Having seen this store go through a few changes over the past few years has been interesting. Once upon a time Henry's wife (I think she was his wife or perhaps a different owner) sold home baked treats, then Henry was there almost exclusively, now we have two amazing new forward thinking, community oriented owners who know how to show 'em how it's done with a convenience store that offers more! Unlike under Henry's reign (don't get me wrong, I loved the guy) T&S now offers fresh/unexpired items and fresh produce. The atmosphere is bright and inviting and the place has a new feel. They've also hosted wine tastings and have specials with the aforementioned LOCAL produce. This place has gone from zero to hero! Show your support and pop in. They still carry the basics (unexpired!) and a few things to tickle and please almost anything your heart desires. read more

Thistle & Shamrock - Grocery Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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This place is lazy! I ordered something to get delivered and they canceled my order with no explanation. Very unhappy with service. I will not be going to them in the future. Henry was a way better owner! PERIOD!!! read more

A great neighboorhood market with lots of great down to earth items and healthy items as well. Recently added a kitchen so they make fresh food daily and have specials from there Kitchen. I am glad to have this store close to where I live ,and where ever I move to next hope its walking distance as well, so I can continue being a valued shopper at this local market that does so great!. Keep up the great work! read more

One of the nicest stores in the area! Everyone that works here is very friendly, and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. The store is immaculate and very well looked after. There is a great selection of beers and wines, and they have some really unique products in here from smaller local producers. Check it out!! read more

This is my go to place for getting some wine when I run out. So glad to have a catch all store so close to home - a place to grab things like milk and bread while also stocking up on other necessities like beer and wine. My favorite win is their green summer wine called pavao. It's really cheap but really good! Essentially a really good crowd pleaser especially for the summer months! read more

The best corner store around! Has a wide variety of selections, including daily fresh bread from clear flour and fresh injera!

Excellent little convenience store in a cute neighborhood with high quality items! Bought a very tasty clear flour baguette and took advantage of their Common Good filling station for dish soap and laundry detergent - I think it's one of the only ones around! Best of all, my dog got to come inside with me and he loved the friendly cashier, even before he gave him a treat. read more

Thistle & Shamrock - From the Common Good refill station - Grocery Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This cashier here racially profiled my friend and I (both black) and followed us around the store. Then when confronted about it, he was befuddled. Exceedingly disappointed by the service here and would not recommend. read more

I have spent literally thousands here in my life. Mostly on jolly ranchers and now and laters. My dad grew up in the same neighborhood and still calls it Gussy's. It's been here forever. Back in the late 80s a black family owned it, then sold it to an asian family. They've had it ever since. Cool people, the guy even remembered me after being gone from the neighborhood for years. The definition of Mom&Pop. read more

Great selection of items for sale. They stock beer, wine and delicious freshly baked bread, which is not something every corner store can say. Fresh coffee every day as well, which is great when I'm in a rush. They do wine tastings semi-regularly and will make a note of it on their sign out front to give passerby's a heads up--they often adorn this sign with funny jokes and facts, which brightens up my commute to work. Also they're dog friendly and always give treats to my pooch! This is one of the only places nearby where I can run in to grab groceries when I'm with Zoey, so I'll always come back here. Fun plants for decor too/excellent vibes all around. read more

Thistle & Shamrock is the ideal corner store. Very good wine selection, basics like milk and eggs, and then somehow when I'm desperate (because I got home from the supermarket and realized I forgot something, or it's Thanksgiving and we're lacking one ingredient) they miraculously always seem to have the thing I need, from sweetened condensed milk to fresh ginger. And I've only one time had the food they're making in-store now, but it was very good. Also consistently friendly and competent service. read more

My favorite convenience store. 1) The last reviewer from a year ago said that Henry sold the business and will be leaving in 3 months. Henry is still there. He's great, but I don't know him well enough to know what's going on with the business. Hopefully he'll be sticking around. 2) There are two kinds of slush: Ritchie's Italian Slush and Slush Puppy. 3) Fantastic beer + wine selection for a convenience store. Was simply delighted to find a six pack of Stella here while moving in. 4) The biggest reason to go to Thistle and Shamrock: MuMu, a friendly orange kitty who lives there and is always either walking around right by my feet, sleepies in his box over the fridge, or running around on the duct work over my head like a cute little fuzzy Alien. read more

