By Clarkie Ackerly

What started as a small, local Greek restaurant has now become a booming franchise. Stella’s Grocery, a local market and restaurant with multiple locations around Richmond, has become a fan-favorite spot among many in the community. Stella’s can be utilized as a grocery store, coffee shop, bakery, lunch and dinner spot, and more. The possibilities are endless, and the food is delectable. In the past few years their market franchise has expanded, and each location offers similar options. 

Their seven market locations include: Malvern Gardens, Scott’s Addition, Downtown, Westhampton, Manchester, Westover Hills and most recently River Road. 

The original Stella’s Grocery opened in 2015 at the Malvern Gardens location. The Giavos family, which owns multiple restaurants in the area, opened the grocery after having immense success with their Greek restaurant just across the street. Stella’s Restaurant has been around since 1983. 

Grab-and-go pre-cooked meals shelved at Scott’s Addition location. Photo credit: Stella’s via instagram @stellasgrocery.

The Malvern Gardens location has been a hit since opening day. The market offers gourmet Greek products, prepared foods, baked goods, beer, wine, and more. Stella’s website says, “we pride ourselves in using the finest ingredients from our kitchen to your table.” In a separate shop next to the restaurant, you can find “Our Life by Stella’s,” a clothing, home, and lifestyle store which opened in 2019. The store has an array of inventory, ranging from clothes and jewelry to aesthetic drinkware and home decor products. You are sure not to leave empty-handed when visiting any three components of the Malvern Gardens location. 

The Stella’s franchise has saved countless individuals the pain of preparing dinner with their grab-and-go pre-cooked meals. Some personal favorites of mine are their Penne alla Vodka with Shrimp Pasta and Black Kale Salad. Stella Williams (‘24) says, “l love their Chicken Souvlaki with Rice Pilaf; it’s one of my favorite things to eat for dinner.” Upper School English teacher and Match advisor Vlastik Svab says, “My favorite grab-and-go is the Orzo with Lamb Meatballs, and one of my favorite gifts to receive is a Stella’s gift card.” Each location has multiple options that will satisfy all types of eaters, whether gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, and more. While the food is delicious, the prices of their products can be expensive. Grab-and-go meals can range from $15-$30, which is sure to add up quickly. 

Outdoor seating at Stella’s Westhampton location. Photo credit: Stella’s via instagram @stellasgrocery.

The multiple market locations also serve as a great coffee and drink spot. While some locations are more desirable than others, almost all of them offer indoor or outdoor seating, or a combination of the two. The baristas make great coffee; their Iced Vanilla Latte is one of my favorites in town. The Westhampton location in particular offers great indoor and outdoor seating and is the perfect spot to meet a friend and grab a coffee or drink to catch up. The Westhampton location also features a Meze Bar Menu, consisting of small plates, flatbreads, sandwiches, and appetizers that are great for sharing among friends. My mother, Lucy Ackerly, says, “It’s one of my favorite spots to go with my friends. All of the employees are very friendly, the food and drinks are great, and the ambiance is awesome.”

The new River Road location. Photo credit: Stella’s via instagram @stellasgrocery.

Most recently, the River Road location opened at the northern end of the Huguenot Bridge, in a former Starbucks space, making it the seventh location of the Stella’s Market franchise. The location is great for those who live in the area and has lots of parking. Like the Westhampton location, it gets plenty of foot traffic due to its proximity to local boutiques, salons, and other restaurants. 

Catering menu released for Passover 2024. Photo credit: Stella’s via instagram @stellasgrocery.

Another benefit of Stella’s, that some customers are unfamiliar with, is their catering service. Stella’s offers delicious options for those who don’t love to cook for many or simply love Stella’s food. They have an array of options, ranging from breakfast foods, to appetizers, salads, pastas, meat dishes, side dishes, and desserts. Box lunches are also available to order online for corporate events. Stella’s also releases special catering menus for holidays such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter to make hosting as simple as possible. All catering orders can be picked up at the Malvern Gardens location. 

Order-ahead is available at three of the seven locations for customers to pick up hot meals: Scott’s Addition, Westover Hills, and Manchester. This is a great option for those who work or need to pick up a quick bite to eat. Various soups, paninis, sandwiches, meat skewers, and pizzas are available to order online. 

Each Stella’s location is shelved with delicious foods ranging from full meals to light snacks and drinks. They support many local businesses in the greater Richmond area. If you are looking to shop local, support food vendors in your area, and don’t mind splurging a bit, Stella’s is the place to go. 

Featured image credit: Stella’s Grocery via Facebook.