Last Updated on August 4, 2024
Since I was a youngster traveling with my family, I have always been intrigued by visiting grocery stores in different places. They tell visitors so much about the food culture of a region.
How fun to hear that one of the latest (and hottest) emerging travel trends is grocery store tourism which involves tourists and visitors immersing themselves in a local culture by exploring grocery stores instead of just restaurants.
This trend allows visitors to experience new destinations through a particularly lens: regional specialties, local delicacies, and products that reflect the spirit of its surrounding community. What an ideal blend of travel, culture and cuisine.
Let’s look at some fascinating U.S. destinations and their grocery store concepts which make for a fun grocery store adventure.
Boone, NC: Wildwood Community and Market
Established in 2022, Wildwood Community Market + Deli has quickly become Boone, North Carolina’s favorite grocery destination. Renowned for its freshly prepared foods—such as sandwiches, baked goods, and local products—the deli provides made-to-order items for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Committed to serving the Boone community, Wildwood provides a variety of local products and caters to vegan and gluten-free diets at no extra cost. The market’s grocery staples—produce, meats, cheeses, grains, and eggs—are sourced locally whenever possible, embracing the seed-to-table philosophy. Alongside these fresh offerings, you’ll find a selection of everyday essentials like chips, snacks, candy, and drinks, making Wildwood Community Market a one-stop shop for both specialty items and daily needs.
Baton Rouge, LA: Tony’s Seafood and Deli
Part seafood market, part deli and grocery store, Tony’s Seafood in Baton Rouge, Louisiana is the largest seafood market in the Gulf South and an essential part of local culinary culture. For more than 65 years Tony’s has been selling high-quality seafood for family gatherings, tailgates, and dinner tables.
On one side of the store, pounds of fresh fish, crawfish, crabs, shrimp, and more are on display in immaculate cases on top of mounds of ice. On the other, a long line of people wait in line to select delicious boudin balls and links, crawfish etouffee, po-boys and fried seafood at the deli. To the right of the checkout lanes, cold cases are full of prepared dishes and produce and shelves are stocked with seasonings, seafood boils, condiments and snacks, offering everything needed to build a Cajun feast, or to get an education in local food traditions.
Monterey, CA: Pezzini Farms
Nestled in the tiny agricultural town of Castroville, California, the “Artichoke Capital of the World,” Pezzini Farms is known for amazing produce and all things artichoke from artichoke cupcakes to artichoke bruschetta.
Pezzini Farms has produced Heirloom Green Globe artichokes for over eighty years and each artichoke is harvested and packed by hand. While they ship anywhere in the U.S., the actual Pezzini Stand, located on the Artichoke Trail, houses the region’s top well, artichokes, but also incredible local products including seasonings, sauces and salsas, local syrups and honey, and so much more.
Fun fact: Pezzini Farms participates in the annual Artichoke Festival which includes crowning an Artichoke Queen, following the footsteps of the first queen crowned in 1948, Marilyn Monroe.
Aberdeen, South Dakota: Kessler’s “Your Hometown Grocer”
Kessler’s in Aberdeen is well known throughout the state for their tiger meat – commonly referred to as “South Dakota Steak Tartare.” Worry not, tiger meat isn’t made with tiger, but rather ground beef. The family-owned grocery store has served the Aberdeen community for 80 years and has always been a whole-family business, even though it now has 250 employees.
Kessler’s claims tiger meat is a fourth-generation family recipe rooted in the Prohibition era. According to Reed Kessler, today’s owner of Kessler’s, his great, great grandfather, Jacob Sahli, introduced tiger meat to the Aberdeen area when he also made homemade whiskey. Kessler’s great-grandfather, George Kessler, opened the store in 1939 and started selling the food.
In addition to supplying local and regional products, Kessler’s is very involved in the community, from hosting charity events to regularly sharing family recipes.
Charleston, SC: Burbage’s Grocery
I absolutely love this quaint little corner store in Charleston’s South of Broad neighborhood that harkens back to a time gone by, retaining the hospitality and cheer that has made it a neighborhood favorite for over 70 years.
Green shutters and awnings identify Burbage’s Grocery to passersby, welcoming them in to purchase groceries for dinner, a bottle of wine, a sandwich at lunch or a bunch of fresh flowers to brighten someone’s day. Family recipes for chili, Brunswick Stew and potato vichyssoise keep loyal locals coming in, and Al Burbage, son of the founding Burbage still lives above the shop and helps prepare their signature sausage every week.
Montgomery, AL: Filet & Vine
For nearly 30 years Filet & Vine Market, Deli and Bottle Shoppe has been the heartbeat of Montgomery, Alabama’s historic Old Cloverdale community. At lunch on Tuesdays through Fridays, a line wraps around the market and through the dining room for the weekly rotating “meat and three” hot bar.
