A couple weeks ago I told you about the new M Street Grocery . They’ve been open for a while but they’re not holding their special grand opening events until Saturday, June 23, and Sunday, June 24. On both tdays they’ll have an Unlimited Light Hydroplane Display at 8th & Madison and will give out a free copy of Thunder and Lights Magazine along with free trading cards while the supply lasts. From noon until 2 pm you can meet the hydro drivers and get autographs for free. From 11 am to 4 pm you can get a hot dog or hamburger polus chips and a soda for only $1.99 with the proceeds going to Children’s Hospital. All day long sign up to win gift cards, free groceries and other prizes. Plus on Saturday from noon til 2 the Mountain will be on hand to hand out the latest Emerging Artists CD; on Sunday that time slot is fill by The End’s “The Mods”.

M Street is a nice store with good selection and decent prices; I’ve been very impressed by how friendly the employees are there. There’s something ineffably special about shopping at a brand new grocery–everything seems extra-special: clean, bright, cheerful and tasty looking. Plus, while I have nothing personal against Safeway, QFC, Albertson’s et al, indie grocery stores like M Street offer the community a lot of things that big chains can’t–their smaller size allows them to be a lot more flexible in giving shoppers a more hands-on, individualized sort of attention. At a smaller indie store, it doesn’t matter if there’s only a few people regularly buying a product–as long as they can turn a profit on it in that store, they’ll keep carrying it or at least bringing it in on special order. If only a handful of QFC’s customers want a product, welll…they’re not buying it at QFC. Plus, it’s just plain nice to support a business with local roots. If you’re in the area or are going to be nearby, swing over for the grand opening celebration and good luck winning one of those prizes.

Related posts:

1. First Hill’s M Street Grocery
2. Ballard Commons Park Grand Opening: First Notice
3. The Shins Live @ Easy Street Tomorrow
4. photos : grand archives, helio sequence at the showbox
5. Grey Gallery opening