Just Ripe, the cute little half-grocery store/half-prepared food store located in the Daylight Building downtown, opened last Friday and, although the stock is still coming in, you can tell it’s going to be a great resource for folks who live, work or enjoy visiting downtown.
Charlotte Tolley and Kristen Faerber, two of the owners, pose outside Just Ripe.
“We opened on Friday the 13th,” laughed Charlotte Tolley, one of the five women who co-own the store. “It was 5/13, which we thought was appropriate since our address is 513 Union Avenue!” When The Blue Streak stopped by yesterday, the folks at Just Ripe were just checking out their first produce customer (except for the person who had previously bought one peach).
Tolley gave us a quick tour. The emphasis is on local, sustainable food, she said. Their slogan is, “Real food, locally rooted.” And they really mean it. Labels on the shelves tell you not only where the products come from, but also from how many miles away they are shipped. A product is considered local if it comes from within 200 miles of the store. It is considered regional if it comes from within 400 miles.
Tolley said the prepared food the store will sell will be available in about three weeks. But go ahead and stop by. Their store hours are 8 a.m to 8 p.m. Let’s get them off to a good start!
Some of the beautiful produce available yesterday at Just Ripe.
A variety of potatoes and onions
Locally made chow chow like this is among the diverse offerings.
Little signs like this indicate from how far away the product has come.
There is a nice selection of bulk food.
And spices
Haha! Here's where the beer will go!
John McRae, left, was the first "real" produce customer. He's with Charlotte Tolley and Dave Whittaker, who were working check-out. McRae is the dean of the UT College of Architecture and Design.
Here's the view going west on Union Avenue. Just Ripe is across the street from Pete's.
Store hours
Here's the sign you are looking for!
Marvelous! Can’t wait to stop in. That block of Union is becoming quite the happening place. Can’t wait for Union Books to open on June 1st!
When we moved from Sequoyah Hills to downtown, we were often asked: “There’s no grocery downtown; how do you get your groceries?” Well, there has been a small grocery downtown, and of course Food City is on Western Avenue. But, I told the people who asked that we got our groceries from large grocery stores the same way we always did: we get in the car and drive. Now, having this option of local and regional food within walking distance every day is great. And during the season we’ve got the Farmer’s Market too. Ain’t life downtown grand?
SO glad to see the photos..they are wonderful. I can’t wait to shop there! YEA! Thanks for posting.
This is very exciting! I hope they do well.
No more grocery emergencies–like Mox borrowing limes from the Bistro and me borrowing sugar from Chesapeake’s. We are so happy to have Just Ripe just a block away and are eagerly anticipating the prepared foods.
Great that they are now open. We already made an emergency Cruze Farms “Light Milk” purchase. My morning cereal never tasted so good. And lots more is coming soon.
Wow! Great buzz already for Just Ripe! Thanks for the comments, everyone.
The store has a few gluten-free items for those who need them. Cereal and crackers for starters. I strolled through last night after supper at the Tomato Head. I told them I’d be back when I completed my move to Crown Court.
Thanks for covering this! I am a big fan of Just Ripe’s prepared foods and can’t wait to check out the store!
Great post, Cynthia! I started my morning today with a Roots & Branches Cherry Chocolate Chip granola bar from Just Ripe and it was delicious! Plus, it came from just down I-40 in North Carolina.
Looking forward to having such great grocery and deli items so close to work. Yum!
Wonderful. I am excited!!!!! i would love to be your fresh picked herb supplier. Dill, chives, garlic chives, parsley, fennel, lemon balm and more. Please let me know. Congrats to all!
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