The best independent grocery store in every state open right now
Delightful delis and fantastic farm shops

Alabama: Burnette Farms Market, Pelham

This rustic farm shop is open seven days a week and also offers curbside pick-up at select times. You’ll find everything you need here, from home-grown produce and goods like sirloin steaks, smoked sausage, cheese, veg and pickles to household products, plants and clothes. It gets the highest praise from customers, who particularly adore the homemade ice cream.
Alaska: Rainbow Foods, Juneau

This highly valued health-food store in Juneau is operating normal business hours, but of course asks guests to wear masks and maintain social distancing while inside. You can pick up all your grocery needs – organic milk, pasture-raised eggs, fruit and veg, freshly baked cinnamon rolls, grains and vegan sandwiches – plus extra bits like kombucha, probiotic drinks, flowers and magazines. It offers curb-side pickup for orders $25 and over.
Arizona: Food Conspiracy Co-op, Tucson

This food co-op, started in 1971, has been a lifeline for residents of Tucson during the coronavirus. It’s only letting 10 people in the store at a time, providing gloves and masks, and has curbside pick-up for its most vulnerable customers. You can get 100% organic dairy and fresh produce, prepackaged flour and grains, prepared soups and salads, and alcohol.
Arkansas: Richard’s Country Meat Market, Fayetteville

It might be called a Meat Market, but there’s so much more you can buy here. The family-owned shop sells baked goods, dairy, vegetables, condiments and ready meals, plus a huge variety of meat and fish, from beef tenderloin and Italian sausage to crawfish. Customers say: “if they don’t have it, it doesn’t exist”. The shop is open Tuesday to Saturday and offers curbside pick-up.
California: Corti Brothers, Sacramento

This family-owned grocery has been around since the 1940s and is still extremely popular today. In the store you’ll find rare wines and spirits, imported European products like Branston pickle and Tiptree jam, a meat and seafood counter, and a deli with famously good sandwiches, moreish lamb samosas and phenomenal curries. Since COVID-19 delivery is being offered too.
Colorado: Edwards Right Price Market, Fort Morgan

A fourth-generation family business, Edwards Right Price Market is loved by all. The shop has a fantastic meat counter with ready-to-cook options such as bacon-wrapped chicken and marinated pork, a deli, bakery, locally grown fruit and vegetables, and a fabulous florist. The store is open seven days a week, as well as offering delivery and pick-up. It strongly urges customers to keep six-feet (2m) apart in the current circumstances.
Connecticut: Fusaro's Italian Deli & Market, Stamford

Usual grocer out of stock? Head to Fusaro’s Italian Deli & Market, open seven days a week. It’s saving people with the essentials (fresh produce, milk, bread and eggs), and also stocks Italian specialities including fresh pasta, ricotta, olives, cured meats, cheese, panettone and cookies. There’s a deli section with ready-to-eat meatballs, chicken cutlets and sandwiches too. Home delivery is available.
Delaware: Byler’s Store, Dover

From flour to furniture, Byler’s has everything you need under one roof. Expect shelves of herbs and spices, cheese, bread, snacks, beauty products, house supplies like toilet paper and decorations, all at low prices. As is customary, punters are required to wear face masks before they visit this store or its other outpost in Harrington.
Florida: Duckweed Urban Grocery, Tampa

Customers love this small, quirky grocery store for its size and the many products it stocks. You can get pet food, fresh produce, dry and canned goods, alcohol, cold drinks, ready-to-eat food and gourmet chocolates. It’s open until 9pm every day during the pandemic and you can order online via Duckdash Delivery.
Georgia: Brighter Day Natural Foods, Savannah

At Brighter Day Natural Foods you have a number of options. You can shop in-store (with a face mask), head to the takeout window for salads and juices, pick up your groceries curbside, or opt for home delivery. It’s a good spot for health-food items you can’t find elsewhere, such as goats’ milk and vegan products, organic produce, and vitamins and supplements at reasonable prices.
Hawaii: Nii Superette, Waipahu

