Oh, Avenue B, how I live and long for the "V" in the window to be illuminated. Why, do you ask? Because that means they're open! The store no longer keeps regular hours or days. It's a hit or miss kinda chance you have to take. I'm in the neighborhood a couple of times a month and when that "V" is lit up, it's like Christmas morning, my friends. You can buy typical items here that you'd expect to find at a bodega but it's all about the deli. That glorious deli. When stocked and opened, you'll get the greatest sandwiches you've ever had in your life. FRESHLY MADE! The sammies are so good, it's like that perfectly made sandwich from your grandma's kitchen. I never sleep on the turkey. It's a fave. I will continue to long and yearn for the illumination of the "V". read more

Avenue B Grocery & Market - Grocery Near Me - Austin, Texas

Run... and get yoself a Sammy! This was a pimento cheese with avocado. Dang... PERFECT! The hours vary as it's a family biz and we asked them about it... I like it, they are working around life. Just keep trying and get yourself your sandwich. Plenty of outdoor tables to enjoy your lunch!!! Do it! ASAP read more

Avenue B Grocery & Market - Grocery Near Me - Austin, Texas

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When I was a senior at Texas, days before my last final of my college career, APD "mistakenly" raided my place. They completely trashed my apartment, roughed me up, destroyed everything I owned. To clarify, they had the wrong place, I was 100% innocent. Sobbing after they left and refused to help me at all, the owner of Avenue B Groceries which was directly across the street walked to me and offered to help me. He brought me a blanket and fed me, and let me cry with him as he comforted me. I had already eaten at this place regularly, but that interaction has stuck with me for over 20 years now. Go to this place not just because the food and service is great, but because it's legitimately a part of the austin community. Awesome food and an even more awesome owner. Whenever I come back to Austin, I always try to stop in for a sandwich. read more

What a cool step back into history. I had the King Ross sandwich on gluten-free Hawaiian bread- excellent sandwich! The owner was cool and fun to talk to. You can select a record to play on the phonograph while he makes your sandy. If the weather is good, the picnic benches are a nice shady spot for lunch. -By the way, be courteous and don't take pictures inside the store (there's a sign on the door) read more

This place is iconic to Hyde Park & has such sweet character, sadly the owner is quite possibly the rudest person I've ever met. I stopped by to take a photo with some friends & he came out furious that we would do such a thing. Mind you it was closed & we were standing on the street, not his property. I told him I understood & would leave promptly. He proceeded to lecture me & call me an ass hole when I had finally had enough & walked away. He is clearly troubled & I feel very sad for him & his business. It had so much potential. read more

I wasn't going to leave this review (the owner actually asked me not to, which I will elaborate on below) but after thinking about it and reading other reviews, here it goes. The owner made me cry today. The second we walked into the store he was behaving erratically, telling us all about the four steps of ordering one of his sandwiches (he had a precise regimen of ordering that he expected us to follow). Then he was complaining about his 'ethnic friend Carlos' who has a food truck, that is never in the same place/always moving around, who sells Cuban sandwiches. One variety of sandwich in comparison to the many sandwiches offered at Avenue B Grocery. He was very frustrated by the fact that Carlos made some top 5 list of sandwiches in Austin, but not him, someone who's been in Austin forever, etc etc. He's yelling at us about how it's because of social media that Carlos won this recognition, and Carlos has 30k followers on Instagram. So I'm thinking to myself: "Well, if this sandwich is as good as people say it is, I'll leave this man a great review so people can hear/read about it on Yelp and come give him business - maybe then he'll get some recognition." All of this occurred before we've ordered our food. When we get the chance to speak, we tell him that my boyfriend has been to Avenue B before, but it was my first time, and that we were on our way to the UT/OU game in Dallas - it was at this point that he started being a little nice (emphasis on a little) presumably because he is a Longhorns fan. After we paid, I took a quick photo inside, and got laid into. This man screamed at me. Apparently there is a sign on the outside of the establishment that says not to take photos inside. I didn't see it. Please forgive me, I am not perfect. I wouldn't have taken a photo had I seen the sign. I'm all about respecting someone's wishes as I would expect mine to be respected in return. I tried to explain that I write reviews for Yelp as a hobby and he had no interest. I apologized and we walked outside to sit on the benches waiting for our food. When he came out to give us our sandwiches, I still had tears in my eyes. He asked me, "Are you upset?" I lied and said no because I didn't want any trouble. Then he started what sounded like a normal conversation but mid-sentence looked right at me and said, "Do not write a review." And I just said okay. Again, didn't want to set him off. It felt like he was on the verge of a total rampage and I was in his path. I couldn't even eat my sandwich I was completely paralyzed with fear by his actions towards me. I was crying hysterically - the hyperventilating kind. I forced myself to open my sandwich because I didn't want him to see me not eating it and get even more upset with me. I'm embarrassed that he made me so emotional. I'm even getting upset writing this recounting the experience. I'm completely torn and bothered by this experience. Clearly this man is hurting or might even be suffering from a mental disorder (as another review suggested), and that makes me feel incredibly sad for him. I hope it's not too late to get him some help if that is the case. And if it isn't the case and he's just a disgruntled old man... well, not much else I can say other than, don't take photos inside. read more

Had a nice time. The guy is funny and the sandwiches were good. Feels like going back in time.

