September 13,2022

Is This the Future of Brick-and-Mortar Grocery Shopping?

by David Stewart

Across the country, there’s a new generation of high-designed boutique general stores with elevated riffs on pantry staples, quietly paying homage to European food halls, small patisseries, West Coast cafés, and local farm stands. Below, a sampling of our favorite neighborhood spots.

The beloved online grocery and meal delivery service opened its first storefront in Cole Valley. “We designed our space with Jenson Architects and used many of the same elements of the previous market’s open layout,” says founder and CEO Luke Chappell of the airy, no-frills space. Ardent fans shop seasonal produce, housemade pickles, and Josey Baker Bread. And tasty to-go creations have included rock-fish red curry with toasted garlic cauliflower rice and marinated hanger steak with pineapple salsa. For drinks, sample from niche wines and local beers. lukeslocalom ; 960 Cole Street

James Beard Award–winning Mark Jensen designed this modern-style barn tripling as a farmer’s market, general store, and restaurant “We wanted to create a light, open space that was reminiscent of market halls and found inspiration in the words of Wendell Berry: “An agrarian mind begins with the love of the fields and ramifies in good farming, good cooking, and good eating," says co-owner and creative director Cindy Daniel. Idle on the patio for housemade charcuterie and sip on-tap shrubs and kombucha. Later, shop the well-curated wares—Norfolk harvest baskets, Sneeboer garden tools, and Shed’s pantry line of spices, pickles, and preserves. healdsburgshedom ; 25 North Street

Inside the chic Modern General, find a midcentury-minded space with rustic sensibility. “We have a bleached sawbuck table under a beautiful sputnik chandelier lamp. Our chairs are Piet Hein Eek, a designer who works with scrap wood,” says owner Erin Wade, whose sister helped design the cheery space filled with local pine plank floors and burnished concrete countertops. Linger over fresh juices or shop the handsome pottery pieces and garden tools. Perhaps Wade says it best: “We want our customers to come pick up the perfect wooden spoon, a turmeric shot, a life-changing book, and feel better all around.” moderngeneralnmom ; 637 Cerrillos Road

Located in the West Village and designed by Studio Mellone (whose worked with Jason Wu and Thom Browne), a long communal table serves as the centerpiece alongside floor-to-ceiling Mahogany shelving, rounded gray bardiglio marble counters, and Douglas Fir floors. “The backlit shelves and skylight can be toned down to bring out the warmth of the mahogany and create an intimate glow.” says Café Clover chef David Standridge. A sweet four-seat counter bar is ideal for sipping blended matchas. Toss your purchases (Bamford organic beauty products and Hill House Home linens) into chic La Ligne French market baskets and grab some freshly cut blooms. clovergrocerom ; 10 Downing Street, Manhattan

“We worked to design a sleek and inviting space that complements our café next door,” says Ashley Jaffe, who along with her husband, Zach Israel, run the buzzy Nomad café (Blank Slate Coffee + Kitchen). The space, in collaboration with design firms CBX and xWallflower, is encased with a custom blond wood and hints of the brand’s signature mint green. There’s also a smattering of distressed mirrors, and an oversized chalkboard menu completes the “blank slate” motif.  Sip coffee from Grady’s and Blue Bottle or dip your spoon into ice cream compliments of McConnell’s and Van Leeuwen’s. blankslatenycom ; 121 Madison Avenue, #5, Manhattan

  • David Stewart
  • September 13,2022

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