Provisions in the Abacos

[optimom]

Can anyone tell me if there are provisioning companies in Marsh Harbour. I found one listing in a cruising guide called "Price Right", but a friend indicated that it was more like a Costco then a supermarket. Tough to get fresh produce/meat there. Any feedback would be most helpful.
Thanks!
JD

[AnchorageGuy]

Why not ask here

Abaco Message Board

[GordMay]

This will be out of date, by now.

PROVISIONING in ABACO (Bahamas)
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...abaco-370.html

MARSH HARBOUR

Marsh Harbour is the Abaco’s best provisioning port, with the widest variety of everything. While (mostly) everything is usually available, it’s also fairly expensive.

Bahamas Family Market located next to Corner Value at "The Old Traffic Light".
Small, friendly place. Open when others aren't. Small but good selection of veggies and fruit items but "few" is the operative word. Take out sandwiches in the form of heroes, chicken and meat pies and hotdogs. A counter top full of fresh pastries and a variety of cheeses and some other "gourmet" items such as smoked salmon. Ruth, her family and employees will serve you well.

M & R Market located on Crockett Dr. about a block from K & S Gas Station
M & R is a fairly new "superette" established by Roderick. It's stock is typical of such an establishment. Often open when everyone else is closed such as Holidays, Sundays and evenings.

Price Right located up the side street from Standard Hardware a couple of blocks.
A recent entrant into the grocery world of Abaco. Originally planned to compete with Solomons and to cater to mainly bulk and larger quantity purchases. With the closing of Golden Harvest they decided to provide for regular retail purchases as well. They carry a standard supermarket line except for meats and fish. Staples are available such as Milk, Bread, eggs etc. and some veggies, fruit and prepared meats. Prices are very competitive, if not lower, on many items compared to Solomon's.

Roderick's located on Crockett Drive two blocks past K&S Gas Station.
This is a very small, higher priced "quikmart" type place frequented by locals and definitely open when no others are…Sundays, Holidays and nights.

Sawyers located down the street opposite Royal Bank.
Much expanded since the demise of Golden Harvest but still smaller in terms of floor space and brand selection. Best variety of fruits, veggies and fresh meats. Carries all standard supermarket goods but again your choice of brands and product variety is limited but not disappointing. Open daily and Sundays until 1 PM.

Solomons located on the street next to the future (?) Golden Harvest.
Has always been a bulk seller and for the one to two week visitor the quantities you had to buy were for the most part too large. They now have a newly announced policy of allowing standard retail type purchases including meats and veggies but no experiences have been reported to date. They have just about everything

Liquor Stores in Marsh Harbour

A & K and Bristol Cellars seem to be the most popular (and are nearest the docks and marinas) . Bristol also has (had?) a small store at their original location in Boat Harbour. Cigarettes can be bought at Bristol for the same price as Solomons.

The Chemist Shoppe is a full service Drugstore on Don Mackay Blvd.

Island Bakery nearby the Chemist Shoppe.

Note that because everything arrives by boat there are often "shortage days" for some items such as milk (sometimes hard to find by Monday) and bread.

All taxis are willing to stop while you shop after your arrival at Marsh Harbour Airport.

HOPE TOWN
.
Harbour View does have a dinghy dock that is convenient for boaters and shoppers from Lubbers Quarters. Good supply of fresh produce (fruit & vegetables).

Vernon's Key Lime Pie has achieved a considerable measure of fame. Meats are amply available but frozen. Toiletries & medicines are available.

Albury's Fish Market in Hopetown.

LUBBERS QUARTERS

Nothing available. All shopping has to be accomplished elsewhere. Both Marsh Harbour and Hopetown are an easy boat ride with the latter being better for the real small boats.

MAN O' WAR

There are two groceries on MOW, Albury's Harbour Store and Man O' War Grocery.

As in Hopetown you can get what you need but not all you might want. There are fresh veggies but the meat is frozen.

GUANA

Guana Harbour Grocery located towards the end of the harbor from the ferry dock . Meat is frozen, and there is chicken, pork, ham and hamburger. Stock comes in on Thursdays and Fridays such as milk, veggies, cheese, yoghurt and other cooler items and supplements arrive on Monday and Tuesday. Fresh bread is available most of the time and sometimes cinnamon buns. Fresh veggies and the usual staples are all there as well as health products, film, paper products and the like. Not open on Sunday.

Milo's is a vegetable and fruit stand right on the Harbour and the choice varies with the crop season. Tomatoes, cukes and citrus are on the list. Island Time Mon.

Fig Tree Liquors on the Harbour will keep you supplied, at a price, but for serious grape and single malt Scotch better stop in Marsh Harbour.

GREEN TURTLE CAY

New Plymouth has three grocery stores, a liquor store and a bakery. All the stores are within easy walking distance of each other on the "loop".

Macintosh Bakery produces fresh bread daily including coconut bread. Also a selection of pies and pastries.

Lowe's, Sid's and Curry's follow each other as you walk the loop where you must pass the liquor store Plymouth Rock as well.

The liquor store is well stocked including a number of white wines.

B & M Seafoods is near Miss Emily's and is "sporadically open".

There is also a grocery store and liquor store at the Green Turtle Club in White Sound where it is reported that you can save many a trip to "town" if you are staying up that way.

Stores are closed on Sundays. Curry's has extended Saturday hours…8:30PM.

TREASURE CAY

TC has a fully stocked market open until 6PM Monday through Saturday. There is also a well- stocked convenience store that is open until about 10PM and on Sundays. Fruits, veggies, milk and juice arrive on Thursdays…usually.

The Mini Market, we are told that the name belies the stock, has all the standard supermarket items and stateside brand names. Beef and chicken are fresh and pork and lamb usually frozen. Fresh veggies, seasonal fruits. Non RX pharmacy and health
care goods. By Wednesdays the fresh stuff is quite depleted.

Bristol Cellars now owns the newly remodeled liquor store with a good selection of all you want to imbibe.

The Convenience Store has some fresh produce and fruit and the meat is probably frozen…no firm report on that.

Florence's Bakery carries excellent fresh breads, pies etc.

Annie's Laundry can sometimes be a source for fish,

Kula's, a convenience store out on the highway near the entrance.

the gas station near the airport has a convenience store..

There is another liquor store on the right as you enter TC,

Spankys is reputed to be well stocked.

All in all Treasure Cay provides a pretty self contained source for all you need.

More ... ?

[Vasco]

There's a supermarket in Marsh Harbour called Marshalls that is the best in the Bahamas, better than Nassau. Was there three weeks ago.

[optimom]

Thanks so much for the info!! I never knew about the message board either, I will check it out.

[camaraderie]

As Vasco says...you can get wonderful fresh meats, dairy and veggies and most anything else in Marsh Harbor these days. As good as stateside except for the prices! No worries.
The other Abaco Cays all have smaller groceries with packaged and canned goods and fozen meat/fish/chicken/pork which will do in a pinch but you are better off shopping in Marsh harbor.