So where do you buy your groceries?
Why is this the first question I get EVERY TIME I tell someone that I live downtown? I’d imagine there was a time (pre-1950) where people would ask the same question to someone who decided to live in the countryside (i.e. present-day suburbs). When people decided to flee the city for their dreams of white picket fences and two motorcars in every garage, I guess they forgot where they used to buy food. The Central, West and East Markets might be gone, but the North Market is still going strong, along with a few other “modern-day” options.
I’m here to tell you that the rumor of the mythical downtown grocery store is true! In fact, there are many! Urban residents can actually buy food without driving for miles to the suburbs! Some of us don’t even need to get in a car! Mind-blowing stuff…I know.
For those of you who are still non-believers, Google Maps has some proof…
There are 4 full service grocery stores within 2 miles from the center of downtown. I’d be very surprised if any suburban location can boast the same thing…but that’s for another day. The stores are:
1) Kroger Marketplace in the Brewery District - 1.1 miles
2) Giant Eagle in Victorian Village - 1.4 miles
3) Giant Eagle in German Village - 1.7 miles
4) Kroger between Campus and the Short North - 1.9 miles
Not only that, but there are 3 CVS Drug Stores (High & State, Livingston & Parsons, and Neil & Buttles), a City Pharmacy (Main & Washington), and a UDF (High & First). The truly savvy downtown residents also know that downtown’s many hotels all have their own convenience stores where you can quickly grab some milk, snacks, and toiletries.
Now can everyone PLEASE quit asking us where we buy our groceries?
Yes and let me add Dairy Family on W. 5th & Highland… best beer selection (& prices) I’ve seen in a long time. And they have your usual UDF fare as well.
I live about three blocks north of the German Village Giant Eagle, which is a 5 minute walk or a 30 second drive (if I’m planning on buying more than I can carry).
The one complaint I’ve heard (and used to have myself) is that this is probably the smallest Giant Eagle in all of Central Ohio. After a shopping trip to the Giant Eagle at Sawmill and Bethel about a year ago I discovered that this isn’t really a bad thing. We ended up buying the same types of products we normally buy at our regular store, but it ended up taking us nearly twice as long since we had to cover more ground to do so. The selection wasn’t really that much better in the bigger store, they just kept more in stock.
So now you won’t hear me complain about the size of the GVGE. The smaller the better as far as I’m concerned.
Also, if we had a streetcar line that stopped within a few blocks of home, I could see myself shopping for groceries more often at the North Market. We go there on occasion for specialty items, and for lunches quite a bit, but I can say for a fact that my money spending there would increase if I didn’t have to drive up there and pay to park and could play my gameboy on the streetcar and just ride.
Also, a few other options missing from the list:
Looking for meats? A great spot for buying in bulk for the deep freezer:
The Columbus Meat Packers Outlet
317 S 5th St, Columbus, 43215
Fresh breads, wines, desserts, and other takeout items can be had at most Delis around downtown. One of my favorites is Juergen’s in German Village:
Juergen’s
525 S 4th St, Columbus, OH
In addition to your listing of CVSes and other convenience stores, there’s a handful of gas stations around downtown if you need milk, pop, or a handful of other grocery items sold in most gas stations. Similar to what you can get at CVS anyway.
There is an IGA on Parsons if you’re looking for discount groceries. It’s 2.1 miles from the center of Broad & High.
There’s also an Aldi’s on West Mound, which 2.6 miles from Broad & High. The Aldi up by the Crew Stadium is 5 miles from the center of downtown, but it’s a quick shot up 71 and in a better neighborhood than the one on West Mound.
Thanks for the comment Walker. I think I need to use Google Maps’ new feature “my maps” and put a marker on all of these places. I’d be suprised if every resident downtown doesn’t live witin a couple blocks of one of them.
Even a place like Sher Bliss can be handy for picking up a bottle of wine or a few snacks.
I really appreciate that you guys are trying to downplay the myth that there is nowhere to buy groceries downtown when it actually takes longer for most suburbanites to drive to their grocery stores than it takes urban dwellers to drive to theirs, let alone walk. I was listening to 1460am today and I could only laugh to myself when I heard a caller going on and on about how there’s nothing to do downtown. When the host questioned him about why he didn’t like downtown living, I knew what was coming…. “Well, for starters, there’s nowhere to buy groceries!” So I say to him - SEE ABOVE (and don’t forget about NORTH MARKET, which to me is worth a dollar or two more per meal for the incredible level of freshness and quality). Thank god the host put him in his place citing his two year stint living in German Village and walking to deli’s, GVGE, etc.
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I guess my question wouldn’t be “where do you shop for groceries”, but it would be “HOW do you shop for groceries”. Many people in cities do not own vehicles to load all the food into, so how does a person who has to use public transportation get their groceries home? Do you have to shop every night after a long day of work and get a bag full each time? Wow, that would be a headache for me. I shop for a week at a time (or more). I live about 2 miles from the store, but I drive…so, how DO you get all those groceries home if you have to take a bus/sub? Thanks.
I definitely agree that groceries + bus = inconvenience.
I actually live within two blocks of the Brewery District Kroger, so I typically walk to the store 3-4 times/week. Ironically, it can actually be a pain in the ass to live that close to a grocery store…any time we need some milk or butter…there are no excuses…you have to go! On the other hand, it helps keep things fresh and reduces how much you throw away if you go more often.
I’m also not sure your assumption of “many people in cities do not own vehicles” is accurate for Columbus. Almost all of the condo developments allow at least one parking space, and I think the VAST majority of owners take advantage of that. So at most, you’re looking at a 1-2 mile drive to the nearest store. It might be true in NYC where parking spaces can run well into the six figure range (and grocery stores don’t have parking lots), but not so much in Columbus.
Thanks for the comment!
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