Groceries in Park Slope
I'm wondering where people in Park Slope grocery shop. I work at Whole Foods, so I get some things there, but when I have the day off and I want to make something I don't have ingreidients for, I don't want to have to go back to work to get decent produce and meat. I've been to the Key Foods on both Flatbush and Seventh Ave. I"ve also tried out Union Market (I think that's what it's called - the specialty shop on Union and Sixth Ave). All of those places are okay for some things, but I am still having a hard time finding some things. Are there stores I'm missing? I've done the Grand Army Plaza greenmarket, too. I love it, but I'm more looking for quality, last-minute places.
Any ideas?
By alysonlaurel
on Oct 16, 2007 04:10 PM
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It depends on where you live in the slope, but if you live near 9th St you can go to Steve's C-Town or you can go to the KeyFood on 5th Ave (near Bergen), if you live on that side of Union. Both of these stores are good for decent produce and meat. I think C-Town also has good fish.
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I like on Berkeley between Seventh and Eighth, so going to 9th is kind of a hike for quick groceries. I'll check out those options, though.
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I assume you've been to the one on Union and 7th. Blue Apron or something?
Beerkraft is pricey but has a few deli things - cheeses and some meats, and a few other things.
I also would sometimes shop at the pork store on 5th avenue - I can't remember the cross street - near 1st maybe? Or maybe not that far down from Union.
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The place you're missing closest to you is D'Vine International on Seventh Ave
I go the the Park Slope Food Coop, which is the best overall grocery - but you have to be a member. If you have time and inclination, it's awesome.
The big Key Food on Fifth Ave is probably the best large conventional grocery in the nabe.
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Park Slope Food Coop
782 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11215
D'Vine Taste
150 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215
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I have thought about the Co-op, but since I work at a grocery store, I don't think I can handle working at another for even a few hours. I walked to it one day, got to the door, saw how familiar everything was, and walked back out. I just can't do it, no matter the benefits. It's a shame.
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A lot of people in Park Slope belong to the Park Slope Food Coop--an institution which you either love or hate. http://www.foodcoop.com
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The Key Food on Fifth Avenue is a great "suburban" style grocery store. I also love the A&S Pork Store. One of the few real butchers left in the nabe. That's where I get all my meat.
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I've lived right where you are for years. There used to be an awesome fruit and veg stand on 7th near Union. When it burned down I joined the coop. If you are really dead-set against the coop (and bear in mind, you can get a shift there that's not on the shopping floor), then I would stock up on veg at the Greenmarket, or join a CSA. Anywhere else in the Slope you will either pay more or sacrifice greatly in terms of quality.
Best grocery store in the area is Key Food on Fifth Ave, particularly for ethic items and packaged food. For produce, it is only fair to poor. And for meats, Union Market is far superior for only a little bit more money. But for value and selection, and if produce is important to you, the Coop is virtually a must.
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Another vote for Union Market. It's a great niche store for things 5th Ave Key Food doesn't ever stock: baby artichokes, olive mixes, spices, grana padana & local mozzarella, etc. etc. Yes it's pricey but the selection is greater than Blue Apron (which is otherwise fine as well).
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I need to go to 5th Ave Key Food. I have been to Union Market, and I love the selection of organic, free-range meat, and the organic dairy products. The produce is pretty awful, though. Some of it is good quality, but there's such a tiny selection. But I dig it for the specialty items.
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Great point, Mandymac--there are office workslots, maintenance workslots, and even workslots working at a soup kitchen. As to the Greenmarket: you can get some great things there, but it's only going to meet alyson's impulse buying needs one day out of seven. And there are no bargains there (although if you're used to paying Whole Foods Market/aka "Whole Check Market" prices. . .is it true there is no employee discount?)
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Yeah, the greenmarket is incredible, but I'm not always a good enough planner to take full advantage. Also, I'm a very seasonal buyer, so I get lots of great bargains.
There's something about the energy of the grocery store that I can only take five days out of seven. It's tough to explain, and I realize it sounds nuts. It's just how it is. Like I said, it's a shame.
There is definitely an employee discount at Whole Foods, and if the store was in my neighborhood (like it was in North Carolina, where I just moved from), I'd shop there for almost everything. Buying seasonally really cuts costs. Also, it definitely takes some serious strategy and knowledge to shop there reasonably, but it can be done. If it's not your thing, I understand, though.
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