Pros
Coworkers and customers are often very friendly at these stores. Depending on the management, well-run stores have efficient and dependable people who will make your day a breeze. Just chat with everyone and have a good time here, that is the general culture. If you are ambitious and maintain an ongoing dialogue with your managers, there are opportunities to move up. The company seems genuine about promoting good causes, enriching their communities, and helping their associates grow. ESOP and benefits. Anyone can get benefits if they want them and are a decent worker. The ESOP (employee stocks) program is great. The company is privately owned, and after working there for years (if you are over 21), you get stocks. It takes 6 years to become fully vested, but by that time you may have a cool $15-20k even as a normal associate; without costing you anything.
Cons
There are times when it will be busy and you will need to handle many customers in a short period of time; at the register, deli, gas pumps. There are also a myriad of tasks to be done every day along with serving customers, so if you are busy then you need to also get your chores done quicker. The cons depend a lot on the store you work in. A very busy store may be stressful and hectic. At slow stores you will have extra time to chat with everyone. Some stores have poor management or irritating coworkers, but this is inevitable anywhere. Obstacles arise for ambitious people when there is a lot of competition at their store or there are not many promotions available nearby. In the right conditions you can definitely get promoted, but it is equally true that if you are in poor soil, you will not be able to grow or advance at your store.