This mom-and-pop shop has been in Waipahu for over 100 years and is now run by fourth-generation son Stephen Nii. Customers call it a one-stop shop, selling an eclectic mix of things from chicken feed and pet food to slushies and soft-serve ice cream (it even offers slush floats). You can get essential groceries, frozen foods, snacks and household products too. It’s also been said to have the best craft-beer selection in Waipahu.
Idaho: Nel’s Bi-Lo Market, Pocatello

A local favourite since 1957, Nel’s Bi-Lo is known for having the best meat around. It also stocks baked goods like cinnamon rolls, fresh fruit and veg, pantry supplies, alcohol and flower baskets, making it a great alternative to the big supermarkets. It even has Meals in a Box (such as ingredients to make chicken pot pie) for curbside pick-up – perfect to give to self-isolating family members.
Illinois: Gene’s Sausage Shop & Delicatessen, Chicago

If you’re in Chicago, family-run Gene’s Sausage Shop is good for high-quality groceries and Polish food like smoked sausage, schnitzel, goulash, stuffed duck, rustic bread and imported brands like Milka, Lindt and Kinder. Due to COVID-19, it’s closing one hour earlier than usual and the rooftop beer garden is shut.
Indiana: Georgetown Market, Indianapolis

This family-owned grocery has been around since 1973 and you can get everything you need here including organic produce, free-range meat, fish and poultry. It’s particularly famed for its café and smoothie bar and you can find sandwiches, salads and juices in the Grab-N-Go Deli Case. The supermarket offers home delivery too.
Iowa: Bread Garden Market, Iowa City

Customers say Bread Garden Market is a great place to shop right now – it has small crowds, easy parking, fresh food and competitive prices. You can peruse offerings from the cheesemonger, bakery, fresh produce area, or the meat and seafood section. Or you could take away a salad from the grab-and-go spot, a burrito from the Market Fresh Kitchen (made-to-order food), or a smoothie from the coffee bar. Curbside pick-up and home delivery are available.
Kansas: Pak Halal International Food, Lenexa

Pak Halal International Food is often tipped as the best grocery store in this Midwestern state. It has a butcher offering locally sourced lamb, beef and chicken and a bakery that makes pita breads, plus fresh produce, cheese, and pantry essentials like lentils, spices, rice, olive oil, beans and tea. But what really makes the difference is the friendly staff. Curbside pick-up is available too.
Kentucky: Frank's Meat & Produce, Louisville

This Louisville grocery store, that’s been around since the 1970s, has now resumed normal hours – but is limiting customers in the store to five people at a time and, of course, asking them to social distance. Get all your meat including filet mignon, rump, baby back ribs and beef patties here, as well as fresh produce. Or pick up a hot dog or fried bologna sandwich for lunch.
Louisiana: The Best Stop Supermarket, Scott

Avoid the queues at national chains and head to The Best Stop Supermarket in Scott. It's a family-owned Cajun grocery store that sells award-winning boudin (pork, rice and spices in a sausage case), cracklins (pork skin), smoked sausage, jerky, hog head cheese (like spiced pork pâté), crawfish tails and other local favourites. You will also find plenty of fresh produce and tinned goods to keep your fridge and cupboards full.
Maine: Tiller & Rye, Brewer

This natural grocery store is open to shoppers wearing face masks. Or if you’d rather stay in the car, place your order by phone and someone will bring it out to you. The focus is on stocking food from local farms and producers. You’ll find meat, seafood, poultry, fruit and veg, plus more unusual things like organic seedlings, craft beer, kombucha and guinea fowl eggs.
Maryland: Di Pasquale's, Baltimore

A fourth generation Italian grocer, Di Pasquale’s stores (it has two more) are open to shoppers, offering curbside pick-up and home delivery. It stocks all your regular groceries, including pasta, sauces and imported treats. What customers really love are its carry-out options, such as crab soup, spicy penne pasta, aubergine parmigiana sandwiches, fried dough stuffed with Nutella, and tiramisù.
Massachusetts: Arax Market, Watertown

