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Grocery shopping in Dallas–Fort Worth may seem simple, but once you begin to question the quality and service of big-box stores and national chains, not to mention some of their corporate policies and practices, you may look at shopping differently.
This is why many folks are turning local. Local grocers are often more willing to adapt pricing, carry culturally relevant foods, or source products that reflect neighborhood preferences. Money spent at these stores circulates back into the local economy through jobs, taxes, and community investment rather than leaving the region entirely. In many cases, these markets also play a quiet but critical role in food access, operating in areas where large grocery chains have pulled back or never built stores at all.
There’s also a human element that’s hard to quantify. Locally owned markets feel personal in ways that corporate stores don’t. Staff know regular customers, managers listen when shoppers ask for specific items, and stores evolve alongside the neighborhoods around them. Choosing these markets is a practical decision that supports businesses built on long-term relationships rather than short-term margins.
Across the Metroplex, there’s a quieter network of locally owned markets that continue to serve neighborhoods in very real, practical ways. Some of these stores are small, family-run operations that have stayed rooted to a single street for decades. Others have grown into modest regional chains with multiple locations, showing that local ownership doesn’t have to mean small scale. Together, they form a grocery shopping alternative that’s often overlooked but deeply woven into daily life across North Texas.
What ties these markets together isn’t size or style, but ownership and intent. Whether it’s a longtime neighborhood store, a natural market, a market that serves the Black and/or Hispanic communities, or a multi-location family business, these stores are run by people who live in the communities they serve. They tend to stock the everyday staples people actually buy, and prioritize affordability in ways that don’t always show up in corporate grocery models. Many have survived decades of industry consolidation, changing neighborhoods, and economic shifts by staying responsive to their customers rather than to shareholders.
Below are five locally owned grocery stores and small chains across Dallas–Fort Worth. Each one offers a different shopping experience, but all share a commitment to serving our North Texas communities.
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Gipson Grocery
1701 Shaw Street in Dallas, Texas 75212
Gipson Grocery is widely recognized as one of the longest-running Black-owned grocery stores, not just in North Texas but in the United States. The store has been part of the community for more than six decades, originally opening in 1956. Its continuity reflects the family’s deep roots in the neighborhood and a legacy of serving residents with accessible, everyday foods and goods.
Gipson Grocery’s history is deeply tied to the intentions of its founders, H.B. Gipson and B.G. Gipson, who built the business to provide essential food access in a community where grocery options were limited. Today, the store is run by Philip and Jonnie Gipson, members of the founding family who have worked to preserve the market’s legacy and expand its role within the local economy. Although it once operated multiple locations, the West Dallas site is now its main hub as the family continues to look for more ways to serve the community.
Inside Gipson Grocery, customers find a curated mix of grocery items that reflect both basic needs and the tastes of the surrounding neighborhood. The shelves are stocked with an assortment of everyday staples such as canned goods, dry groceries, dairy products, snack foods, beverages, and deli offerings like cold cuts and sandwiches prepared in-store. Because the store is smaller and community-focused, its selection changes over time and is often tailored to what local shoppers request or need most, from healthy options like quinoa and vegetables to light bulbs, school supplies, and household essentials. This wide scope reinforces the store’s role as a local one-stop shop where neighbors can pick up a range of supplies under one roof.
In addition to providing food, the owners have actively positioned the store as a community anchor, participating in initiatives such as partnerships with food banks and local nonprofit efforts to address food insecurity. The store has hosted community food pantry distributions and other events aimed at supporting residents in need, particularly during times of economic stress. And, on that same vein, Gipson Grocery currently accepts SNAP/EBT benefits.
Gipson Grocery stands out in Dallas–Fort Worth as a historic, Black-owned, family-owned neighborhood market with deep ties to West Dallas, a diverse stock of everyday goods, and a role that extends into community support and empowerment.
Ann’s Health Food Center & Market
Four locations, including 2634 South Zang Boulevard
Ann’s Health Food Center & Market in Dallas has been a beloved local staple since it opened its doors in 1984. The flagship location at 2634 South Zang Boulevard in the Oak Cliff area of Dallas serves as the heart of what has become a multi-location family business, with additional stores in Red Bird, Arlington, and Waxahachie also operating today. The market was founded by Ann Munchrath, whose interest in health and wellness grew out of caring for her own family’s needs. Her passion has been carried forward by her children, and the stores’ current leadership is deeply involved in day-to-day operations and community engagement.
When you walk into the Zang Boulevard location, you become steeped in an environment that’s both comforting and educational. The store shelves are filled with natural and organic groceries, a broad selection of vitamins and dietary supplements, gluten-free and specialty foods, environmentally friendly household products, and personal care items. Fresh produce and organic packaged foods are common, and the store features items that support a range of dietary lifestyles, from vegan to keto. Unlike typical grocery chains, Ann’s focuses on products that contribute to overall health and wellness, and the staff provides knowledgeable guidance on product selection. In addition to grocery items, Ann’s also operates an in-store organic café where customers can enjoy smoothies, sandwiches, and other prepared foods made from wholesome ingredients.
