If you love food as much as we do and live in or around Manchester, you already know that some of the best food places aren’t the name-brand grocery stores or big box stores. Specialty grocery stores have their shelves stocked to fill your basket with delicious, curated food items. These local gems also offer up history, and sometimes big savings as well. Our readers trust what these specialty markets carry, and the people behind the counter know what they’re doing.
The specialty shops around Manchester each play a different role in how people cook and eat at home. Some offer imported cheeses, fresh pasta, or ingredients you can’t find anywhere else. Others are for staples like fresh produce and local meat. And others help you find last-minute dinners, or let you try something new.
Below, we highlight Manchester’s specialty stores together in one place, not to rank them or put them in boxes, but to explain why they matter. These shops quietly shape how Manchester eats.
Cheeseco of New England
97 Eddy Rd, Manchester, NH 03102
Cheeseco of New England — it’s like a local Costco that specializes in cheese. (Sign me up!) Cheeseco serves both individual customers and local businesses, including restaurants and food service providers. It’s described by local listings as a wholesale grocer that also operates a retail outlet where everyday shoppers can browse and purchase products, particularly in bulk.
If you’d like to check it out, Cheeseco sits on the east side of Manchester and is generally open Monday through Friday from early morning (around 8 a.m.) until the early evening (around 6 p.m.), with slightly shorter hours on Saturday. These hours make it accessible for restaurant deliveries and neighborhood customers doing weekend shopping as well.
At Cheeseco’s, cheese is a key focus, obviously, with a selection of delicious cheeses, including Wisconsin cheese. These products are made for enthusiasts and people looking to stock up for family gatherings or big culinary projects. Cheeseco offers a wide range of food products, including meats, bulk flour, and canned goods, in addition to cheese. These grocery staples are often sought by restaurants and large households. This mix of wholesale and retail products means you can find anything from specialty cheeses to basic cooking ingredients under one roof.
For Cheeseco enthusiasts, the store’s value comes from its ability to supply bulk orders and a variety of products in one place; for others, the retail experience is more utilitarian than boutique-grade. It’s not typically highlighted in “best of” local food guides the way smaller artisan cheese shops are, but it does serve a niche for those who need larger quantities or a broad selection.
The store’s hybrid retail and commercial identity makes Cheeseco especially useful for chefs, party hosts, or home cooks who need to purchase quality cheeses and food products in quantities that might not be feasible at a traditional grocery store.
A Market
1050 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 03101
A Market in Manchester, New Hampshire, is a long-standing local natural foods grocery that’s built a reputation for healthy, organic, and specialty products tailored to people interested in wellness and sustainable living. The business traces its roots to 1970, when it was originally founded as The Nutrition House and has since evolved into A Market, maintaining its reputation for stocking some of the area’s best organic produce, natural groceries, and products that support clean eating and environmentally conscious lifestyles.
Unlike large supermarket chains, A Market is family-owned and operated, and it prides itself on a community-oriented atmosphere where great customer service is just as important as fresh food. The store’s mission is to help customers make informed choices about nutrition and healthy living. Its motto, “Natural is Normal,” reflects this ethos, and the team aims to create an inviting environment reminiscent of old-fashioned neighborhood stores.
A Market operates daily with hours typically Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., making it convenient for both weekday errands and bigger weekend shopping trips. The store also offers curbside pickup, which many (including myself) appreciate for its convenience.
Shoppers at A Market will find 100 % organic produce, a wide assortment of natural and specialty grocery items, grass-fed and humanely raised meats and dairy, and a good range of plant-based alternatives. The store also stocks premium supplements and vitamins, eco-friendly household and beauty products, bulk foods like grains, beans, and seeds, and even prepared foods such as freshly made salads and soups. Many products come from local farms and producers, underlining A Market’s commitment to regional sourcing and community support.
A Market has managed to sustain itself for more than five decades in the community. For long-time residents, it’s a local staple where people can find niche products and fresh produce while supporting broader goals like sustainability and healthy eating, all in one place.
Angela’s Pasta & Cheese Shop
815 Chestnut Street, Manchester, NH 03104
If you’re looking for a neighborhood purveyor with a strong artisanal brand and a long documented history as a specialty cheese shop, Angela’s Pasta & Cheese Shop is the place.
Angela’s Pasta & Cheese Shop is a beloved local specialty food store with deep roots (46 years!) in the community and a reputation as the go-to destination for Italian groceries, prepared foods, specialty cheeses, and gourmet items.
The business began in 1980 when three sisters—Angela, Elaine, and Linda Falcioni—opened a small pasta and cheese shop after being inspired by Italian markets they encountered abroad. Starting on Union Street, the store carved out a niche for high-quality imported products and fresh housemade foods. As its popularity grew, Angela’s moved to its current location at 815 Chestnut Street in Manchester’s North End in 1994, where it has continued to serve customers for decades.
Ownership of the shop changed in 2020 when Steven Freeman, a longtime customer and Manchester native, purchased the business from the previous owners. Freeman, who came from a background in architecture and a passion for food, has focused on maintaining the shop’s classic mission while also serving the community with strong customer service and curated product selections. His leadership honors the store’s history and brings thoughtful improvements to its offerings and operations.
Angela’s is open for most of the week with typical hours of Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and it is closed on Sundays and certain holidays. Customers are encouraged to check seasonal adjustments and holiday schedules, as the store occasionally shifts hours for events or seasonal needs.
Angela’s offers a wide variety of fresh and imported pastas, many of which are housemade or sourced from artisanal producers, alongside an extensive range of cheeses from around the world, cured meats, charcuterie, and an impressive wine collection. Beyond those staples, the store features prepared meals, fresh bread from local bakers, soups, sandwiches, desserts, and gourmet pantry items like olive oils, vinegars, and sauces. Angela’s is also known for its gift baskets and specialty items, which can be shipped nationwide. Catering services and heat-and-serve dinner options are also available.
And if you’re willing to drive a little way, there’s…
Calef’s Country Store
606 Franklin Pierce Hwy, Barrington, NH 03825
Calef’s Country Store is about 45 minutes away in Barrington, New Hampshire, but it’s totally worth the trip. If you haven’t been, it’s a classic “old-fashioned New England country store” that’s part general store, part specialty food shop. They sell mostly New England-made goods and offer mail-order gifting.
The store’s roots go back to 1869, when Mary Chesley Calef opened Calef’s Store in the front rooms of her home in Barrington, financing the venture by mortgaging the family farm and putting up her savings. The business stayed in the Calef family for five generations (the family story notes Mary’s son, Senator Austin Calef, among those who operated “Calef’s Big Store”) before the family era ended in the 1990s. Greg Bolton became the owner after purchasing Calef’s in 2012, and that transition has been a soft continuation of the place’s community-centered character rather than a harsh reinvention of the classic Calef’s.
If you’re visiting in person, store hours are generally Monday–Saturday 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. The store is also closed on major holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Easter Sunday.
What people go for, really, is the food. Calef’s is known for signature cheeses and deli staples. You’ll find items such as us “snappy” cheddar cheese, pickles from a wooden barrel, homemade bread, ginger snaps, penny candy, local jams/jellies, maple syrup, and deli meats for sandwiches, plus unique New England specialties and sweets.
Believe me when I reiterate: it’s worth the drive.
