Grocery begins filling food void downtown

Toothbrushes, bread and wine have been the hot sellers at Baton Rouge’s first downtown grocery store since it opened last Thursday with little fanfare. While not a full-service grocery store, Downtown Grocery at the corner of Third and Florida streets, is the closest thing to it downtown. As evidence of that, the small grocer had completely run out of bread by Saturday. White bread, wheat bread, hamburger buns—it was all gone, says co-owner Michael Matroodnejad. “It’s been a good crowd,” Matroodnejad says, “a lot better than expected on the first day.”

Doors opened Thursday morning for a “soft” opening, but the grand opening and ribbon cutting won’t take place until Monday. In addition to increasing bread supplies, Matroodnejad says he plans to stock more toothbrushes and wine, which have been popular with tourists. The store will stock Louisiana-made items such as Community Coffee, Tabasco, Tin Roof beer and produce from local farmers. Matroodnejad says patrons also are being encouraged to suggest items they’d like to see on the shelves. On his list so far: pantyhose and roach spray. —April Castro