But if you sell your store, where will I go to get-------

[Arey]

My fish monger and I have a great relationship. It took years to establish, but we're at the stage where he not only tells me what I'd like, but also what I shouldn't buy that particular day. Just today, I asked if he'd reccommend the red snapper filets, and his answer was yes, but if I wanted one, he'd filet a whole fish and sell me one of the filets, and he didn't take a fish off the ice on the fish counter. he went into the ice locker and brought out a whole one, and cut a filet for me. But, he's put his store up for sale. I asked him, "If you sell, where will I go to buy fish?" He said he's sure that whoever buys it will continue it as a seafood store. He told me he's been doing it for 31 years, and wants to do something else. I can understand that. After 31 years of being up to your elbows in fish guts and shrimp shells you might feel it's time to do something else. His two brothers also work in the shop and they plan on being truck drivers, they've already got their licenses.

My butcher also sold his business several years ago but it was too a young butcher working for him, so that wasn't too bad. Parenthetically speaking (the new butcher was the son of my barber and he and sold his barber shop to a young woman who talks on her cell phone while cutting hair (yes it's a very inbred island, you only have to look at the public works dept. employees to see that)).

So, who do you hope never ever retires, and which food store's "For Sale" sign would most distress you?

[kitchensqueen]

I'd feel pretty distraught if our favorite local butcher, Paulina Meat Market, ever went under. Sadly they're not even in my neighborhood - about a twenty minute train ride away, but worth the travel. And though not a store, I'd be completely lost if our neighborhood farmer's market went away.

I already lament the fact that we don't have an "old-school"/artisan fishmonger and bakery in the immediate vicinity to my neighborhood... I'd prefer so much to do daily/every-few-days marketing at knowledgeable, specialized, local retailers than running into a one-stop-shop supermarket where they only know my name by what's printed on my check out reciept...

[jrshaul]

I can't say I have this relationship with any local food purveyor in particular - quite frankly, all of the superior ingredients available around here are far above my pay grade. However, if the local Wine & Hop Shop were ever in any danger of insolvency, I'd quite likely go ballistic.

[Panaderia Canadiense]

Spice Bazaar, where I purchase all of my herbs, spices, and nuts. Elsa, the proprietor, is incredibly knowledgable, funny, and often suggests things to me that I didn't even know she carries (like dried strawberries!) If she ever goes out of business, I'll probably sit down and weep for a while - it took a very long time to find her and both she and her shop have become completely indispensable.

[kitchensqueen]

Spice Bazaar, where I purchase all of my herbs, spices, and nuts. Elsa, the proprietor, is incredibly knowledgable, funny, and often suggests things to me that I didn't even know she carries (like dried strawberries!) If she ever goes out of business, I'll probably sit down and weep for a while - it took a very long time to find her and both she and her shop have become completely indispensable.

Glad you mentioned this! I'd be lost without our spice purveyor too. A few neighborhoods away from me, but the only place I'll buy herbs and spices. And can you imagine food without good spices!?

[Chris Amirault]

Oh my goodness.... You've got me panicking....

• Sonia's for Middle Eastern items;
  
• the Chinese American Market for Chinese items, heritage pork, and excellent produce;
  
• Narin Market for Khmer and other SE Asian items and produce;
  
• Asiana Market for Japanese and Korean products;
  
• Sanchez Market and Tortilleria for Mexican stuff;
  
• Compare Foods for Central American produce;
  
• the carnicaria whose name I can never remember for variety meats, chorice, and rabbit....
  

[Panaderia Canadiense]

Spice Bazaar, where I purchase all of my herbs, spices, and nuts. Elsa, the proprietor, is incredibly knowledgable, funny, and often suggests things to me that I didn't even know she carries (like dried strawberries!) If she ever goes out of business, I'll probably sit down and weep for a while - it took a very long time to find her and both she and her shop have become completely indispensable.

Glad you mentioned this! I'd be lost without our spice purveyor too. A few neighborhoods away from me, but the only place I'll buy herbs and spices. And can you imagine food without good spices!?

I can't. I also can't imagine trying to make oatmeal-walnut cookies without walnuts or cinnamon, or apple cake without ginger and nutmeg and macadamia nuts. Spice Bazaar is downtown from me - about 15 minutes by bus - but it's well worth the trek. She's the only store here that sells sunflower seeds!

[Mjx]

Ever since Dom's deli, down on Lafayette Street closed (leading to a two-year search for another place that sold Stramondo marzipan), I've been careful to not get too attached to anyplace.