Grocery stores are on the front lines of the Covid-19 pandemic. They’re one of the few places we’re allowed to venture out to, albeit as little as possible and only in order to grab what we need for the next week before quickly returning home.
While you might be hitting up the big chains in the Bay Area — Trader Joe’s, Safeway, and the like — I’ve noticed that it’s a great time to frequent your mom-and-pop shops, and there are plenty here. The bigger stores seem to be more crowded and picked over (stop hoarding!), while the local grocers tend to be better stocked and easier to cruise in and out of.
The Bay is home to a huge network of independent grocers, gourmet markets, and international food stores — often, they work more closely with local purveyors and have a neighborhood spirit we cherish here. I suggest, on your next outing to the store, going local and stopping by one of these stores.
Even better, to avoid going out, most are also offering delivery or curbside pickup.
Grocers
Giovanni’s
North Beach
One of the world’s great pizza masters, Tony Gemignani, has a charming Italian grocery in North Beach: Giovanni Italian Specialties. Named after his son, here you can pick up homemade focaccia, sauces, Italian condiments, pizza kits, panzerotti (fried calzones), pizzelle cookies, and fresh pastas. They also stock breads, meatballs, flat-iron steaks, cheeses, milk, eggs, butter, wine, liqueur, and yes, even toilet paper (in small amounts). You can also grab a superb pizza to go, including Neapolitan and multiple Chicago-style pies, at his nearby restaurants Tony’s Pizza and Capo’s.
How to shop: In-store and curbside pickup; delivery from their staff (Just call. It’s one creative way they’re keeping some employees on payroll.); UberEats; DoorDash.
Bi-Rite Market
NoPa/Western Addition and the Mission
The great Bi-Rite Market is open right now, although they’re limiting the amount of visitors at a time in their small shops — and the Cafe and Creamery are closed (you can still buy pints of Bi-Rite’s famed ice cream, however). A family-run business since 1940, the Mogannams have owned Bi-Rite since 1964, and brothers Sam and Raph took over from their father and uncle in 1997. This local treasure is smartly curated with best-of-the-best wine and spirits, chocolates, pastas, cheeses, farm-direct produce, and all manner of gourmet foods.
How to shop: In-store limited visits and pickup; delivery via InstaCart.
The Epicurean Trader
Bernal Heights, Cow Hollow, and Hayes Valley
The Epicurean Trader’s local shops began with the original Bernal Heights store in 2015. The store has curated a geek-worthy artisanal spirits selection of everything from amaro to whiskey. They have a rich and thoughtful range of gourmet foods: barbecue sauces, dressings, olive oils, chocolates, jams, artisan breads from local bakers, and more.
How to shop: Limited store hours; personalized delivery via their website; delivery via InstaCart (food and alcohol), Drizly (alcohol only), and UberEats (cafe menu).
Nijiya Market
Japantown, San Mateo, Mountain View, San Jose
Californian-Japanese grocer Nijiya Market has long been an excellent source for all things Japanese, from a superb sake selection to fresh, daily sushi to ingredients for Japanese cooking. They have announced expanded cleanliness practices and time off for employees who are sick. Do be aware that in the best of times, SF’s Japantown grocery is cozy, close quarters — so be mindful of keeping a distance.
How to shop: Updated hours at all locations here. In-store only.
Gus’s Community Market
Upper Haight, Mission Bay, Mission, Outer Sunset
A San Francisco classic for nearly 40 years, Gus’s Community Market has four locations and all manner of options from standard groceries to gourmet foods. They’re known for their meat and cheese selection and delis, vibrant flower selection, and in-house sushi.
How to shop: Updated hours at all locations: 7–8 a.m. for seniors age 60+; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for everyone else. In-store; delivery via InstaCart.
Guerra Quality Meats
Parkside
A Parkside institution since 1954, Italian-American market Guerra Quality Meats was founded by cousins Mark and Battista Guerra. Their sons now run the family shop, quickly launching Guerra’s To Go in response to the Covid-19 crisis. Besides their top-notch meat selection, they offer a smart wine selection, fish, cheeses, breads, produce, frozen sauces, pastas, and cooked meals, from lemon garlic chicken to their popular bolognese lasagna.
How to shop: In-store; groceries delivered via Mercato; sandwiches, pastas, BBQ, and precooked meals via Grubhub and Postmates.
