Starting college marks a transition into adulthood for many students, and with adulthood comes independence. For many of us moving away from home, renting an off-campus house, and living with roommates for the first time brings news challenges of having to shop, clean, and cook for yourself. Being in college during a pandemic also forces students to hone their cooking skills and find creative ways to get groceries safely. Although there is a Whole Foods near campus, there are also more affordable options and specialty food markets that are great options for budding chefs.
Traditional Grocery Stores:
1. Eastside Marketplace
165 Pitman Street, Providence, RI
Distance from campus: 1 mile, 6 minute drive, ~25 minute walk
Hours: 7:00AM-10:00PM
Price rating: $$
Eastside Marketplace offers prepared food, meat, kosher items, flowers, artisan cheeses, and produce, while also including traditional grocery store staples including a bakery and deli. Eastside Marketplace also offers a Natural Foods Department and a full line of gluten free, organic, and all natural products. They also sell over 60 items in bulk, which helps to reduce food waste and plastic packaging usage.
2. Stop and Shop
333 West River Street, Providence, RI
Distance from campus: 2 miles, 7 minute drive, ~40 minute walk
Hours: 7:30AM-12:00AM
Price rating: $$
Stop and Shop offers products including organic foods and produce, meat, cleaning products, home and garden products, and pet care. Stop and Shop also has a delivery service through Peapod, which provides an easy way to shop for groceries online and have them delivered to you for a $10 fee.
3. Trader Joe’s
1000 Bald Hill Road, Warwick, RI
Distance from campus: 11 miles, 20 minute drive
Hours: 8:00AM-9:00PM
Price rating: $$
Trader Joe’s prides itself on getting the best prices for customers without engaging in practices such as a membership fee, loyalty programs, or sales. Trader Joe’s is extremely popular due to its low prices, unique offerings, and charming stores. They offer natural and organic products, and also have eco-friendly policies that make shopping more sustainable.
4. Walmart
51 Silver Spring St, Providence, RI
Distance from campus: 2 miles, 10 minute drive, ~ 40 minute walk
Hours: open 24 hours
Price rating: $
Walmart is a grocery superstore that offers traditional groceries along with garden, home, pharmacy, beauty, clothing, and pet sections. Walmart is the cheapest option on this list, making it the best choice for budget-friendly shoppers.
5. Hope Street Saturday Farmers Market
1015 Hope St, Providence, RI
Distance from campus: 1 mile, 6 minute drive, ~25 minute walk
Open Saturdays 9:00AM-1:00PM between May 2 and October 31
Price rating: $$
The Hope Street Farmers Market is held in Lippitt Park, and is a Rhode Island farmer-run cooperative offering fruits, vegetables, flowers, cheese, baked goods, meat, and seafood directly from Rhode Island farms. During non-pandemic times, the Hope Street Farmers Market also offers live music for entertainment and bicycle valet services to keep your bike safe while you shop.
6. Grocery delivery
Price rating: $$$
Grocery delivery services such as Instacart, Shipt, Amazon Fresh, Thrive Market, and Peapod offer contact-free grocery shopping that allows you to purchase the essentials online from the comfort of your home. These services charge delivery fees ranging from $5-$10, and often involve memberships. Not the most budget-friendly option, but a good choice for busy students who may not have the time to shop for themselves.
Additional Grocery Stores:
Seekonk, MA is a 10 minute drive from campus, but includes stores such as BJ’s, Walmart, Target, Shaw’s, and Stop and Shop to widen your shopping options.
Specialty Food Markets:
There are many specialty food markets in the Providence area that tailor to different cuisines.
1. Asiana Market: Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese
92 Warren Ave, East Providence, RI
2. Davis Dairy Products: Dairy and Kosher products
721 Hope St, Providence, RI
3. European Food Market: Russian, Ukranian, Polish, Hungarian, German
102 Rolfe St, Cranston, RI
4. Jerusalem Meat Market: Middle Eastern, Indian, Pakistani foods. Also has Halal Meat available.
88 Rolfe Street, Cranston, RI
5. Sanchez Mexican Market: Mexican
676 Broad St, Providence, RI
6. Venda Ravioli: Italian market and deli
275 Atwells Ave, Providence, RI