Head To The Store
It’s a little easy for the cheese-, olive-, fresh produce- and bakery-loving grocery shopper to get a little discouraged around here. Don’t get us wrong, we like not-so-commercial markets like Wild Oats, but sometimes you want something a little more like a mini Central Market—somewhere where you can dabble in an olive bar or sip on a Diet Coke from the fountain before you decide whether it’ll be Special K with Strawberries or Strawberry Cheerios for breakfast this week: A place that’s not wrapped up in exclusivity nor preoccupied with organics.
Enter The Store. A sort of Salt Lake legend, The Store (2050 E. 6200 South, and 4695 S. Holladay Blvd.) is the kind of place where both the specialty-lover and the just-get-it-done shopper can co-exist, and leave happily and not too overbudget. Not only is the store home to Schmidt’s Bakery (in-house chocolates are part of the gig) and an exclusive vendor of Meier’s Meats, they also supply their own salsas ($3.99 for 14 oz.) and house a tasty salad bar with to-go salad dressings. There’s also a convenient-store worthy soda fountain in the middle aisle—Orange Bang included.
If you’re taking the cheese party to heart, this place is a must-stop. Other shelf favorites include “home-made” pizzas and lasagnas, M.C. Rossi pasta sauces, Divina olives, Virgil’s Rootbeer and San Pellegrino’s Aranciata and Limonata—currently three six-packs are on sale for $10. From Logan, Crumb Brothers Artisan Bread ($2.89-$4.99) is a local best-seller.
And though in-store Schmidt’s Bakery is packed with goodies, don’t skip over a personal-sized vanilla cake from Cakes de Fleur (A Salt Lake “Best of”) for $4.99.
The store is a neighborly gem as welcoming as its name suggests, but it will give you all those hard-to-find and fancy shmancy products you’re in need of, with the best produce selection to top it off. You might have to plan on paying a little extra, but with service this friendly, you won’t feel too bad about it.
March 28th, 2007 at 6:51 am
Great job on describing one of my favorite “little” grocery stores. I love the photos!
March 28th, 2007 at 7:47 am
The Sugar cookies here are to die for…Seriously, it’s a secret but this is what I do when I get there…I go get a sugar cookie (pay for it) and then do my shopping while I’m eating my cookie, so when I get home and eat a another cookie it’s as if it’s my first one of the day! LOVE THE STORE!
March 28th, 2007 at 9:03 am
Joc…I agree! Yummy sugar cookies:) Also, to add to the homemade salsa comment, they are THE best! I don’t really attempt to eat any other, especially the fresh black bean!!…However, if Jamie Anne is in town and she makes her salsa, I will only eat that!!! Also…there is a Store II located in Holladay by Mountain City China! And The Store is so great and convenient for quick meals or sides! (My mom loves them!) Their food/deli also provides some great satisfaction…yummy wraps!
Okay…sorry, I am finished:)
Oh…yes, on the photos…who took those?!
March 28th, 2007 at 9:54 am
Yes, the store is a beautiful place. The soda fountain is a personal favorite, as well as the produce section. There’s just something about walking around all the vibrant, fresh food that inspires me to cook. Also, their meat selection/quality is, I believe, superior to most. Jenny J’s mom should seriously be the poster mom for The Store. She is a religious shopper and loves the place! Can’t blame her…it’s awesome!
March 28th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
I love that us Holladay/Cottonwood Heights folk love a particular grocery store so much. I too, love The Store and all that is has to offer (which “Your Heart Out” perfectly described) including Schmidts Bakery with the sugar cookies (Joc) —and their mint/chocolate sandwich cookies are also a favorite.
Their produce beats any other, and they will gladly cut any fruit or vegetable and give you a sample if you are questioning the ripeness or flavor.
March 28th, 2007 at 6:08 pm
You have to love any place with a name this minimalist. It’s the grocery version of the “Eat” diner.
I want to second (third, fourth?) the salsa lovers. The Store salsa is the best I’ve had in SLC!
March 28th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
I will third or fourth or whatever The Store salsa.
Also, The Store has managed to maintain the same feeling it had when I was going there with my parents as a toddler. I think that’s a fairly impressive feat….
February 9th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
[...] shopping locally is fun. (Think The Store, Pace’s Dairy Ann, Glaus French Pastry and Elemente). More importantly, buying locally is [...]
April 14th, 2009 at 8:32 am
[...] Where: Hagermann’s Bakehouse Cafe or The Store [...]