Henry's a great guy and the Thistle and Shamrock is great for a quick quart of milk and bread in the morning, ice cream bar on a hot summer night, lemons on Christmas, etc. Their beer selection is pretty good for a convenience store and if there are home made spring rolls on the counter don't buy any so that are some left for me when I come in. Prices are high, but you are buying convenience right? Henry has sold the business and will be leaving in 3 months. Hope that the new owner is as nice as him. read more

Great neighborhood spot, but I have to say I am disappointed in their food. Bought a $7 sandwich yesterday that was quite honestly looked (and tasted) like I found it in the trash. The bread was soggy in spots and stale in others, the cheese was wet and dripping liquid, and the tomato was gritty and clearly old. For a place that is planning/has been planning on opening a deli, I am unimpressed. read more

I had some of the Fresh Avocado Vinaigrette Dressing as well as the Viggie chips and I almost died with joy!! AWESOME!! The store look awesome. I can't wait to tell every one I know about your store. read more

Nice little store. Very convenient. They have everything you need at good prices. I will be returning here often!

This is a great local convenience store that's dog-friendly; I am so grateful to have a store in Cambridge where I can pick up any essentials that I might need while I'm out walking my dog! They even have freshly baked bread and a nice selection of beer and wine. read more

I thought I would clarify some things now that it appears the previous owner has left. I never came here before, but now the place is a dump. I've been there three times, and had experiences ranging from odd to downright awful. 1st visit: I wanted a snack and a soda, but found the soda dusty and past it's date. Then I checked the candy section and found a similar state of disrepair. Ended up leaving empty handed and hungry/thirsty. 2nd visit: Wanted some beer to go with dinner. Bought a 12 pack of Newcastle and paid over $12. Price listed on it was $9. Didn't really think about it much. Taxes and deposit I suppose, but 33%? Odd. 3rd visit: Saw ad on the exterior window for $16.99 PBR 30-rack (judge all you want, but that's a great price). Couldn't find any in the store, so I asked and ended up finding one in the storage room. Brought it up and was charged $23. Remembering last visit and the 33% tax fiasco, I pointed at the sign and asked why it cost $6 more. Then he said the sign shouldn't be there, and went to rip it down. He said its just $1 more now, and did I still want it. Confused, I pressed the issue that $23 was not a dollar more than $17, but got a taxes and deposit mumbling in reply. I ended up buying it since it was still only a dollar or 2 more than other places and much more convenient, considering i was standing at the counter already. Turns out the beer was skunked and past ITS date. Of course. My advice: If you live near and want to take advantage of a close beer/wine shop then get popular stuff that isn't in the back or on sale. Expect to pay a $2-$4 we have no business tax, and stay away from any food items. read more

it's a nice little convenience store (grunge-y, but nice and local feeling) that has been suffering because of the rebuilding of the walden st bridge. i always wondered why i felt so at home buying hostess snowball treats from here and i found out why: the owner is vietnamese! it's sad that a place like this would be forced to be sold because of city improvements. people have dreams. it's disheartening to see people's dreams squashed. read more

So great to have a neighborhood corner store that is beginning to stock healthier foods. Can't wait to see what they have in store for the future. The stuff is still wildy expensive, but let's give then some business so they thrive. We will be glad we did those nights when you are cooking and find you need an onion, some lettuce, ginger or whatever. read more

Excellent neighborhood convenience store. All the typical items, but a level or 2 in quality above the normal inventory. Limited, but excellent selection of beverages including beer and wine.. Fresh organic produce, artisan cheese and lots of gluten free products.A great improvement from the previous ownership. read more

Wonderful neighborhood store with a friendly staff. Convenient for last minute recipe needs, a coffee or to stock on cold drinks (adult and otherwise). read more

Really glad these guys are around. They're friendly and stock an amazing variety of high quality stuff, like super bread. Keep up the good work! read more

