Editor’s note: This article was updated at 3:35 p.m. on August 23 to reflect that the Wednesday farmers’ market is at Bloomingfoods East, not downtwon.
Bloomington is famously a foodie town, but it’s unlikely you want to eat out every night. For at home meals, a snack stash and everything in between, you’ll want to know what stores in your neighborhood suit your needs.
While Bloomington only has a handful traditional grocery chain stores (still no sign of a Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods coming our way), it offers a rich selection of international markets, artisan stores and farm-fresh locations to suit a wide range of culinary tastes (and budgets).
Here’s a primer on where to shop groceries in Bloomington.
Where to grocery shop in Bloomington
As far as full-service grocery stores, Bloomington has five main options: Aldi, Bloomingfoods, Fresh Thyme, Kroger, and Walmart. Aldi and Walmart are leaders in budget shopping (especially if you shop their generic brands), while Kroger and Fresh Thyme offer a wider selection of organic foods, delicatessens and bakeries. Target, 2966 E. Third St., also offers a grocery section.
Bloomingfoods, a local co-op, primarily offers locally sourced produce, meats and other grocery essentials. It’s generally a bit pricier than your average grocery store, but it’s a great place to find high-quality items when Kroger’s produce isn’t speaking to you. Its two locations also offer a hot bar and have house-made loaves, pastries, and prepared foods like salads and sandwiches, many of which are budget-friendly.
Bloomington doesn’t have a Costco — the nearest location is in Greenwood — but there is the membership-only Sam’s Club, which offers similarly priced bulk foods (and also has a sub-$2 hot dog combo).
- Aldi locations
- East: 2813 E. Third St.
- West: 2035 Liberty Drive
- Bloomingfoods locations
- Downtown/“Near West”: 316 W. Sixth St.
- East: 3220 E. Third St.
- Fresh Thyme locations
- East: 2812 E. Third St.
- West: 3600 W. Third St.
- Kroger locations
- North: 1825 N. Kinser Pike
- Downtown: 528 S. College Ave.
- East/College Mall: 1175 S. College Mall Road
- South: 4025 S. Old State Road 37
- Walmart: 3313 Ind. 45
Where to shop artisan/specialty foods in Bloomington
If you’re looking for high-quality jams, cheeses, wines and other artisan items, Bloomington has two great options downtown: World Foods Market and Goods for Cooks.
World Foods, known for its themed aisles of international cuisines (including Latin, Middle Eastern, Asian and more) has plenty to offer in the way of high-quality food items, including dairy and produce from local Amish farmers and restaurant-quality prepared foods. They also have a large selection of wines and beers, many of which are locally sourced.
Goods for Cooks, while primarily a cookware supply store, also has a curated selection of local and single origin coffee, high-quality oils and vinaigrettes, artisan jams and chutneys, and more.
- Goods for Cooks: 115 N. College Ave.
- World Foods Market: 106 E. 2nd St.
From 2023:Bloomington’s Goods for Cooks celebrates 50 years in business in December
Where to find Latin grocery foods in Bloomington
Lovers of Latin cuisine are in luck: Bloomington just welcomed a new Latin grocer to town with La Bodega on South Walnut Street.
La Bodega offers a growing selection of Latin groceries from brands like Goya and Jumex, alongside a deli area serving fresh-cut meats and cheeses and a bakery offering homemade cakes, conchas, empanadas and more. La Bodega also has a taqueria that sells al pastor, carne asada and carnitas tacos.
Bloomington’s veteran Latin grocer on North College Avenue, La Bonita, is both a market and restaurant with a robust menu. The market has a full meat counter, fresh produce and a selection of Latin American staples and snacks. Right inside the door are bakery items like conchas, hand pies and empanadas. The restaurant next door serves classic Latin foods like tacos, fajitas, tortas, sopes and more.
- La Bodega: 1915 S. Walnut St.
- La Bonita: 1709 N. College Ave.
Where to find Asian grocery foods in Bloomington
Bloomington has three specialty Asian markets: Apna Bazaar, B-Town International Market and Rong Cheng.
B-Town International Market, across the street from the College Mall Kroger, offers predominantly Asian foods including popular Asian brands, fresh produce like shishito peppers and Asian pears, frozen meats and seafood, and a wide selection of Asian drinks and candies.
Rong Cheng, east of the Bypass, similarly offers Asian non-perishable foods, fresh produce, meat and seafood, and a variety of snacks and sweets.
Apna Bazaar in Eastland Plaza specializes in Indian and other South Asian grocery items, including fresh produce, bulk foods, meats, spices, curries and more.
- Apna Bazaar: 2556 E. 3rd St.
- B-Town International Market: 2901 E. Covenanter Dr.
- Rong Cheng: 2646 E. 10th St.
Other international markets in Bloomington
- 4th Street International Market (International, primarily Latin): 408 E. Fourth St.
- Little Italy Market (Italian specialty grocer): 431 E. Third St.
- World Foods Market (International, primarily Arabic): 106 E. Second St.
Where to get fresh, local produce in Bloomington
The Bloomington area has no shortage of farmers’ markets and farm stops to give you farm-to-table shopping experiences throughout the week.
Saturdays offer five farmers markets: the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market at City Hall, the Ellettsville Farmers Market at Chandler Funeral Home, the People’s Cooperative Market at First United Church, the Smithville Farmers’ Market on South Strain Ridge Road and the Woolery Farmers’ Market outside the Woolery Mill.
During the summer months, the city has a farmers’ market at Switchyard Park on Tuesday evenings, and the eastside Bloomingfoods has a Wednesday morning market.
For the rest of the week, you can get farm-fresh produce every day from the Bloomington Farm Stop Collective on Kirkwood Avenue and the Bethel Lane Farm Stop on East Bethel Lane.
- Bethel Lane Farm Stop: 4501 E. Bethel Lane
- Bloomington Farm Stop Collective: 920 W. Kirkwood Ave.
Reach Brian Rosenzweig at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter/X at @brianwritesnews.
