Valenti’s Bakery

I went to Valenti’s (which is not related to the Valenti’s on Mexico in any way — service, quality, customer service, cleanliness, variety — shall I go on?) today in the hopes to use my Living Social coupons. From the moment you walk in the door you’re accosted by signs, signs, signs EVERYWHERE telling you what you can/can’t/must/mustn’t do with your coupons. Seriously — there are rules posted all over the place about how to use their coupons. I wanted to say «Hey! You guys sold the coupons, not me! Why are you making me feel like a criminal using them!?»
So I mentioned that I had 2 Living Social coupons, and I was immediately advised in very legalese that only one coupon was permitted per person, per day. I noted that one of my «coupons» had expired in October, and therefore was only worth the cash value that I paid — it no longer had any additional promotional value. I was warned, more sternly this time, that I could only use one, no matter the situation. I pointed out that this was not the way to start a customer/​proprietor relationship, but fine, I’ll order what I wanted (some roast beef, some turkey, and a loaf of Italian bread). I then pointed out that since my wife was in the car, she’d be coming in to use the coupon, since the rules (ever so prevalently displayed on nearly every wall in the store) stated one coupon, per person, per day. Since my wife is not me, I figured I had met that requirement. I was then asked whose name was on the coupon. AS IF THAT MATTERED? So I paid for my stuff (and was initally overcharged $ 5), and I still had to go through the charade of having my wife come in to use the other coupon. Which she did.
The unfriendly service, poor appearance, and lack of respect for new clientele made it clear to me that the ~$ 4 we spend over the coupons values will be the last $ 4 we spend there. Using those promotional coupons should be a rare opportunity for the store to highlight what they have to offer and why I should choose their place over the competition, such as the other (BETTER!) Valenti’s, or Mannino’s in Cottleville, or others. Instead, they’ve ensured they won’t get any more business from my family and, as you can see here, I’ll be happy to share my experience to spare others from the wasted time.

Fresh Italian bread, you just can’t beat it.

Oh man, this place was overall fail. :(And BTW I initially had it confused with the OTHER Valenti’s which is apparently awesome but I haven’t tried it yet…
We came in on a Friday afternoon, a few hours before closing (this was probably our mistake.)
The girl working the counter was extremely arrogant, rude, and uncaring. She did not wear gloves when picking up the pastries I asked for, and repeatedly went, «Huh? What?» when I asked about something. I asked if the little mini three layer things were like petit fours at all and she was like «I don’t know what that is» in a really valley-​girl-​esque sort of way. My jaw about dropped. You work in a BAKERY and you don’t know what those are? What. The. Fuck? Also she wasn’t wearing even so much as an apron or hairnet thing. She was wearing insanely low cut booty shorts like the kind you lounge around your house in, and an old t-​shirt. Ew. Not professional at all. :(
I should have taken that as a warning sign and stopped right then and there and left but I didn’t. Also she told me they were like cookies (don’t know what they were called because she couldn’t tell me and they didn’t have a sign) but they were effectively like mini cakes dipped in chocolate and cut in half, somewhat like a petit four. (
…)
Also when she was getting stuff out of the case, one of the lamps broke in the case and she actually set my bag of pastries ON THE FLOOR so she could fix the lamp. I was so angry, I wanted to leave. That’s GROSS! The whole place looked kinda grungy on the inside at least on the day I went, and she just set my food on the floor? Just… gross…ugh.
And then the icing on the cake was when I went to pay my total was just under $ 5 so I couldn’t use my debit card. Thankfully I just used the atm, so I could pay in cash. But yeah just a minor annoyance.
All of the pastries were stale and disgusting. I could make better at home. Maybe they’re better when they’re fresh, but I don’t know for sure. Their selection was quite awful too. Tons of cases and barely any stuff in them.
I might go back to get Italian groceries here but I doubt it. I think I will try Rosciglione’s Bakery instead near highway 94.

I got here, because I had a DealChicken coupon for $ 20 of bakery and deli. .. and I thought it was for the Valenti’s Meat Market and Bakery that I usually patronize on Mexico Road.
I asked. .. and they’re unrelated. OK, it’s a different place. This is so confusing. This place is called Valenti Bakery and Deli (name taken directly from their business card) — since 1902.
Is there a family feud going on here? These two places are so close together, either on or just off Mexico Road. It doesn’t make sense.
And I almost couldn’t find the place. But I was intent, because I don’t get out there that often. Cloverleaf Drive is just north off Mexico Road a bit west of the intersection with Cave Springs Road.
I walked in, all backs to me cleaning up. So, are they closing in 5 minutes? It was 3 p.m. I asked. .. they close at 4:30 p.m. Hmmm!
«Do you want bakery or deli?» Well, hello, I just got here and need to get the lay of the land to decide what I want. I’ve got a coupon: «Is it for $ 20 or $ 40?» I answered to the back.
I looked around. Prices on a few things, but not much in the deli was either labeled or priced.
At the front of the store are four two-​person café tables. No one was in the place, except me and the two worker people.
One woman had her back to me nearly the entire time I was there, but she cut my meat and cheese. The other woman got the pastries and handled the cash register. Not much talking, not much conversation. Felt kinda weird and decidedly uninviting.
Lots of variety, including freezers full of pastas and pasta sauces.
And a chill case of beverages.
Cookies, cakes, pies and other pastries — all looked delicious.
On a six-​foot card table in the middle of the room were breads: white, rye, wheat, pumpernickel, marble. And lots of cookie samples. I didn’t try any.
Marinated olives at one end of the deli case.
And the deli case: not much was labeled, so I don’t know what was there, and I don’t know what anything cost. But I got a pound of ham ($ 5.99), a pound of turkey ($ 5.99) and ½ pound of colby-​jack ($ 3.11). Good prices! And good-​tasting products.
And I got a 9×9 gooey butter cake ($ 5.79) (which my son proclaimed OK; I tasted and thought it was good) (compare to Gooey Louie 8×8 gooey butter cakes that are $ 12.)
and a Dutch apple pie (crumb topping) ($ 9.99) — and it was delicious.
As well as a quart of frozen marinara meat sauce for $ 6.99.