I've lived around the corner for 2 years, and Thistle remains the perfect spot to grab everything from last-minute paper towels to gourmet cheese and a nice bottle of wine for the company you've been waiting for. However solid the products may be, what keeps this market in the heart of the neighborhood is the friendly knowledgeable service you get with it. Gia and Mary in particular are rock stars who are always good for both a recommendation of something new to try and a much-needed laugh. Here's to many more trips around the corner! read more

Shopped here all the time, will no longer, last time being treated badly by one employee. Stop in after my Danahey walk this morning, I would not take the time to Yelp about this but this is the second time this employee treated me badly. She was tenden to a lottery customer, I was next in line with my food order on the counter ready to be run up, another person walks in the store goes over to the lottery area, she totally ignored me, and waits on them. I would not mind but this is the second time this employee has treated me badly, the first time was very busy in the store I was in line again my food order on the counter, a man walks up to the counter and she tenden the man then me. Must say all my other interaction with the other employees and owner were always fantastic, only takes one. read more

I can't speak to the merchandise but I will give a big thumbs up for the owner Henry. In 2007 I organized the creation of the mural on the side of the store ((http://www.wishwallmural.com). Henry was good enough to go along with my conceptual art approach and welcome the community members and class of Graham & Parks School 4th graders who helped bring the mural to life. Here's to supporting both the local community and the arts. Thanks Henry! read more

Thistle & Shamrock - the corner of the street - Grocery Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Still awesome. Surprisingly good selection of good beer. Tastings occasionally. Fresh produce and baked goods! Talenti gelato for 5.50 (50 cents cheaper than shaws)! A surprising amount of vegan goods! Super friendly staff! Love em. read more

Loved the old convenience store that used to be there, but the new layout is much brighter and cleaner and more open. The beer selection is great!!! If you like craft brews, def check it out son read more

Great neighborhood store with wonderful staff and inventory. Great wine selection, seasonal and organic items.

Love this new neighborhood spot. But they are breaking the law by allowing dogs inside. Twice I have seen dogs jump up on shelves that have food while their owners are not looking. Really disgusting. I would not want to see asmall business like this lose their license due to inconsiderate dog​ owners. They have worked too hard to turn this local store into a great neighborhood place. read more

I WILL MISS THIS PLACE SO MUCH!!! for the nearly two years that i was lived in Cambridge, Thistle & Shamrock took almost half my food budget ("budget") and kept me satiated. i loved the crunchy / yuppie / hippie food items here (they introduced me to delicious "Perfect" bars, almond + dark chocolate truffles from a brand i forget, "Bark Thins", etc...) that while expensive on the wallet, are delicious on their way down to the tummy. the staff is pleasant and it is evident that Thistle wants to build a communal atmosphere in its store. every morning there's a new fact (of the "50 years ago today..." sort) on a chalk board that sits in front of the store and they have hot coffee every day and tastings every few weeks. in addition to being stocked with grocery essentials, they also two aisles of wine. read more

I think they have changed their policies over the years, but every underage kid in Cambridge used to go here for a 40oz or two, and I'm talkin well before anyone had fake ID's. Overpriced, pretty bad selection, but come on, I remember being in high school and going here for a 40 and a pack of smokes, and the kicker, it was under $5. Now I'll break into song...."those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end, we used to sit............." How can I not give five stars to the people who helped shaped my liver into...well...when I die of liver failure you know who started it! But seriously, don't go here unless you live REALLY CLOSE, but I guess thats why it's a convenient store, and not a super market. read more

this is the best neighborhood joint: get anything from a bag of chips and beer to pastries and hot coffee. Don't worry, they have your organic hand soap too read more

This great little convenience store is now under new management and undergoing quite a few positive changes as a result. They now offer fresh vegetables, a fantastic beer selection, and -- since last week -- a selection of freshly-baked breads delivered daily from a local bakery that includes literally the best baguettes and fresh whole grain loaves that I have found in Cambridge. Seriously. And the new owners are great -- super friendly and accommodating. Highly recommended; I go here all the time. read more