The Ethnic Grocery Trail

Several days ago when I needed that new bamboo spatula, I knew exactly where to go.  I hopped in my car and headed for Asia Market, smack in the middle of the Ethnic Grocery Trail.  "Ethnic Grocery Trail?  What the hell is that?" I can hear you saying.  Would you feel better if I told you it was 501 Business in Durham?  Ok, I'll show you:

View Key and Larger Map

I've also included in this map some places you might not have thought or heard of to to pick up utensils and implements.  If you buy enough neat food, you might need some neat new cookware to cook it in.  :)

I've left a number of things off this map.  Regular grocery stores are right out: no HT, Compare, Whole Paycheck Foods, or Kroger.  I didn't even put in the last remaining Red & White (King's), even though it's on the trail.  I've left out boutique-like stores such as Parker & Otis and Foster's.  I've also left off countless Hispanic grocery stores and tiendas, because they're exactly that: countless.  If you can't find one of those, you've got a much worse problem than I know how to help with.   :)

So let's say your downtown somewhere, and you need a bamboo spatula.  The first thing you need to do is find Business 501.  Once you're there -- well, for purposes of this demonstration, let's head south, like I did. 

On the right, just past Guglhupf, is Asia Market: tiny, crowded, and packed with stuff.  There are canned and bottled goods galore, as well as cookware and produce. 

Keep going south.  After a couple miles, you'll come up on TAFKASS.  On one of the service roads to the left (you can get to the service road off Westgate Drive; it finally runs into TAFKASS's parking lot) is a island of stores called "Boulevard Plaza." Just to the left of "Adam & Eve" is a small Indian (I think) grocery called "Spice Bazaar."  Lots of South Asian food, a few utensils, and... movie rentals.  [Edit: please see comments.]

Let's get back to Westgate drive, then head away from 15-501.  Turn right into "Westgate Plaza," and head for the southwest corner.  Near that corner is a utensil stop: "Tuesday Morning."  It's really fun to root around in here looking for discounted kitchen stuff.

If you want to head into TAFKASS, there's a big Ross there.  Ross falls in-between regular retailers like Sears and bottom-feeders like Dollar Tree.  They sell discounted, close-out merchandise.  They also have clearance sections in the store for shopworn and broken stuff.  The good news is they have a section of kitchen stuff.  You may have to do a little rooting around, and the prices can vary widely, but sometimes you can find some gems.

Ok, keep heading South on Westgate until you get to University Drive, and turn left.  On your right are a couple of nondescript strips of stores.  There's a higher, smaller group that has Saladelia on the left and Twisted Noodles on the far right.  Amongst the other stores in that strip are no less than three more places of interest (from left to right): Lan's Gourmet and Cooking School, Kinstar International Food Store (the sign outside just says "African Store"), and Little India.   When I found this group of stores together I nearly lost my mind. 

The sign on the window of Lan's says that they have food, but what's you'll see from the window is a bunch of Chinese-looking dishes, pots, sculpture, and clothes.  In the back of the store is a small cooking school, so maybe that's where the food is. 

To the right is Kinstar, with lots of African food, and... movies.  They have meat toward the back.  At one time I saw a bandsaw in the back of the store, and I assuming they were breaking down cuts of meat with it, but I didn't see the bandsaw on my last visit.  I also thought I'd once seen a sign up that said they were halal, but if it was there this time, I missed it. 

Further to the right is Little India, with -- you guessed it: Indian food.  And movie rentals.  No wonder the VisArt on Hillsborough road is going out of business.  :)

Ok, get back on 15-501 South and head toward the Garrett Road intersection.  When you pass a decrepit looking building just next to the MLKJ Parkway exit on another little access road, on the northbound side, observe a moment of silence for the Oriental Supermarket, which was the first ethnic grocery store in Durham I think I was ever aware of.  I've been hearing for years that the strip of stores there was to be demolished.  The last time I passed by, there was a Hertz truck rental place in the strip, but the Oriental Supermarket was gone.  I have no idea whether they relocated or just went away.  For years even their sign was broken, and just said "Oriental S Market," which is what I still think of them as.  And I still have a sake set a friend bought me from there as a gift over 20 years ago. *Sniffle* [Edit: Matt found it! See the comments and updated map.]

