We Love Ward's

Ward’s is the last locally-owned grocery store in Gainesville and has been owned by three generations of the Ward family. Walking through the aisles reminds me of grocery shopping with my grandmother at the M&M in Lake City - seasonal produce bought from local farms as well as baked goods from area bakeries, honey from local beekeepers, and local milk, eggs and even sausage. They also stock bulk organic grains and legumes, plus just about everything else a grocery store could offer, although not the plethora of brands.  My 22-year old son tells me they have a pretty amazing selection of beer there as well. 

Unlike chain grocery stores – like Publix – who have contracts with distant clearinghouses from whom they buy their stock, Ward's is free to buy from local folks.  It’s not unusual during the summer months to see a truck full of watermelons backed up to the produce door and a “watermelon brigade” of produce department workers “chucking” the melons into the cooler.  Wards is also a good place to buy bulk items like grains, legumes, nuts, etc.  And for omnivores, I understand they have a real butcher who will cut meat to your specification.

We have been buying Breakfast Brigade supplies there for a while.  It’s between where we live and the Catholic Worker House so it’s “on the way” although there seems to be a Publix in every sector of our town now, two within a mile of our house. And I admit we often shop at them for last-minute things.  Which makes me think that one of the things we need to change in our lives is to think ahead a little more and keep a list of staples we need to stock up on at Ward’s. 

Ward’s is located on the corner of NW 6^th Street and NW 23^rd Avenue. 

Comments

[becky]

hey! i followed you back "here" from the no impact man blog. don't you just love colin and all he is doing?! it looks like you too have quite a project going on. my daughter is a senior at uf and she too raves about ward's! she visits the farmer's markets often too but she loves ward's for the lack of packaging and the many fresh and local goods. so happy to see pictures of it on your site!

[Christen Parker]

Mmmmm... Your website is beautiful, Kelli, and makes me remember Gainesville, especially the people, your gardens, and even Ward's - we don't have anything quite like that here in St. Louie, but other good things, of course. Sending my love.