Super cute vintage sandwich shop located in Hyde park. They have a very nice patio outside with picnic tables. It was closed when I got there but I will definitely be back to get a sandwich at the super cute vintage sandwich shop. read more

A perfect hidden-in-plain-sight gem! It'll feel like you stepped back in time. This is definitely a must visit if you're in the area. Service is super friendly and helpful... and the food is awesome. I had the roast beef with Swiss on sourdough all the way add horseradish... So so good. Highly recommend! read more

Avenue B Grocery & Market - Roast beef - Grocery Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Absolutely beautiful establishment. May it stay open forever. Buy your sandwiches here!

Love this place!! Homemade pimento cheese and the friendliest man you'll ever meet. This place is all that I love about Austin -- friendly, inclusive, historic, and tasty!! read more

Stopped by on a bike ride to grab a bite. Sandwich was tasty and everyone was super nice.

Is there something "wrong" [medically/mentally?) with the owner/proprietor? I don't know, but when I visited recently in 2023, I raised my cellphone to a take quick pic inside, and he suddenly and angrily hung up his phone call and YELLED at me, "No photos!" I hadn't taken any photos yet, but I apologized to him nonetheless, and then he yelled at me a second time with the following outburst-- "There's no photos allowed! People are always taking photos! Just get out of here! GET OUT OF HERE!" That's right. Before I could order anything or even engage him in polite conversation, he was yelling at me at the top of his voice to "GET OUT OF HERE! In my entire 62 year-old life, I've never been yelled at by ANY store proprietor, nor ordered to leave ANY store, anywhere, for any reason. It was quite a startling and twilight zone-like experience. So...I just thought I'd leave this comment here as a "warning" to what others may encounter when they approach this man. I recommend that you approach him quietly, VERY respectfully, and with your camera kept securely in your pocket. My review in one word? Frightening. read more

This was the worst experience I've ever had buying a sandwich. The owner was super aggressive from the moment I walked in, rambling in a way I couldn't understand. After I ordered, he went off on an incoherent rant about how disgruntled he is and how he hates the customers. I thought I would eat outside and be free from his insanity, but he followed me out and complained about his business and the customers the entire time I ate. He doesn't like when people read the menu. He doesn't like paying his employees. Etc. The place was incredibly run down and looked to be falling apart. I feel a little sick from the sandwich as well. As I was leaving, he tried to get me to stay because he said he wasn't finished talking to me, but I got out of there fast. He was super creepy and incredibly mentally unstable. I did not feel safe. I will never return, and I hope no one goes into that building, for their own mental and physical safety. read more

Ross let my painting class do a nocturne, and I bought a sandwich, which turned out to be an absolutely fabulous BLT on sourdough. Absolutely fresh, creamy mayo, crunchy bacon. ​He was a great host to my class and a great sandwich-maker and I'll definitely be back next time I'm in Austin. read more

Avenue B Grocery & Market - the outside of the store - Grocery Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Food was excellent and the vibe of this place is so great! The service was excellent and the owner was very friendly.

My family stopped in to see some true history of Austin as well as to support the local economy and we were treated like actual shit! The owner was a total asshole and actually used a timer to dictate to us that every minute he is open costs a dollar with placing a sand timer on the counter for every minute we were there. All he did was emphasize how much money he was losing by stating that he's not a history museum but a grocery store, but what's funny, is what he is actually selling stuff you could find at a garage sale. Do not waste your time! He should sell the business, since he has no idea how to treat a customer, and go work at a funeral home where someone with that type of personality belongs. Again, what an asshole! read more

Delicious King sandwich on toasted sourdough outside on a beautiful day at Ave. B Grocery. Great service, great outdoor area, dog friendly. Highly suggest you stop in and enjoy!! read more

Avenue B Grocery & Market - a small building with a large tree in front of it - Grocery Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I've come here 3 times in one year bc it looks cute but each time ive come they are closed. seems like a hobby business instead of a real business. if you're going to just close whenever you want, sell the business you obviously don't need it. won't waste my time coming back. read more

Good food, better service - an Austin gem. Has the character of old Austin, and Ross is the best.