Need any more utensils?  Ok, when you get to Garrett Road, take a right, and then a quick left into Oak Creek Village.  :)  Near the western corner is a TJ Maxx.  TJ Maxx is a lot like Ross, and they also have a section of kitchen stuff. 

I'm tired of driving around in these little shopping malls and culs-de-sac.  Let's get on 15-501 North... [drive drive drive] then on 85 North [drive drive drive] and then take exit 177.  Take a left onto Roxboro Road.  Gee, I could really use a soda.  Pull into that little convenience store on Avondale, just south of the Avondale-Roxboro intersection.  Yeah, the one that says "R&J Mini Mart."  Yeah, it just opened a few months ago.  (By the way, we're in Durham's Beaver Pond Business District, named after the huge beaver pond that appeared several years ago.)  I'm gonna go in here and get a drink.  Maybe there's a Klondike Bar or something in that freezer in back.  Um, I don't see any ice cream -- just some frozen meat that says "halal."  Wait, halal again?  And what are all these cans in the back with Arabic on them?  OMG, we're back on the Ethnic Grocery Trail!  In a convenience store!  And on Highway 501 again, no less. 

Alright, one more utensil run, and we're done.  No more ethnic grocery stores, except for passing a taqueria, carniceria, or panaderia every few blocks.  I want to cook some serious lasagna when I get home -- something like I'd need a hotel pan for.  What's a hotel pan?  It's one of these.   Head north until you pass the Horton/Denfield intersection, then pull off on the right at Herndon Brothers.  This is the kind of place that someone from a restaurant will run to in the middle of the day because they need 100 more forks or the like.  Yes, they'll take your money and sell you stuff without having to use a secret restaurant-owner handshake.  There are other restaurant supply folks around, too, now that you know what kind of place to look for.

Ok, we've run off the end of Utensil Extension North at the end of the Ethnic Grocery Trail.  Time to head home.   And remember 501 Business for your next ethnic grocery need.   :)

Comments

[megan]

Fun post!

[Joe]

M: Thanks! Maybe that'll excuse my not having posted all week. :)

[Maura]

Oh,man. I wish I had been on that little outing with you. My head would have exploded.

[Fritz]

Whole Paycheck Foods...LOL isn't that the truth

I have had my share of luck on Durham's Silk road, most of it was during my search for ingredients to make the perfect Vindaloo

[Matt]

"When you pass a decrepit looking building just next to the MLKJ Parkway exit on another little access road, on the northbound side, observe a moment of silence for the Oriental Supermarket, which was the first ethnic grocery store in Durham I think I was ever aware of. I've been hearing for years that the strip of stores there was to be demolished. The last time I passed by, there was a Hertz truck rental place in the strip, but the Oriental Supermarket was gone. I have no idea whether they relocated or just went away."

They live! They live! And they're still on the Trail!

Oriental Supermarket is now opposite South Square, next to Tire King (along the service road that intersects with Tower Boulevard). A wonderfully welcoming place with friendly staff. Korean-run (with plenty of jarred kimchi); a mind-numbing selection of noodles; a great source of fresh vegetables, odd snacks like Shrimp Chips, and plenty of Japanese, Chinese, Philippine, Vietnamese , and Thai sauces, condiments, and ingredients. While you're there, don't forget to pick up some Pocky!

http://snipurl.com/1v0h6

[Joe]

Matt: Excellent! Thank you! I just drove over there; they were closed, but I could look in the window. Much nicer than the old place: more space, and even electronic scanners. I'm impressed. I think I'd actually seen ideograms on the sign before, but just thought they were for the karate school in the same building. And you wouldn't see the store unless you drove back there. It's on the map now. Thanks again!

Edit: By the way, Oriental Supermarket has... movie rentals. :) I make fun of it, but I think it's actually kinda cool. It gives the stores more of a sense of community. You go there and buy the type of food you want, and get a movie in your language to boot. It makes sense.

