert, but even I know there will be more people willing to shop at 10:30pm than at 3:30am.
At the least the staff are nice. But I feel bad for them.

First up I should admit I loathe the large supermarket chains, and avoid them where I can, but as this is close to work it does come in handy.
I find that the fruit and veg is almost always fresh. I assume that because this Coles is located next to the Cental Markets that is has to keep high standards.
As a supermarket I use to buy work lunches, I find it very handy. And good prices as well when the bank balance is low.

I hate visiting this Coles but sometimes I’m obliged to. At any other Coles or Woolworths, I have a fair idea where stuff will be. They’re usually as reliable as Bunnings, in that regard. At this one, though, they opted to hide things in the most bizarre locations. And just when I’ve learnt where the things I usually buy are located, they move everything around. At which other Coles do you find stationery in the first aisle? And opposite the chilled section? They don’t even put up those handy store guides that Woolworths has.

I’ve never had the fortune of needing to shop for something at midnight but Coles at the Central Market has always suited me fine for the basic essentials.
The stock is always fresh and full to the brim, the range of health foods is aisle-​worthy and the diversity of teas, milk and even Gaganis stocked products is not to be sneezed at.
Parking is a bit ordinary unless you’re willing to park in the U-​Park or only take 15 minutes there isn’t much on offer.
Meanwhile the service is fantastic, I cannot believe how lovely every check-​out chick/​dude is that I have been served by here — normally its few and far between but at this Coles they seem to specialise in «friendly chat» training.

Ok, I know it seems rather silly to be writing about a giant supermarket that nobody will miss if they ever enter chinatown, but this one holds special significance to me and used to me a nightly haunt for me whenever I was up late at uni and needed a place to walk around or just restock on red bull and chips in the middle of the night.
The only supermarket in town that opens again after midnight, it was like a beacon of hope for all those international students who had come to Adelaide not realizing that most places closed at 5pm and there was literally nowhere to go at night in order to shop.
It has gotten better since back in those days, with shops opening up to 7pm or 7:30pm I think along Rundle Street, but back then, you’d go to Coles in chinatown after 12 and you’d see mostly asian people walking through the aisles, not necessarily to buy anything, but just to walk amongst potentially purchasable goods.
I’m not one to judge, as I used to be one of them and really do appreciate Coles giving me a place I could go to in the middle of the night. Since moving away from the city, I have found an IGA near my place that never closes.
Still, first’s will always be firsts, and the chinatown Coles will always hold a special place in my heart that no other supermarket can replace.

Being the type of guy that often works crazy hours, I find it very convenient that Coles re-​opens from Midnight, and stays open overnight (Excluding Sundays). It brings me great joy to know I can get all my shopping done at a convenient time, and not resort to service station prices for my milk and bread.
I prefer the general layout here to most supermarkets; frozen food section and refrigerated food around the edges, fruit and veg and baked goods in the corner, and general non perishables in the middle. It’s difficult to get lost in this large space, and they do have a big range of stock to choose from.
To top it off they have self service counters if you do choose to shop during busy times.

The Coles on Grote St is so handy for me, because after I do my shopping around the markets, I can also stop by and pick up some supermarket brands in one trip, like soap, vegemite, you know. You can enter either from Grote St or from the inside markets, to save you walking all the way around.
Apart from the fact that I see everyone here, from old friends to old teachers, what makes this Coles great is that it sells things like imported gelatine, Korean wafers, and other international brands. Being on the brink of Chinatown probably explains why it stocks these amazing creations.
Additionally, the staff are always friendly and cheerful, and ready to help. My shopping experiences have been nothing but pleasant here. Oh, and did I mention that they’re open from midnight, Mondays to Saturdays? How convenient for all you nocturnal folk!