Make shopping fun again at these speciality grocers

Tracking down a specific cheese or a fine bottle of wine isn’t difficult for folks in the Pacific Northwest. Like the numerous hiking trails scattered throughout the region, there’s a specialty grocery store for every palate and occasion within easy reach.

Specialty markets march to the beat of their own drum, leaving the mundane and commercial pantry staples to supermarkets. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or simply believe that food should be a transformative daily experience, a trip to a local specialty grocer is in order. These are some of our favorites in the Pacific Northwest, but we warned — you’ll almost certainly walk out of these stores with more than you’d intended.

Wellspent Market, Portland

Wellspent Market was founded by Jim Dixon who, while visiting family in Italy, stumbled into one of the country’s first Michelin-starred restaurants late at night. The next morning, the chef and his family gave Dixon a tour of their olive groves — and the experience inspired Dixon to start importing olive oil from small producers across Italy. Today, Wellspent offers some of the most sought-after olive oils by the bottle and via a CSA subscription program. Shoppers will also find items created by Portland restaurateurs, specialty vinegars and salts, heirloom beans, and many other high-quality goods hand-picked from producers around the world. 

Big John's PFI, Seattle

The foodie foray of Italian flavors continues at Big John’s PFI (Pacific Food Importers) just outside Seattle’s Chinatown-International District. This store’s namesake founder started his business by selling imported olives and feta cheese to Greek restaurants from the back of his car. Word got out and before long, John “Big John” Croce had a bustling business on his hands. Today, his store is still largely devoted to Mediterranean specialties, but customers will also find French butter, European chocolates, and a 30-foot-long case bursting with imported meats and cheeses for picture-perfect charcuterie boards. 

Spud’s Produce Market, Olympia and Tumwater, Washington

The owners of Spud’s Market spent years working in the grocery industry, but decided in 2012 it was time to go out on their own. They opened Spud’s Market in the Wildwood neighborhood in Olympia, where they feature a wide array of locally made products, many of which are from nearby facilities, including OlyKraut, Smith Brothers Farms and Olympia Seafood Company. The owners then opened a second store in Tumwater in 2018. It’s the kind of place where you could do all your grocery shopping and you always come home with something unexpected and wonderful.

Pilgrim’s Market, Coeur d'Alene

Imagine a farmers market bursting with organic, locally grown produce, beer and wine, dried bulk foods, baked treats, natural health products, and small business-made gifts, but as a permanent store — that’s Pilgrim’s Market. Aside from being the go-to local grocer for conscious shoppers, Pilgrim’s also offers Northwest-sourced, small-batch gourmet goods. You’ll find artisan meats, fresh-pressed juices, hand-dried herbs, and pâtés made by a WBENC-certified woman-owned business. Plus, you won’t find friendlier, more helpful staff anywhere in the inland Northwest. 

Bosa Foods, Vancouver, BC

Like other specialty grocers mentioned above, Bosa Foods is a purveyor of Italian and Mediterranean products — and that’s it. Staying in this lane means the store is very good at what it does. It’s also backed by an impressive pedigree: Founder Augusto Bosa wanted to foster a sense of community among blue-collar Italian immigrants who missed the flavors of home, so he started importing traditional and sometimes obscure food items. His fledgling business flourished as the Italian population grew in Vancouver. Today’s shopper has a large array of goods at their fingertips — truffle sauces, pastas, spices, fish, olives, and more — and a deli counter slinging customer-favorite paninis and subs.