Edit 2: I know I said I was leaving off Compare foods, but both of them in Durham are right off the trail too. :)

Edit 3: Fritz: "Silk Road" is a great name; thanks. And thanks also to Barry for the link. I'm collapsing a bunch of my comments here because I didn't really need to have them strewn out over that many entries.

[Michael Bacon]

Food World isn't quite on the trail directly, but it's about 100 yards off of it, and probably deserves a mention.

[Joe]

Wow -- went in today. Pretty multi-ethnic. But I've rarely been in a place that seemed so moribund. I added it to the map.

[Joe Eater]

BTW, this is not on the EGT, but.... I went in another restaurant supply store the other day in Lakewood Shopping Center called RCF. Nice folks, and perhaps cheaper than Herndon Bros. There's also a big thrift store over there called "Thrift World" if you're shopping for bargains.

[James T Joseph]

Hi This site is quite useful. We have some customer done shopping after reading your article. Spice Bazaar is an Indian Managed shop selling many items for Asian coocking and groceries. We do sell Fresh vegitables and Fish and Halal Meat Products and frozen food items and ready to eat items and snacks sweets and etc..... Thank you , James.

[Joe Eater]

James: Sorry about the error. I've corrected the store description to list it your business as Indian and not Pakistani, and also directed folks to look here in the comments for your additional information. Thanks for letting us know!

[Charlie]

I am searching for a "ghost" grocery that I saw in passing, but can't find again... AND it would be right off the Ethnic Food Trail! The reason I'm so stuck on finding it is that it would be the closest market for me. I SWEAR I saw an asian grocery sign, at least six feet wide, a rectantangle lit in red with a long name, SOMEWHERE NEAR Roxboro Rd at E Club Blvd.. I am absolutely positive that I was not bamboozled by the Compare Foods Big Lots whirlygig on Davidson, but I really believe it's near there. I checked at the local Time Warner office, and at the storage units... neither of them sells woks or tea sets. Has anybody else seen this place? Help me out... I'm spending too much gas driving around in circles.

[Joe Eater]

Charlie: I don't know of one near there. When did you see it? This is (presumably) in what's known as the "Beaver Pond Business District," right? I keep meaning to go look some, but it sounds as if that's turning into good intentions. :(

[Charlie]

Joe- Thanks for replying about the possibly-non-existent grocery... I saw it on January 15th or so, this year, 2008. And, yes, in the "Beaver Pond Business District". I didn't even know about the pond until you mentioned it, but, seeing it on the map, it is almost exactly where I thought I'd re-discover the grocery! Haha! Now that I've combed the area, I'm thinking that I must just be mistaken; that is, I think it must be in a different neighborhood, possibly on Guess Rd near Carver, I don't know. I simply remember thinking "Wow, how close!" (to Durham Regional Hospital). Anyway, if I find it again, I'll let you know about it. Thanks for the website!

[burgeoningfoodie]

Does anyone know if the Asian Mrkt has wasabi powder in bulk or anywhere that does?

[Joe Eater]

I can't imagine that Asia Market wouldn't have wasabi powder, but I haven't been in recently, so I can't say for sure. But the good thing about the Silk Road is you can just travel down it, stopping at consecutive stores until you find what you need. ;)

[Carrboro Girl]

Hi,

Thanks for this! I live in Carrboro and don't have a car, aren't there any ethnic groceries near by Carrboro/Chapel Hill. I'm desperate to stock up on spices and exotic veggies but have no way of getting to Durham. Any leads?

[Joe Eater]

Carrboro Girl - Glad you like the post. I'm afraid I'm not so conversant with Carrboro as I am with Durham, so I'm not much help. Perhaps one of our Gentle Readers could chime in?

[Phil]

So check this out.

Go to Google.
Enter (that is, the words Durham and NC, without quotes or anything)
Click on the map
Read down the left sidebar for a link to Joe's map. Viewed more than 50,000 times.

(If you can't see the left sidebar, look for the tiny double-left arrows on the left side of the map. Click it for the sidebar.)

[Joe Eater]

Phil - I think the way the numbers work is that multiple elements on the same map view count for multiple hits. So the map, while popular, doesn't get so many hits as it appears to.