Philly Grocery Store Alternatives, Because the Chains Are a Nightmare Right Now
Bigger stores are packed with panicked shoppers. Check out these businesses offering curbside pick-up, delivery and other safe options.
Photo courtesy of Riverwards Produce
As part of the Foobooz Guide to Home Cooking, we’re working to keep you connected to your favorite chefs and restaurants, without needing to leave your own kitchen. So, until we can finally return to all those places that brought us joy, we’ll be publishing ways to bring that very same joy into your homes.
Grocery stores are among the essential businesses that remain open to serve Philadelphians right now, but the idea of crowding into a Whole Foods has less appeal than ever. Instead, consider supporting these smaller, independently-owned businesses that are struggling to survive right now
If you know of a business selling groceries that you’d like to see included here, send an email to foobooz@phillymag.com.
Updated 4/6/2020.
Italian Market
A variety of businesses within the Italian Market remain open, as do many of the open-air produce stands that line 9th Street. The market’s website has a list of open businesses here. Through a partnership with Habitat Logistics, the open vendors are also offering delivery, albeit through a slightly clunky system. Call each business and place each individual order, then call the Italian Market delivery center at 215-278-2903 and let them know which businesses you’ve purchased from. They will schedule a delivery from there.
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Primal Supply Meats
Primal Supply’s web store is now live with meat, seafood, produce, prepared food and grocery items including cheese, canned fruits and vegetables, ice cream, milk, eggs and more. Their retail stores are closed for walk-in sales, but you can choose between delivery and pick-up at several locations throughout the city. There is a $20 minimum order for pick-up and a $50 minimum for delivery, plus a $15 delivery fee.
Weavers Way Co-Op
All three Weavers Way locations are currently open for reduced hours from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. for in-store shopping, in addition to their offerings of curbside pickup and delivery. Items in their bulk section are now pre-packaged, and they’ve got grab-and-go meals for sale as well.
J. Ambrogi Foods
Out in New Jersey, another wholesale distributor is offering curbside pickup at their facility in Thorofare. Customers can place an order through their site and pick it up the next day. Options include produce, meat, dairy and eggs.
Riverwards Produce
Riverwards is in the process of testing an online ordering system, which will run through their website and allow curbside pickup. They’re currently allowing walk-up sales for the elderly and immunocompromised. Bring your list to their window and they’ll shop for you.
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Headhouse, Fitler Square and Clark Park Farmers Markets
Farmers markets have been deemed essential businesses, so these three markets operated by the Food Trust will continue operating for the duration of the coronavirus crisis. All markets will be operating under normal hours, and information about safety procedures can be found here.
Farm Art Produce
In addition to curbside pickup, Farm Art is offering delivery to Philly and its suburbs. They’ve got fresh produce, as well as grocery basics like toilet paper, milk, nonperishable snacks, and more.
Reading Terminal Market
Many of the grocers in Reading Terminal are still open, and are offering delivery through Mercato. Find all the open businesses here.
Mariposa Food Co-op
Check Mariposa’s website for their updated hours, which have shifted to include specific hours for high-risk shoppers, plus two full days dedicated to curbside pick-up only. As always, they have lots of local products.
Rowhouse Grocery
In addition to regular cleaning and sanitizing, limiting customers, and wearing masks, Rowhouse has begun offering free items and discounts for restaurant workers, as well as offering a community gift card for people to use if they need extra support. Shoppers can donate a few dollars, or can use it to cover the balance of their groceries if they’re a short.
Tela’s Market
Tela’s has shut down their made-to-order operation, but is still offering some prepared food, in addition to their normal stock of produce, meat, seafood, and other grocery items.
Fond
In addition to a variety of prepared foods, Fond has milk, eggs, toilet paper and a few types of fresh produce available for pickup. Information here.
Baldor Food
Inside a 15-mile radius of the city, Baldor Foods will delivery produce, meat and seafood to your home, including peak season asparagus, gorgeous California blood oranges, as well as grocery basics.
United By Blue
The recently introduced market menu includes everything from basics like toilet paper and apples to relative luxuries like oat milk and sparkling water. Next-day or same-day pickup available via email or phone, delivery available via Grubhub.
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Julius Silvert Specialty Food Distributor
Typically only available to restaurants, wholesale distributor Julius Silvert is selling a variety of grocery boxes for delivery in and outside Philly. Options include a cleaning box, specialty box, and an essentials box. Delivery info here.
Larry Inver Wholesale Foods
Another Philly-based restaurant supplier opening up sales to regular people. Call or email to order from this list of offerings. Some delivery available, but they’re mostly doing curbside pickup.
Di Bruno Bros.
All locations are currently open and accepting phone orders for pick-up and delivery between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m daily. Find details here. They’ve also got their regular mail-order options for snacks, cheeses, meats and other treats.
