Atwater Village Farm Marketplace | Los Angeles, CA

A new market in Atwater Village

The signs for Atwater Village Farm on Glendale Boulevard mystified us last summer.

After running through various scenarios of what the space might be, we came across owner Piper Goldstein's compelling Kickstarter video, in which she presented her concept of a community-minded grocery store.

After a successful fund-raising campaign, the market opened at the end of 2011, augmenting the nearby Sunday farmers' market well, thanks to its approachable selection of pantry goods and local produce.

Grains and flours from Bob's Red Mill are by no means rare finds anymore, but the selection stocked at Atwater is one of the most comprehensive we've encountered. Want to make traditional injera for an Ethiopian dinner party? You can get teff flour ($10) here.

Some of the produce is steeply priced, but the lettuces from both Coastal Farms and Coleman Farms ($1.25 to $2.50) are both wonderful and affordable. These are no baby lettuces, but the heads are picked well before they become tough. Buying a few will take you more than halfway to a great salad.

The Atwater Village farmers' market is still only on Sundays, but grocery shopping in the neighborhood is now great every day of the week.

Atwater Village Farm, 3224 Glendale Blvd., Atwater Village; 323-660-8888 or atwatervillagefarm.com