Plan an afternoon around one of these superettes to best experience four of Atlanta’s distinct neighborhoods.
Apart from its rich history and cultural centers, Atlanta has struggled to define its tourist draw over recent years. Large sports and music venues draw crowds, but its powerhouse of a culinary scene is quickly becoming a central attraction.
With the inaugural Michelin Guide released in October 2023 and this year’s James Beard Foundation recognition, Atlanta’s restaurants are delivering. But it’s the mini-marts that are true local gems worth travelers’ attention—and a way to take a piece of the city’s food scene home.
Similar to New York’s bodega culture, local mini-marts, and markets have emerged as neighborhood hubs but with a local bend. Southern superettes are filling the void in their communities with everything from hyper-local products to regional staples. It’s the personal connections, however, that keep people coming back.
“Having stuff from your friends lets you appreciate them,” Pure Quill Superette chef and owner Hudson Rouse said. While that allows him to explain everything inside and out of his superette, it also means visitors can share the same feeling when they return home to their loved ones.
Whether it’s a quick bite to eat, everything you need to make dinner or a beautiful gift you’re in search of, there are four locations that deliver every time. Plan an afternoon around one of these superettes to best experience four of Atlanta’s distinct neighborhoods.
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Pure Quill Superette
Stepping into Pure Quill Superette is like entering a bygone era. Outfitted with nostalgia-inducing art by Taylor Rushing and Kyle Brooks, a wall of vintage cigarette ads, a sprawling deli counter, and a selection of southern staples (like Duke’s mayo or Georgia pecan oil) on the shelves, it’s a reflection of its proximity. Seated just a couple of blocks off of Moreland Avenue, this neighborhood stop isn’t a place you’re likely to stumble upon. It’s a destination spot informed by the 1914 building it inhabits. And that’s exactly why it’s perfect for visitors to experience a truer side of Atlanta.
Here, the relationships are deep. From standing friendships with the artists to the farmers Rouse once sold produce alongside at the East Atlanta Village farmers market, there’s a personal connection to every part of his superette. In turn, there’s a depth of knowledge behind every carefully selected product you won’t find in many places.
Whether you dine in, take food to-go, or want to buy everything you need to make dinner at home, Pure Quill has it — and can tell you how to use it. “Everything in [here] is something I’d have at home,” Rouse said. While the kitchen is open until 3 p.m. for breakfast and lunch, you can also shop for ingredients and farm-supplied products to take home.
Floral Park Market
While it’s easy to assume this Westside stop is exclusively a flower and gift shop, Floral Park Market offers so much more. In 2016, the flower wholesale shop shifted to include prepared foods, pantry staples, and beautiful cuts of meat. The shop continues to feel fresh and new — much like the Westside itself as it continues to be developed. Though you won’t find any large-scale name brands here, there are ample unique items that will beckon to shoppers from near and far.
Locals can liven up a grocery haul with freshly milled grains, charcuterie from The Spotted Trotter — sourced from nearby Moreland Avenue, and gourmet ready-to-eat items like gazpacho. Visitors can find delicious bites to snack on and gifts to take home to remember the Peach State by. While you’ll find artisan items sourced from small suppliers globally, there’s no shortage of Atlanta-based producers either.
Shelves are stocked with loaves from Marietta-based H&F Bread Co. Golda kombucha is on tap, and you can even buy house-made boiled peanuts. Don’t forget to look for seasonal items and even a bottle of Georgia wine.
Kinship Butchery & Sundry
Owned and operated by a husband and wife duo, Chef Myles Moody and Sommelier Rachel Pack are highly seasoned food and beverage industry veterans. The couple met at Aska, a two-star Michelin restaurant in Brooklyn, which means the former Chef de Cuisine and General Manager — and Beverage Director — have a wealth of knowledge when it comes to service, presentation, and quality. And that’s just what you’ll find inside Kinship Butchery & Sundry, which is located in the heart of Virginia-Highland.
At first glance, you’ll notice the crisp white space is primarily sectioned off by its neatly filled pantry shelves to the left, an Academy coffee counter (run by Moody’s brother, Connan) to the right, and the heart of the operation, the butchery and cheese counter, filling the back wall. After ordering a coffee and a popular breakfast sandwich created to reduce food waste, peruse the shelves and small fridge for locally and sustainably sourced items. Pick up a jar of honey made from Virginia-Highland hives or Mayhem in a Bottle from Gene’s BBQ.
Grant Park Market
Sitting just off Memorial Drive in its namesake neighborhood, Grant Park Market includes a full grocery and a café. There’s plenty of parking and seating, making this a good stop for larger groups. Lunch is served until 3:30 p.m. and includes a wide range of bistro items such as soups, salads, bowls, and hot or cold sandwiches. But once you’ve placed your order and your number on a table, don’t hesitate to shop while you wait.
You’ll find plenty of delicious snacks to pack for the road and staples for a meal or picnic. The selection includes plenty of local products, too. A few favorites include Beautiful Briny Sea’s flavored salts and sugars, items from H&F Bread Co., King of Pops (a perennial favorite among Atlanta residents), and Creature Comforts beer, which also has a cult following. These brands, and many others the store carries, are headquartered within an hour or two of Atlanta, so grab a few top picks as gifts or souvenirs.
