Locally-owned grocery stores

In our Seattle neighborhood, we shop at the Metropolitan Market, a locally-owned presence since 1971 (we've been shopping there since the mid-1980's). There is something grounding about a truly neighborhood grocery where the shopping experience is tailored to the local community. It may sound strange, but one thing I missed a lot while in Chicago was Metro Market.

Metro Market

But, I had a pretty darn good substitute in Northbrook's Sunset Foods. This was the grocery store of my childhood, and until they moved into their new location a few years ago, the old store had the exact same blue-and-pink linoleum floor I grew up with.

Sunset Foods

What makes Sunset so great is the service. Not being familiar with the store, it seemed the minute I felt lost, there was someone there helping me find what I needed. Without me asking, the fish guy pulled the pin bones out of the salmon for me before wrapping it up. The produce guy not only showed me where the Yukon Gold potatoes were, he told me his favorite way of preparing them (a rough mash, skins on, with olive oil, garlic, and basil). And you don't have to lug your groceries out to your car. Instead, they give you a number, you drive up to the loading area, and they put the groceries in your trunk for you.

I was thinking that it would be handy to have a directory of locally-owned grocery stories, so that if you are traveling you'd know where to go. This summer, we needed to do some major grocery shopping in Minneapolis and wound up at the lamest Whole Paycheck (which at least was conveniently located to where we needed to go). But I would have been willing to drive some to go to a great local grocery--and I know one must exist there.

So maybe this is my next book or website...