Gary’s Grocery Market

Smothered pork chops… Breakfast potatoes… Grits… Greens… Cabbage… Smothered chicken… Listen, I love Gary’s. This is soul food at it’s finest! Tender and juicy pork chops and breakfast potatoes that will make you slap somebody, okay?
The area is dodgy, but seemingly safe. I always send my husband to go since he grew up in that area. I wouldn’t go at night or even in the evenings lol. But you can’t beat it for breakfast or lunch. They are definitely a hidden gem.

I decided to try Gary’s last year after hearing a buddy of mine talk about it frequently and since then I’ve been going ever since. I’ve only had their breakfast but I love the quick service during the morning rush and the sizable amounts of food they give you at a reasonable price. Everybody is friendly and display a great comradery with the customers! If any of you decide to try this place I recommend the bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit!

I heard about Gary’s while making a visit to the Grizzlies Center on Ketchum and talking to one of the preachers who has moved back to the neighborhood he grew up in to give back to the community and reclaim the neighborhood. I listened to his conversation with with the mother of a young boy who also lived in the area and was signing up for a summer program. They both had «Gary’s» in common. They went on and on about how great the food is and what large portions you get for your money. For those who are not familiar with Memphis I will just say this neighborhood is as tough as it gets. There is a Section 8 apartment complex just a block south which is fenced in and has wire around the perimeter. You will commonly see gang members walking around in this area.
I arrived around 12:30 and Gary’s had several cars in the parking lot. Gary’s would best be described as a country store or sundry. They have your usual grocery items and a line had formed for the takeout counter where there were 3 — 4 people taking orders, packaging the to go meals. I asked for white meat chicken, cabbage, butter beans, and I received a slab of corn bread. The lunches are carefully packed with several layers of saran wrap so nothing drips. You can tell they have this down to a science. The employees were very friendly and thanked me for my business. After paying and leaving the store I arrived at my final destination and sat down to eat my lunch. After opening the package I had 3 piecies of fried chicken, with servings of vegetables that would be 2 – 3 times the quantity you would receive at a cafeteria for example. The vegetables were well seasoned, the chicken was good, and all for $ 6.50! This is not fine dining but just good Memphis soul food that workers and members of the community know about and go to frequently to get their lunch to go. I believe they have chitterlings on one day so I will make it back to try those. A colleague at work told me that the pork chop sandwich is a favorite of her husbands.