Downtown residents and workers have a new grocery option in the heart of the city.
Ari’s Pantry, which includes an emphasis on Italian fare, opened Wednesday to the public at the intersection of Main and Ervay, across the street from Neiman Marcus. The store is the third for the market that also has locations in Oak Cliff and Trinity Groves.
Shoppers were greeted with options for blood oranges, watermelons and parmigiano reggiano cheese and much more, including some basics such as eggs and milk. There’s also a dining area and options for sandwiches, espresso and a gelato bar. Visitors can even grab a small shopping cart.
The store is filling a key void with a new grocery store after Berkley’s Market closed a shop in the same location last year amid consolidation, leaving downtown shoppers with limited options for those looking for basic items — a key need as downtown attracts more and more residents. Ari Lowenstein, founder, said folks have been showing interest even before it opened.
“One woman walked by and actually looked in the window yesterday and started jumping up and down with excitement,” Lowenstein said, noting the buzz around something like Ari’s Pantry for downtown.
While the new store has many items, there’s room for more products — and that’s not an accident.
“I want to leave space for someone saying, ‘Hey, can you carry something?’” he said Wednesday.
The store covers about 3,500 square feet with a large part of that devoted to the main store area for customers.