The market section offers fresh produce and meats butchered in-house, including the “Montgomery Cut” or “pulley bone,” a butcher’s cut of chicken for frying, beloved by home cooks in the area. Cold cases are stocked with prepared casseroles and dishes, and shelves house over 750 different craft beers and over 15,000 bottles of wine, selected with the passionate expertise of the owners.
Saturday breakfast is one of the best around, with hearty options on the hot bar and warm, flaky biscuits at the deli – plus a heaping helping of hot gossip to eavesdrop on in the dining room of this local gem.
Oxford, MS: Chicory Market
Chicory Market started as a produce stand in an old service station building and has grown to a full-service grocery in Oxford, offering real food and supporting the local people who grow and eat it. The space later evolved into a farmers’ market and community hub, offering high-quality produce and a welcoming atmosphere as a homegrown alternative to large supermarket chains.
In 2017, Kate Bishop and John Martin renovated the space, rebranding it as Chicory Market. They connected with a new generation of farmers and opened a kitchen to provide healthy, locally sourced prepared meals.
As an Oxford native, Kate cherished memories of enjoying watermelons and pimento cheese from the old James Food Center and regional supermarkets like Jitney Jungle, Big Star and Sunflower. Kate and John are dedicated to creating a special place that preserves and nurtures Oxford’s spirit, fostering creativity and welcoming newcomers and curious visitors.
In business for over 30 years now, Chicory Market aims to make local food more accessible for people of all income levels and supports small farmers and food makers.
Columbus, OH: North Market
Diverse and inclusive, it’s no surprise that the progressive, supportive, and welcoming community of Columbus touts a 48-year-old vibrant public market. Consistently ranked as one of the top public markets in the country, North Market is comprised of Ohio’s best independent merchants, farmers and makers – and stands as a symbol of community resilience, cultural diversity and success.
One such stop within North Market is Hoyo’s Kitchen, which serves authentic Somali food. Somali owners, Abdilahi and Mohamed Hassan, opened the restaurant with their mother, Hayat Dalmar. A nod to their roots, Hoyo means “mother” in Somali – and the restaurant represents the strong Somali culture found in the city.
Interestingly, nearly 60,000 Somali people call Columbus home (the destination touts the second-largest concentration of Somali immigrants in the U.S.). Inviting curious travelers to eat, drink, shop and enjoy the best of what’s local, fresh, and authentic, the market proudly provides an authentic Columbus experience that highlights the diversity and vibrancy of its community, both economically and culturally.
Providence, RI: Venda Ravioli
Nestled in the heart of Federal Hill, Providence’s enchanting “Little Italy,” Venda Ravioli is a culinary treasure trove, offering a delightful array of gourmet pastas, sauces, meats, and cheeses. Since 1972, under the guidance of Alan Costantino, this charming emporium has become a beacon of Italian culinary tradition in the Northeast.
The store’s inviting ambiance, featuring gleaming glass counters and a tin ceiling, invites guests to watch Chef Salvatore Cefaliello and his team craft over 150 types of fresh and frozen pasta, from decadent stuffed shells to luxurious lobster ravioli.
Venda Ravioli enchants visitors with its endless selection of olive oils, vinegars and other Italian delicacies, all overlooking the picturesque DePasquale Plaza. The shop offers a delightful dining experience with indoor and outdoor seating, perfect for enjoying a slice of Italy amidst the vibrant local scene. For special occasions, Venda Ravioli’s full catering services bring the magic of Italian cuisine to any gathering, creating unforgettable moments steeped in flavor and tradition.
Point Pleasant, NJ: Joe Leone’s
Summer on the shore in Point Pleasant, New Jersey is not complete without a visit to Joe Leone’s which has been a staple for Italian food in the Shore town for nearly 30 years. Once customers step inside, they are treated like family, rooted in the store’s founding by Joesph Leone Introna and John Hilla who were inspired by Joe’s grandparents’ passion for baking and cooking.
Before heading to the beach for the day, customers choose from a wide variety of sandwiches with specialty meats, cold meals, hot meals, desserts, drinks and more. Monthly menus allow for endless combinations of meals and sandwiches which keeps customers coming back for more. Joe Leone’s is a vital part of the Point Pleasant community and believes in reciprocating the support through philanthropic endeavors with local organizations such as Fulfill NJ, a food bank for the Monmouth and Ocean counties of New Jersey.
If you have another unique grocery store you enjoy, we’d love to hear about it. After all, no vacation is a vacation without enjoying the local food which makes each destination unique.
