Image: courtesy of Annapoorna stores website
Besides the regular groceries, there are many ethnic grocery stores in Champaign - Urbana. But there is only one Indian grocery store in Chambana.
The Annapoorna stores is located in Champaign, 505 South Neil Street, Suite 11, Champaign, IL 61820 . It is right opposite to the Champaign Public Library, between Randolph and Neil, Healy and Green. (You can take the 5 Green bus or 25 loop to reach near it).
Store items/collection
The store contains a rich collection of Indian and South Asian groceries, spices, and many other food items. For example:
Frozen food: Both north and south Indian specialities, such as Paratha, Roti, Nan, Idli, Dosa, Uttappam. The ready to eat food section has specialities such as Dal, Bhendi Masala, Chole Chatpate, Pongal Rice, etc.
Frozen snacks: Khaman Dhokla, chili paneer, punjabi samosa, veg. spring roll, chicken samosas, chinese appetizers/meals.
Spices: Chili, cumin, garam masala, coriander, turmeric, spices, pickles, cinnamon, cardamom.
Food grain: Basmati rice, boiled rice, Sona masoori rice, dal / lentil, flour,
Fresh vegetables: The store brings fresh vegetables from Chicago every Friday. You can get fresh okra, green peppers, singa, radish (muli), mangoes, guavas etc.
Fresh sweets/snacks : The store brings fresh sweets like ladoos, jalebis, rasmalai, samosa, kachori, and mirchi pakora.
Meat - The store will take orders for poultry, and other kind of meat. It will bring those meat items from Chicago. Pick up can be made on Thursday evenings when their delivery van arrives from Chicago. (the store is closed at that time though, so you can only pick up the meat order at that time).
Video rentals: The store carries a rich collection of Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu, and other Indian language films/cinemas. VHS tapes/cassettes cost $1 to rent, and DVDs are $2. The store brings new releases almost every week.
The store takes Cash, Debit and Credit cards.
Store Hours
Mon - Wed : 11:00 AM to 8:30 PM
Fri - Sat : 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Sun : 12:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Closed on Thursday
2 comments:
I tried this shop a few times and found many shortcomings...well to start with these guys are out to rip us off..even allowing for the fact that they get things from chicago...here are my reasons...
- same items cost much less in bloomington,springfield and peoria!!
- i ordered mutton thrice and got more bones than I care to count..
- not the friendliest of people the owner I presume he's got a blaise attitude knowing he is the only guy in CU selling indian goods...
NOWADAYS I AVOID THIS SHOP LIKE THE PLAGUE AND CARPOOL WITH MY PALS AND TAKE TURNS TO DRIVE TO BLOOMINGTON FOR SHOPPING AND WE SAVE MONEY EVEN WITH $4 GAS PRICE>>>
Actually, there are several stores that sell spices, and other Indian stuff. Am-Ko has a whole aisle for this, and so does EuroMart and World Harvest. So, you don't have to go that far to get these.
For mutton, there is a better alternative ... recently, a new Deli and Meat store opened at Mattis and Florida ... the Casbah store brings very fresh Mutton, beef, chicken, and veal on a regular basis. (I should post on that ...). You can pick particular parts and the butcher is quite frinedly.
So, other than rare Indian stuff, no need to drive that far into other cities. :)
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