Hidden Gem: Affordable Grocery Store in Atlanta

A Culinary Gem in Decatur, Georgia

Nestled in the heart of Decatur, Georgia, Your DeKalb Farmers Market is more than just a grocery store. It’s a beloved destination for local chefs and families alike. The weekend crowds that gather at this market make even the busiest Ikea shopping trips feel calm by comparison. As you navigate through rows of strollers and watch your step around less decisive shoppers, you’ll find that the experience is well worth it. The market offers a unique mix of specialty goods and affordable prices, making it a true culinary gem.

Almost 50 Years In Business

Since its opening in 1977, Your DeKalb Farmers Market has been a staple in the Atlanta community. Founded by Robert Blazer, the independent grocery store has become an institution that caters to both locals and visitors. Blazer’s journey began in Rhode Island before he moved to the South to start his own produce business.

“I wanted to do something that was worthwhile for people,” Blazer explains. “That’s why I called it Your DeKalb Farmers Market. The idea was to provide a direct source of high-quality food for people to have at the lowest cost we could provide it, as a service to the community. I never felt like I was in it to make money.”

Initially focused on Georgia-grown crops, the market gradually expanded its offerings to include a full-service international market. Back in the day, items that are now common were considered specialty products. Blazer recalls how customers didn’t even know what fresh spinach was. Today, it’s not uncommon for people to come to the store for green coconuts, purchasing a bag of 20 the same way someone else might buy onions in bulk.

How To Shop The Market

For first-time visitors, Your DeKalb Farmers Market can be overwhelming. Start in the produce section, where you’ll find basics like carrots and potatoes, but also unique items such as fresh turmeric, galangal root, culantro, and rambutan. There’s even fresh sugar cane, which is processed in-store into juice.

What Your DeKalb Farmers Market may lack in frills, it more than makes up for in value. It feels closer to a warehouse than a typical grocery store. There’s no self-checkout, and many dry ingredients, like red lentils or quinoa, are sold by weight in quart-sized deli containers (and at prices you won’t see at even the best bulk bins in the city).

The spices, sold both ground and whole, are particularly affordable. On my last visit, a pint of coriander seeds was only $1.27. Blazer explains that they buy them in bulk and repack them so that they’re able to offer them at a price that people can afford. “Our goal throughout the whole market is to provide a direct source from the producer to the customer with no warehousing in the middle.”

The Friendliest Grocery Store In The South

Not sure how to use an ingredient? Reach out to any of the employees. Blazer employs about 600 people in total, although not all of them work on the floor. They’re always ready to help you figure out how to cook something, many pulling from their own diverse backgrounds. Fellow shoppers are often keen to help, too. Local chefs love to visit the market, so there’s a good chance the person shopping next to you is an expert.

“You can write a unique and interesting menu just by walking around and seeing what’s available,” says Jay Swift, executive chef at The Betty & St. Julep Rooftop in Atlanta. “I go there whenever I am catering a private event or need some new ideas. [I buy] produce items like bok choy, sunchokes, yuca root, salsify, and grocery items like chick pea flour and alternative oils and vinegars.”

Even chefs ask for help at the store when they don’t know about an ingredient. “I love talking to other patrons about fruits, veggies, or spices I have never used or heard of and gleaning from their cultural experiences with those foods as inspiration for new menu items,” says Sujith Ratnayake, founder of Cake Culture at Ponce City Market.

A World Of Options

Folks are drawn to the store specifically for items they can’t find anywhere else. “They carry Spanish anchovies that are hard to source in Atlanta, so if they are out, you know who beat you to them now!” says chef Hector Santiago of El Super Pan and La Metro in Atlanta. He has frequented the market for over 30 years.

“One of the best organic coconut creams we’ve found for our culinary creations is from Your DeKalb Farmers Market. It has a high-fat content that makes it perfect to whip up into our signature vegan Choko de Coco whip,” says Ratnayake.

Beyond pantry staples, there’s an extensive meat and seafood counter, where, much like the other sections of the store, variety far outpaces what you can get at your average grocery store. Grass-fed organic beef comes in from Montana; there’s air-chilled, cage-free chicken, but also halal goat and fresh quail. Down in the bakery, don’t expect to find Wonder Bread, but rather homemade baguettes and other fresh-baked goods.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hours is Your DeKalb Farmers Market open?
Your DeKalb Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

When is the best time to go to Your DeKalb Farmers Market?
Your DeKalb Farmers Market generally tends to be busiest in the mid-morning, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. It’s the least busy around lunch and dinner time.

Does Your DeKalb Farmers Market take credit cards?
No, Your DeKalb Farmers Market does not take credit cards. They accept cash, debit cards, EBT, and checks.