This family-owned, Armenian grocer has sat on the corner of Mount Auburn Street and Melendy Avenue since 1974. It’s the place to stock up on fruit and veg and browse a huge range of baklava, chocolate, cheese, hummus, falafels, prepared foods and pickles. It’s offering home delivery for local residents who need help, as well as curbside pick-up (although this service has been booking up fast).
Michigan: Kingma’s Market, Grand Rapids

A wholesome family-owned grocery that stocks local produce in Grand Rapids, Kingma’s Market is loved by all who visit. It has a wide alcohol selection with over 500 beers and 800 wines on offer, plus health foods such as tempeh (a meat substitute made from soy) sausages, kombucha and miso paste, baking supplies and a large selection of beautiful plants. It’s also now offering curbside pick-up and delivery.
Minnesota: Tim and Tom’s Speedy Market, St. Paul

Often referred to as a neighbourhood gem, this wonderful grocery store stocks everything you need plus the things you didn’t know you needed, from Cheddar and beer bratwurst to tomato plants. It also has super handy ready-to-bake dishes such as chicken pot pie, cornbread and cinnamon rolls, which you can put straight in the oven. Curbside pick-up is available too.
Mississippi: Williams Brothers Inc., Philadelphia

This family-owned general store has been serving the folk of Philadelphia since 1907. It’s full of hidden surprises from grocery items such as bacon, self-raising flour, watermelon and potato pecan pies to clothes including running shoes and Crocs. The garden centre section the front is always fun to look around too.
Missouri: Urzi’s Italian Market, St. Louis

A St. Louis favourite, Urzi’s Italian Market is an old-school Italian deli and grocery store. Its shelves are fully stocked with pasta, olive oil, canned tomatoes, wine, cheese, fresh bread, olives, sausages, cannoli and more – plus it has some nice surprises like strawberry ice and lemon ice (slushies made from fresh fruit). You can come into the store, get curbside pick-up or home delivery. Visitors particularly praise the customer service at this time.
Montana: Real Food Market & Deli, Helena

Since 1975, Real Food Market & Deli has been the locals’ favourite health food store and they praise the friendly staff and variety of products. It stocks 100% organic fruit and veg, Montana-raised meat, fresh bread, herbs and spices, and supplements. However, due to COVID-19 the bulk foods such as pasta are being prepackaged and the deli bar is closed. Curbside pick-up and video shopping is available.
Nebraska: Jacobo’s Grocery, Omaha

After closing during the peak of the coronavirus, Jacobo’s Grocery has reopened with reduced hours (9am–5pm Tuesday to Friday and 9am–4pm Saturday and Sunday) for customers wearing masks and practising social distancing. It stocks everything you need, from fresh produce to meat, as well as Mexican treats – customers say it has the best chips and salsa.
Nevada: Great Basin Community Food Co-op, Reno

If you’re looking to stock your fridge with fruit and veggies, Great Basin Community Food Co-op is the place to go. It has a huge variety of organic, local produce, from heirloom tomatoes and cherry bomb peppers to garlic scapes (the stem and flower), as well as fresh juice, a bakery, salads, meat and alcohol. Due to the coronavirus, the café is closed and customers must of course wear face masks. Curbside pick-up is available too.
New Hampshire: Ralph’s Supermarket, Charlestown

A trip to family-owned Ralph’s Supermarket in the little town of Charlestown will fill your cupboard with all the essentials. Customers comment on the excellent meat and produce, and the bakery section where you’ll find amazing breads such as sweet pepper and Cheddar, Kalamata olive and rosemary, flaxseed and whole wheat. It has buying limits on some items such as beef burgers and curbside pick-up is available.
New Jersey: Matts Farm Market & Garden Center, Belmar

This adorable garden centre and farmers’ market in Belmar is open every day, 8.30am-6:30pm and is a delight to shop at. You’ll find tonnes of wonderful, fresh produce, from courgettes, peppers and squash to pineapple, mangos, strawberries and pears. It also has other essentials such as fresh bread, eggs and pickles. Check out the hanging baskets and plant pots for sale too.
New Mexico: Toucan Market, Las Cruces

