Penticton gets a new grocery store this Friday. And it's unlike anything else you'll find in town.
Situated in the same building as Terry's Comfort Food restaurant (tucked between Winners and Main Street), Penticton Global Grocers is a truly international affair. From Indian to Mexican, Portuguese to Thai, and a whole bunch of stops in between, it's like a drive through Vancouver's coolest ethnic neighbourhoods. Without all that annoying driving.
PentictonNow got a chance to check out the place Wednesday afternoon as co-owner Deepak Gaba rushed to fully stock the shelves for Friday's big event, and we really liked what we saw.
The shop is clean, modern and functional. The selection is immense and sensibly compartmentalized into countries of origin. The items themselves are fascinating -- especially if you're accustomed to domestic product and traditional Canadian supermarkets -- and our host was accommodating and sincere.
We have no doubt we'll be back in the future -- as customers.
"We have Indian, Mexican, Italian, Portuguese, Thai, Chinese, British, and more," said Gaba, "and we'll have more African and Philippine product in the future.
"Some Syrian too. We've had a few Syrian families ask about it."
Beyond the variety -- and there's a ton of it -- Gaba believes the store's strength is customer service.
"We like to connect with our customers," he said "We like to know our customers and know what they want."
What about those who have no idea what they want, we asked. Those of us who'd like to expand our culinary horizons beyond Rice Krispies squares and Campbell's soups but have no idea what we're looking at.
"Oh yes," he said. "That's part of our customer service. We'll help you as much as you need."
"And one of the first things we'll ask is your spice level," he added with a laugh.
Thankfully, the store is sensibly organized. One aisle is purely Mexican. Another is purely Indian. And after you've spent some time browsing, you come to appreciate the Global Grocers' tagline: "Window to the World Kitchen."
It's a format the owners (Deepak and wife Riz) have perfected over the past two years at their original location, Oliver Global Grocers in their hometown of Oliver.
"We try to keep authentic with everything," said Gaba. "Most of the items are imported, and those that aren’t are made by people who know what they're doing. We've already built a solid customer base here in Penticton with our other store."
We saw stuff like salsas, sauces, tortillas and chilis. Lentils, olive oil, exotic-looking canned fish and row upon row of spices and seasonings. The Thai sauces and dressings looked positively yummy, as did the ample assortment of ethnic candies and snacks.
We saw a shelf filled with the tasty Mexican all-natural soda called Jarritos, and we sampled an Italian-made beverage called Lurisia La Nostra Aranciata Amara. We're not sure what that means, but it was an amazing bitter-sweet, fruit-based concoction that we'd love to try again.
There are two-minute butter chicken mixes that Gaba calls "amazing," and there's a veggie and fruit section with stuff like mangos and cactus. Yes, cactus.
The back wall is piled high with a huge variety of top-notch rice, and the place has plentiful gluten-free and vegan options scattered throughout.
Sadly, our description doesn't do justice to the lineup. You could spend hours in there and still not see and explore everything. And in the near future, they'll also offer ready-to-eat options such as chickpea curry rice, samosas, and chicken chimichangas.
The grand opening of Penticton Global Grocers, at 2150 Main St., is tomorrow, May 28th. The store will officially throw open its doors at 10 am, and Gaba promises freebie treats and drinks throughout the day.
Going forward, the shop will be open from 9 am to 8 pm seven days a week. Those are long hours, but according to Gaba, "In the grocery business, people shop when they're free. So we have to be there for them."
That's a solid philosophy. We'd expect nothing less from a shop we feel will become a Penticton favourite.
