The South's Best Grocery Stores

Whether it’s a leisurely Sunday afternoon shop for the week of meals ahead, or a last-minute Wednesday pop-in to pick up a forgotten bag of sugar, we’re a picky sort when it comes to where we buy our food. After all, going to the grocery store is about more than just the food itself. Yes, we love a wide selection of fresh produce; and yes, we love a good bargain; but at the end of the day, we treasure the hospitable atmosphere of our neighborhood grocery stores—and the friendly faces in the aisles and behind the butcher’s counter—most of all. It’s no wonder, then, that we Southerners are fiercely loyal to our neighborhood grocers. This year, we polled our readers about their favorite grocery stores across the South. From Publix to Piggly Wiggly, here are the six grocery stores that have won us all over.