Cal-Mart & Bryan’s Grocery
Laurel Village
Bryan’s Grocery and Cal-Mart are two OG institutions — going back to 1920 for the former, 1952 for the latter — on the same block. Bryan’s has one of the best quality meat/butcher counters anywhere, and both stock a deep array of seafood, groceries, produce, and deli offerings.
How to shop: In-store only. Check Cal-Mart updates on Facebook.
Rockridge Market Hall
Oakland
Siblings Sara, Tony, and Peter Wilson opened Rockridge Market Hall, Oakland’s gourmet food hall, in 1987. A shining example for gourmet markets everywhere, the hall packs in top-notch fish and meat counters, cheeses, a bakery, handmade pastas and wine sections, and gourmet everything, from peanut butter to popcorn.
How to shop: In response to this crisis, they immediately launched parking lot pickup (order via phone or online), while limiting in-person customers for spacing. Their bakery and Highwire Coffee Roasters are still open with limited hours.
Berkeley Bowl Marketplace
Berkeley
Since 1977, the all-great Berkeley Bowl has been one of the nation’s dream grocery stores — with so much produce from our bounty of NorCal farms alongside international produce. It’s such a NorCal kind of grocery: flowing with the rarest of herbs, fruits, veggies, and many versions of each. It’s also a full-on market, selling a wide range of dairy, breads, and Asian ingredients.
How to shop: In-store hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily (senior citizens shop pre-opening 9–10 a.m.); delivery via InstaCart.
Draeger’s Market
Menlo Park
The South Bay’s family-owned grocery institution since 1925, Draeger’s Market is serving the Peninsula from its huge store packed with all crucial groceries as well as their popular deli and bakery. Their plethora of gift baskets are a helpful option for sending care packages to loved ones.
How to shop: In-store; senior citizens shop pre-opening 7–8 a.m., Mondays and Thursdays only; delivery via InstaCart.
International markets
While you won’t find these on delivery apps with elderly hours or special pickup options, most of our region’s international market greats are still open for business, stocking those rare ingredients, spices, and international items you might need for recipes at home. A few of the best:
- Casa Lucas (Mexican, Mission District);
- Richmond New May Wah (Asian, Inner Richmond);
- Duc Loi (Asian and international, Mission and Bayview);
- Mithepheap Market (Asian, Oakland);
- Samiramis Imports (Middle Eastern, Mission);
- Middle East Market (Middle Eastern, West Berkeley); and
- Europa Plus (Eastern European, Inner Richmond).
Drink delivery
Many of the aforementioned shops offer curated drink-aficionado-worthy selections of spirits, wines, and/or beers. With the recent announcement of ABC’s law relief for California bars and distilleries, get ready to soon see a slew of spirits, bottled cocktails, and other home delivery options from our many local bar greats and craft distillers. A few other notable, local drink-centric pick-up/delivery options:
Wine and sherry
Inner Richmond’s Tofino Wines is offering “Shelter in Place” mixed cases of their deep picks of European and Californian wines and sherry collection.
Spirits and modifiers
South San Francisco’s Bitters & Bottles via shipping, local delivery, or store pickup orders.
Sake
Umami Mart, Oakland (FedEx delivery only) and Nijiya Market in SF, San Jose, and South Bay. Unfortunately, True Sake, America’s first sake shop and Hayes Valley treasure, has closed online orders, but we can’t wait for their return.
Beer
Craft beers and rare bottles from a walk-up window at beer bar/pub legend Monk’s Kettle every day from 1–10 p.m.
Farmers markets and CSAs
Open-air and low-contact spacing make farmers markets a viable option in these trying times. Plus, they’re utterly local and healthy, allowing you to buy seasonal and direct from farms.
Most neighborhood farmers markets are going strong, as are biggies like the Ferry Plaza (Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and Alemany Markets. Check for SF markets in your neighborhoods here. Search for SF and other Bay Area counties here and here.
Home delivery boxes via CSAs is another helpful option. There are many amazing farms delivering, including Mariquita Farms, Eat Well, Greenhearts, Full Belly Farms, Golden Gate Organics, Albert & Eve, Happy Acre Farm, Urban Tilth, and Frog Hollow. Order humane meats from the likes of Marin Sun Farms, The Local Butcher Shop, and Belcampo, alongside sustainable, local seafood CSFs like Sea Forager and Real Good Fish.