Great little spot with stellar sandwiches. Awesome hidden gem of Austin and would definitely return again. Found this on my lunch break doing the trees in the neighborhood and plan on coming back read more

If I could leave zero stars I would. Let me start off by saying I'm Hispanic. My coworker was with me. It was our lunch break and we wanted to get a quick bite to eat. The owner is a d*c*head! Gave us dumb instructions on how to order and wanted us out the store immediately once we ordered. He finished by coming and throwing our sandwiches on the table. Anyways the sandwich was decent, terrible service. The young lady helping him did make the trip better as she tried to please the customers read more

A classic sandwich spot! The ingredients are always super fresh and each sandwich is made to order. Be sure to grab a brownie if they're there! I love the outdoor picnic area and the oldies music -- a solid place for lunch with a book or a friend! read more

This place is lovely and has nice outdoor tables for beautiful weather. The sandwhiches are great the food is good the atmosphere is old Austin and ecclectic. It is small, comfortable and casual. I love Ave B. read more

I saw this hidden gem on one of Trulia's recent Instagram posts...I had never even heard of it. It's really cute and old; definitely a historic site...I felt a little transported back in time ;) The owner Ross was really nice and funny - definitely a great conversationalist! I asked if he gets asked the same questions all the time...He actually typed up the history on Avenue B Grocery...I forgot to take a photo of it but hopefully he'll frame it and hang it up soon :) When I first walked in he was helping someone and told me they have alligator soup, if I'd like to try some. I told him definitely not as a vegetarian but that I'd love to try the Queen B sandwich, which was recommended on the Trulia post I saw, saying that locals love it. It was a good old fashioned sandwich, with 4 kinds of cheeses on it, avocado, mushrooms and jalapenos. It was definitely delicious! This is a very charming place. I'd encourage anyone to stop by. read more

Avenue B Grocery & Market - Grocery Near Me - Austin, Texas

Dropped by for some food in a flash. I like this little joint and it always has weird stuff in addition to food for sale. This is perfect for the locals and especially the college students. Prices are reasonable and you can get a balanced meal here to eat outside or take home. I guess this is my 5th visit and I have always enjoyed the simple dishes. They had just made some tuna fish and it was really good. Hilarious guy in the back and the most charming and friendly young lady to take your order and check you out in the front. This is a great place to chill at lunch outside. Well done folks! read more

Avenue B Grocery & Market - Grocery Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Love this place - so nostalgic, so wonderful just to pop in. This is the antithesis of the "big box store." The store, its offerings, and its owner are all so wonderfully eclectic. Candy by the piece - since when??! Enjoy the vibe, and buy something to eat or just for fun, so the whole experience can continue on. I was with a group of painters who sat across the street one evening and painted the store, as the day grew dim and the lights around the building turned it into a magical scene. read more

LEGIT. For all of you Austinites that have been here for 2 years and like to talk about "real Austin", do yourself a favor and come get an education. This place is O.G. Don't take too long to place your order or you might get the boot. Get a sandwich, deviled egg, glass bottle soda, and go eat outside underneath a tree. Welcome to Austin. read more

This is such a great small neighborhood sandwich shop and place for cold drinks and some albums and cds to buy also. The owner is a unique guy who is running and keeping a historic Austin landmark alive. He makes a great homemade sandwich of almost any variety, and loves his customers, but he does not suffer fools easily, and you just may get a deserved scolding if you are not careful. read more

My daughter and I went here as an adventure, a step backward in time and she loved it for a good reason. This place is like a time capsule. And here's what we bought: a kit-kat bar, a popsickle, a ring pop, 3 tootsie rolls, and a bag of chips. The total, $2.90. Come on, people who complain about the prices here! The people who can afford to live in Hyde park have to make 6 figures at a minimum! Support this place by patronizing it for the simple reason that a 7-year old loved it. She said, "I bet that guy just lived there and then turned it into a store." Yeah, that's probably what happened and I've seen that guy there for a thousand years and now he's thinking of closing up shop! What? How about this, let's bulldoze his store/house and build another condominium there! Are you people crazy? Take your kids there and buy stuff because it's not just a store, but a museum of a simpler, more innocent time. Tip the guy with 20's, 50's, 100's. He should be making 6 figures at his store but he's struggling to stay in business. The owner took ice/snow out of his freezer and we threw it at each other and laughed and had a moment of pure joy, my daughter and I who can't afford to live in Hyde Park anymore. Support this simple landmark for the sake of the owner, the store, the nostalgia, something pure, the joy of a 7-year-old, and the life blood of Austin. Otherwise, we may as well sell all of our souls and prepare for our town to turn into downtown Detroit. Wait, downtown Detroit may have more life in it after its death than Austin. Am I being sensational, maybe, but hopefully it will make you think before giving in to your own soulless existence and keep Austin weird. That's what the saying means. Live it. read more

Very cute and very yummy sandwiches!! The man is very nice and gave us recommendations:) Definitely coming back for more.

