St. Johns County is welcoming its first authentic Indian grocery store, and, lucky for us, it’s located at the stunningly new The Forum at Greenbriar Shopping Center. The Forum is centrally located near the intersection of St. Johns Parkway and Old County Road 210, just a short distance from I-95 and an array of residential communities. Desi Pantry is planning a grand opening for late summer/early fall.

Desi Pantry owner Jay Madhavaram moved to Northeast Florida in 2019 from Southern India and was able to find Indian pantry staples in Jacksonville; however, when he relocated to St. Augustine in 2022, he still had to travel to buy the groceries he needed. “I was having to drive over an hour each way to find the products I needed,” shares Madhavaram. “Once I started connecting with other members of the community, I found that they shared the same frustrations. People are busy, and the last thing you want to do is spend two hours in the car when there are friends, kids, work and a thousand other things to do in a day. With Desi Pantry, people have an easily accessible place to grab quality products, produce, and meat while saving time.”

Desi Pantry is a family-owned and operated specialty grocery store that offers authentic Indian staples, including lentils, curries and other premium packaged goods. It spans 4,036 square feet across four units on the ground floor of The Forum at Greenbriar. Products are sourced from high-quality vendors and feature cuisines from all across India. Fresh produce is obtained from local vendors. The store also sells Halal meat, with an on-site butcher expertly preparing fresh cuts sourced from Florida producers. 

Many cultures and religions have specific dietary guidelines. Halal is an Arabic word meaning ‘permissible,’ and it denotes food suitable for those practicing Islam. Halal meat must come from an allowed cut (for example, meat from the hindquarters is forbidden) of an allowed animal (pork and reptile meat are not considered Halal) and must be butchered in a very specific way by a certified Halal butcher. A key principle of Halal meat is that the animal must have been raised healthily, free from suffering and butchered humanely. Desi Pantry will not carry beef. 

Madhavaram is also planning to open a full-service café once Desi Pantry is established. Located right next door, Chicha’s Café will occupy 2,257 square feet and serve authentic Indian dishes. The shopping plaza also features restaurants, a coffee shop, healthcare services, yoga and more.

Stay tuned for news about Desi Pantry and Chicha’s Café on Instagram @desipantry_fl