On University Avenue, Toucan Market is an independent grocery store that stocks local products including salsa, eggs, tortillas, spices, tomato, chillies, bread and fruit and veg. It has a loyal fan base too; in 2018 when it was at risk of closure customers flocked to help it stay in business. Thankfully, it did, as it has been giving out free lunches to people in need during these times.
New York: Perelandra Natural Foods, Brooklyn

Brooklyn’s favourite organic and natural food store since 1976 has been praised by customers for how it has handled the pandemic. Open 8am–10pm every day, it restocks its shelves with fresh produce six days per week. Pastries and bulk items such as grains, beans and dried fruits are now prepackaged and you can visit the store, book curbside pick-up or organise home delivery. There's a special shopping slot (7am–8am) for vulnerable punters.
North Carolina: The Butcher’s Market, Charlotte

Customers have a newfound appreciation for The Butcher’s Market. Despite its name, it stocks all kinds of groceries including cheese, fresh fruit and veg, bread, mac 'n' cheese, beer and wine, as well as meats from sirloin, slab bacon and baby back ribs to buffalo, alligator and boar. People also love the fact it offers curbside pick-up.
North Dakota: Wimbledon Community Grocery, Wimbledon

This little grocery store and café is a lifeline for residents in Wimbledon, who would otherwise have to drive miles to do their weekly shop. Run by 75-year-old Lina Grotberg, it stocks canned goods, local produce like onions and potatoes, beef mince, bread, doughnuts, caramel rolls, and ice cream (which would melt on the drive back from the nearest chain). The dining room is open (with social distancing in place) and serves daily specials such as patty melts and steak and ale chowder.
Ohio: Huffman’s Market, Upper Arlington

Head to Huffman’s Market if you like to shop local. It’s known for its meat and fish department, which stocks Ohio-raised pork, prime beef, free-range turkey, bratwurst, salmon and cod – and customers say you can taste the difference. It also has fresh produce including lettuce, carrots and strawberries, prepared foods such as crab salad, stromboli (a turnover) and soup, plus wines and beer. Curbside and home delivery is available.
Oklahoma: Eley’s Foods, Oklahoma City

At family-owned Eley’s Foods you’ll find everything you need, from fresh produce to meat and dairy, plus more. Some customers have been visiting for over 30 years: they say it has everything under one roof, excellent customer service, and is always clean and tidy. It’s also less busy than bigger stores, there’s rarely a queue for the checkout, and it stocks items other stores have run out of.
Oregon: Bread and Roses Market, Portland

Locals call this delightful organic shop a dream and say it has handled the COVID-19 crisis with calm, friendly service and straightforward protocols. You can find fresh produce and artisan products such as Oshala Farm herbs, Radiant Coffee Roasters coffee, Deck Farm lamb sausages, sourdough bread, wine and Oregonic Tonic kombucha. The store is closed on Tuesdays and offers curbside pick-up to its most at-risk customers.
Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Macaroni Co., Pittsburgh

It might be best known for its amazing cheese, but family-owned Pennsylvania Macaroni Co. – which has been around for over a century – can sort your entire shopping list. Fresh produce? Check. Dried pasta and sauces? Check. Baking supplies? Check. It’s open every day of the week for in-store shopping, offering gloves and masks for customers to wear. Curbside and home delivery are available too.
Rhode Island: A Market, Newport

Fans of A Market in Newport describe it as “the definition of a fantastic neighbourhood grocery store”. Opened in the 1970s, the independent outlet has one other branch in Manchester, New Hampshire, and many loyal customers. It stocks eggs, meat, greens and honey from local farms. It’s open seven days a week with slightly shorter hours than normal and offers curbside pick-up.
South Carolina: Burbages Grocery, Charleston

This quaint family-run grocer has served the people of Charleston since 1946. It has baking supplies such as 00 flour and yeast, fresh fruit and veg, and everything you need for a barbecue including Italian sausages, pulled pork, buns, condiments, popsicles, crisps, beer and wine. You can also get prepared foods such as lasagne and tomato pie for when you don't want to cook. Curbside pick-up is available on request.
South Dakota: Pomegranate Market, Sioux Falls