Austin's oldest operating grocery store is unfortunately easy to forget with its tucked-away location between 44th and 45th on Avenue B (duh). But what a pleasure to remember. Much like my Great Uncle Hubert's general store in Flippin, TN, this beautiful and uber-cozy pier-and-beam store is packed to the gills with every essential imaginable and few items of whimsy, like the toy airplanes you can assemble. It's a totally different era once inside. People have been smackin' their granny for years as a result of the sandwiches they make - the staff are VERY proud of what's created in the back kitchen, and treat sanwiches like an art form (as they should). I prefer the King sandwich, not just 'cause it sounds cool as shit, but it's so good, roast beef and cheese, and heated ("for a totally different kind of sandwich," they tell me) and also their Rueben specials can't be beat if they're serving them. Being true to form, they offer co-cola in a bottle, as well as other classic bottled beverages from root beer to cream soda, etc., etc. Outside there are several places to sit, but oftentimes the flies and bees are among you, so we usually just take our sandwiches for a walk down Avenue B to check out one of, sorry, THE most beautiful neighborhood in Austin. read more

Avenue B Grocery & Market - Grocery Near Me - Austin, Texas

Went here for the first time today. Had a great experience with Ross - he was talkative, friendly, and offered some recommendations for his sandwiches. A cool little spot, no doubt. Love seeing these types of places still in existence. Not everyone wants or needs a big fancy chain restaurant. Places like this bring you back in time when sodas were a dime (showing my age) and Sonic drive-in was cool because the servers were on skates. Love that this place is still plopped right in the middle of a neighborhood. Will definitely go back. Had the BLT and it was delicious. Enjoyed an old school Cream Soda with it and sat outside. Keep it going, Ross. read more

The owner appears to be off his meds. After ranting at us for 5 minutes and telling us WHAT to order, he allowed us to place or order and seemed irritated we didn't get what he demanded we get. He then proceeded to complain about the "lunch rush" (a total of 5 people). It took over 30 minutes to get an incredibly underwhelming sandwich. The owner is rude, overbearing, pushy and makes what could have been a lovely place and experience totally uncomfortable. I wonder if he reads these reviews? Get some life coaching, buddy. read more

Ross, the man making sandwiches, was rude and behaving erratically the entire time I was there--as I was showing my family around my city on the last day of their visit, I'll add. I wasn't paying attention to his liking while he spoke and he KICKED me. I'm in the process of filing a police report right now. He KICKED ME. For no reason, not that there's a good reason for that. DO NOT GO, if only for your safety. read more

Today I walked amid the humidity (MAN! My hair!!!) to grab the fabulous King Sandwich Ordered and asked that it be warmed Oh my goodness This was just the bestest sammich ever, mmmk? yeah good stuff. I even got a cool put it together little airplane for my boy. Hooray for me! Fabulous sandwich AND Fabulous Mommy! Oh - and they DO take debit cards, but it costs $1. P.S. Thanks, Larry! Maybe I'll venture into the sloppy joe realm one day soon. oooo - and they have candy cigarettes! Am I showing my age? read more

Cool place...good sandwiches however the owner ruins the experience. He's a total a$$. I will not be returning. Good job Ross.

Best little sandwich shop in this area. Cute Market feel that is nested in the heart of hyde park. We come here alot since we live close by and it's convenient, reasonably priced, and good atmosphere/service read more

I've driven by this funky little place a million times over the years but I've never been in until today! I guess because I really looked open! A super friendly guy named Ross was sitting outside at some picnic tables having a cold drink celebrating his birthday the day before, but he hopped up to make my sandwich. He even offered free ice cream to my little friend! She had a drumstick!!! I didn't have time today to stay and look around but Avenue B Grocery is a charming little place with basic groceries and a menu that probably varies from day to day as do the hours, I would imagine. Anyway, if you're lucky enough to be in the area, you really should stop by for an old-fashioned sandwich! I got a Queen Bee... a cool, crispy, crunchy, fresh vegetable sandwich that includes mushrooms, avocado, and pickled jalapenos! I don't know how something so simple could be so damn delicious... Maybe it was Ross! Happy belated birthday Ross! Thanks for the sandwich and for keeping Austin like it was long ago! Simple and a little weird! ;) read more

What a neat throw back in time. I've lived in Austin for 20 years and had never heard of this place until yesterday when I took a wrong turn and saw this place. I came back today for a plain old turkey on wheat and it was great. Simple but great. A 100+ year old (non-government) operation is a rarity in this town. So cool! read more

Avenue B Grocery & Market - Entrance - Grocery Near Me - Austin, Texas