This place is the bomb for some many reasons beyond it's simple corner convenience store offerings. Located in the industrial area of San Jose, south of Spartan Stadium, San Jose State University and southwest of Little Saigon, this little gem of a store provides the basics for anyone looking for a quick on-the-go refreshment, a pack of smokes, or a snack to tide the tummy over before dinner. The offerings however go beyond the basic Coke and bag of M&Ms. You can find Mexican chips and treats, old school treats like Moonpies (in three flavors too!), Asian staple canned drinks (soy drink, Thai tea), Korean and Japanese salty snacks, and fresh fruit.
The Corner Stop Shop reminds me of the corner bodegas in Manhattan when I used to live NYC. The only thing different is that the store has yet to be packed to the ceiling with offerings as they just opened this week. Unfortunately the alcohol permit doesn't go through until the end of the month so I couldn't grab a six pack of my new fave chelada beer.
The moment you walk in, there is a smiling face there to greet you and efficiently ring your purchases up. Awesome dance music plays in the background as you figure out what snack is going to ruin your diet. The owners are homegrown - they have been a part of the San Jose scene for years (as I understand it, they also run Spartan Gas on the outskirts of Japantown), which makes this place a legit.
While I was in the store, there was a steady flow of traffic of folks who I could tell were construction workers, truckers, and other local industrial district "flavor." This small, local business knows what the hard working blue collar workers and Spartan fans want when they get the munchies between work and after a football game. The owners tell me that they're hoping to add in lottery tickets too, which I am excited about because that's the only way I'm gonna get rich in this economy. Might as well support this righteous establishment in the process.
Swing on through to satisfy a snack craving, get some good service, rehydrate, or enjoy the bumping music. On the corner of 7th and Phelan, parking is plentiful. Any reason is a good reason to stop by the Corner Stop Shop. Oh and don't forget to get an autograph from local homeboy and spoken word artist extraordinaire Dandiggity who most likely will be holding it down behind the counter. read more