Pomegranate Market is known for its healthy, prepared salads and smoothies from its grab-and-go section, which is still open – and it also stocks local produce, meat, cheese, health and beauty, and household products. All bulk and bakery items are temporarily individually packaged for hygiene reasons. It’s also offering free curbside pick-up.
Tennessee: The Turnip Truck Urban Fare, Nashville

The people of Nashville love The Turnip Truck, which champions sustainable produce from local farms. Customers’ favourite branch is The Gulch, which has no crowds and plentiful parking, but there are also two other stores. Stock up on essentials such as baking supplies, barbecue meats and cleaning products, then head to the hot bar for a vegan lasagne or the deli for a panini. Curbside pick-up and home delivery are available too.
Texas: Rabbit Food Grocery, Austin

Customers regularly comment that they discovered products they never knew existed at this well-loved vegan store. Come inside to browse a range of meat-free 'meat' options, vegan jerky, non-dairy ice cream, cinnamon rolls and other baked treats, and of course, plenty of fresh produce. COVID-19 restrictions mean only four people are allowed in the store at once and face coverings are essential as usual.
Utah: Liberty Heights Fresh, Salt Lake City

This little, local store full of artisan products is the kind of place customers feel good about shopping at. You can get cheese such as four-month-aged provolone, local fruit and veg including romanesco broccoli, quince and pequin chillies, freshly baked treats like apple cider doughnut muffins and apple pie, organic meat, wine and ice cream. Options such as duck, rabbit and game fowl are available on special order.
Vermont: Healthy Living Market & Café, Burlington

A family-run healthy supermarket with a second store in New York, Healthy Living Market & Café is the place for amazing, colourful produce, bulk items such as nuts, grains and dried fruit, gluten-free goods, non-dairy ice cream, and health and beauty products. You can place an order online or sign up for one of its organic fruit and veg boxes for curbside pick-up. Up-to-date COVID protocols can be found here.
Virginia: Shields Market, Richmond

This tiny neighbourhood market dates back to the 1950s and is a haven for grocery shoppers during these times. It has fresh produce, dairy, beer and wine, as well as prepared foods such as tortellini salad, meatloaf, Cheddar biscuits, and toffee and oatmeal craisin cookies. It’s open all day Monday through to Saturday.
Washington: Chuck’s Produce & Street Market, Vancouver

The Mill Plain Boulevard branch of family-owned grocer Chuck’s Produce & Street Market is the customer favourite (it has one other outlet). They comment on the amazing produce – saying the veggies last longer than elsewhere – and the decent prices too. Anything else you need, you can get it here: it has a bakery, dairy, deli, bulk, and health and beauty department. Vulnerable customers have designated shopping hours.
West Virginia: Swiftwater General Store, Charleston

This teensy general store is the ideal place for essentials. Open 7am–5pm Monday to Friday, the store is open for customers to pop inside or phone for curbside pick-up. It has toilet paper, milk, bread, coffee, fresh fruit, craft beer and wine – or if you’re looking for lunch, check out the grab-and-go items, such as pepperoni rolls, soup and nachos. Need a last-minute gift? It’s got pottery and souvenirs too.
Wisconsin: Larry’s Market, Milwaukee

Quaint grocery and deli, Larry’s Market’s new hours are 10am–5pm Monday to Saturday. Customers are welcome to come inside or phone for curbside pick-up. Its shelves are stocked with pasta, sauces, flour, cheese, jam, meat, bake-at-home pot pies, and wine, or you can get hearty lunches (such as chilli dogs and lobster rolls) and dinners (like beef tenderloin enchiladas) to take away.
Wyoming: Grant Street Grocery, Casper

Aside from the usual big chains, good grocery stores can be hard to come by in Wyoming, but Grant Street Grocery is an exception. On its shelves are pantry supplies such as flour, jam, pasta, sauce and cereal. Then there’s the beer bratwurst, the ready-meals such as chicken mole with cheesy chilli mashed potatoes, and the glazed doughnuts. You can also request a package of provisions for curbside pick-up.
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