Many locals describe Ann’s as a wonderful resource for healthy living and dietary support. The market has a reputation for friendly, personal service where employees help shoppers find the right foods or supplements for their specific needs. Ann’s longevity and family-oriented approach have helped it maintain a loyal customer base over four decades.
Like the other stores on this list, Ann’s Health Food Center & Market in Dallas accepts SNAP/EBT benefits, or the Lone Star Card, for eligible food purchases.
Jerry’s Supermarkets
Several locations
Jerry’s Supermarkets Inc is a small chain of grocery stores that has been in business for more than 50 years and, according to their website, was the first to serve the Spanish and Black communities in West Dallas. Jerry’s Supermarkets is a family-owned business with a commitment to providing quality products with a special focus on its prized meat department.
The flagship location at 532 West Jefferson Boulevard in Dallas operates daily with long hours, opening early in the morning and closing in the late evening, making it a convenient location for folks of all walks of life to shop. While Jerry’s isn’t a large regional chain, it has maintained multiple neighborhood grocery locations over the years, offering similar convenient hours to its flagship to provide consistency and accessibility.
Jerry’s Supermarkets stocks a broad range of grocery items aimed at routine household shopping rather than specialty fare. Shoppers at Jerry’s will find a fantastic fresh meat selection, produce, dairy, frozen foods, pantry staples such as canned goods and dry goods, snacks, beverages, and basic household products. They also serve quality fajitas—a must-have if you’ve never shopped at Jerry’s before. Practical services such as check cashing, money orders, and Western Union services have also been part of the store’s offerings.
Jerry’s Supermarkets Inc also accepts SNAP/EBT benefits for eligible food purchases.
Cox Farms Market
778 Fort Worth Avenue + 2 additional locations
Cox Farms Market has built a steady reputation in the Dallas–Fort Worth area as a neighborhood grocery store that prioritizes fresh food and a local, personal shopping experience that you can’t find in large chains. With three locations serving Dallas, Farmers Branch, and Duncanville, and with a variety of everyday goods lining its shelves, the market functions as an everyday grocery stop rather than a specialty store.
The business traces its roots back to 1991 and is owned and operated by Mark Cox, a fourth-generation grocer. Mark’s family history, combined with decades of hard work, may be why the quality of Cox Farms’ produce is so good and why the stores have such positive sourcing relationships. While Cox Farms Market has expanded to multiple locations over the years, each store has retained the warm feel of a family-run operation rather than evolving into a cold, corporate-style chain.
Inside the store, shoppers will find a well-rounded selection of grocery essentials and, of course, fresh fruits and vegetables. Fresh produce is the centerpiece, and many locals swear that it’s fresher and more affordable than what they find at larger supermarkets. Alongside produce, the shelves typically carry pantry staples such as canned goods, rice, beans, sauces, and dry goods, along with dairy items and basic refrigerated products. Some locations also stock bulk items like nuts and nut butters, along with a modest selection of organic and health-focused products, making it possible to complete most routine grocery trips in one stop.
Cox Farms Market’s role in the community centers around consistency and accessibility. Regular customers describe it as a dependable neighborhood store where staff are approachable, and shopping feels straightforward rather than overwhelming. For many West Dallas and nearby residents, it serves as a practical alternative to big-box grocers, particularly for produce-driven meals and everyday cooking.
To be accessible to everyone, Cox Farms Markets are SNAP-authorized retailers and accept Lone Star Cards for eligible food purchases.
Foodland Markets
Multiple area locations
Foodland Markets is a local Dallas–Fort Worth area grocery store brand that operates several neighborhood markets across the region. The business traces its history back to 1977, when it began as a small family-run store known then as G.E. Foodland #1 at Camp Wisdom and Polk in Dallas. Over the last five decades, it has grown into a group of grocery stores serving communities from Dallas to Fort Worth, Forest Hill, Arlington, and Waxahachie, while maintaining its identity as a family-oriented local grocer rather than a big corporate chain.
The stores are open every day from early morning until late evening and are positioned as accessible, full-service neighborhood grocery stores (though hours may change around the holidays). Inside, shoppers will find a broad selection of everyday groceries. Their shelves are stocked with fresh produce that aims to serve families preparing meals at home, an expansive meat department with various cuts, dairy products, pantry staples, frozen foods, baked goods, snacks, beverages, and household essentials. Some locations also focus on imported goods that reflect the culinary diversity of the surrounding community. Staff members are often bilingual, which supports customer service for their diverse clientele.
What sets Foodland Markets apart is its emphasis on “families serving families” and supporting the local economy. The brand stresses friendly service, affordable pricing, and weekly specials to help customers manage their budgets, and positions itself as a neighborhood partner rather than just a retail outlet. Some locations have also highlighted community-focused initiatives like senior discount days.
Foodland Markets not only accepts SNAP/EBT benefits, they also participate in the Double Up Food Bucks program, which is available to people with a Lone Star SNAP card and allows shoppers to get 50 % off fresh fruits and vegetables up to a set daily limit when they pay with their SNAP (Lone Star) card at all participating Foodland Markets locations in Dallas–Fort Worth. To take advantage of this program, customers simply let the cashier know they want to use Double Up Food Bucks and pay for their produce separately with their Lone Star, and they receive the matching discount at checkout.
