From the moment I walked in, I was impressed. It was busy with people shopping and chatting, and it…read morehad this charming, boutique grocery store feel. Honestly, it's the cleanest and most organized international market I've ever been in.
I was browsing for breakfast options and looking over the vegetables when a sweet elderly gentleman greeted me with a big smile, speaking Armenian. I didn't understand a word, but I could tell from his tone he was asking if I needed help finding something. I just smiled and said "thank you, thank you" -- I couldn't understand him, but the warmth came through loud and clear.
A little while later he came back and, gesturing enthusiastically, insisted I try their beautiful tiramisu. I'm a traveling teacher with just a cooler in my car and one mouth to feed, so I pointed to myself and held up one finger to explain it was just me. He seemed curious about where I was from, so I pulled up the Yelp app on my phone and told him I'd driven up from San Diego after finding the store online.
That's when the owner stepped in, laughing and saying something like "don't mind him." I told him not at all -- his colleague had given me such a genuinely warm welcome. The owner asked what I was trying to communicate, and once I explained, he translated the whole thing for the gentleman.
He then asked if I wanted any recommendations, and of course I said yes. He suggested sliced meat, a mix of green and black olives, cucumbers pickled with beets, and sliced cheese. When he asked if there was anything else, I remembered I needed vegetables, so I went back to grab those.
While I shopped, he came over and made me a fresh cup of coffee, on the house. He asked again if there was anything else, so I asked what else he'd recommend -- he suggested sliced halibut and a couple other fish, told me to take three pieces, then prepared and packaged everything himself on a tray.
As I got ready to leave, he asked me to come back, and I asked for his card -- he handed me three and told me to share them with all my friends. He even offered to let me sit out front and enjoy my coffee, but I had to get back on the road to Santa Maria. Just before I walked out, he stopped me one more time: "Before you leave, I'd like to give you a bottle of Armenian water -- it came all the way from Armenia."
And that tiramisu I'd been eyeing? I ended up bringing it home with me, and it did not disappoint.
I left thoroughly impressed. The genuine warmth, the care, the way they made me feel like part of the family after just one visit -- this is what makes a place special. I'll absolutely be back, and I'm bringing friends next time.
