Sahara Mart
106 E 2nd St, Bloomington, IN, 47401
Sahara Mart Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Bloomington for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Bloomington for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Bloomington for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
106 E 2nd St
Bloomington, IN, 47401 - Phone (812) 333-0502
- Website https://saharamart.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :9:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Aaron W.
I write this review primarily for the alcohol section. For the rest, I will say that when running a store stuffed with specialty and ethnic foods, it is hard for things to fly off the shelf. This can lead to expired product. I have not run into this issue, but you can find many treasures here. Just check the date. They have a great meat selection from Fischer Farms and other Indiana producers. They have some of the absolute best prices and selections when it comes to booze. They are an average of 2 bucks cheaper on local six packs compared to Bloomingfoods. Extensive bombers available from 3 Floyd's, Upland, People's, New Albanian, Cutter's, Shoreline, etc. They carry the good stuff, too. Not just a few of the biggest sellers. And the price is great for these as well. Fountain Square Brewing and Flat 12 have all sixer's represented. The guy running this section seems to know his stuff well and is always trying to get a hold of the rare and exotic from around the world.
(4)Christiana S.
Sahara Mart is my go-to place when I need to find something ethnic, a great bottle of wine or international beer, and for their amazing bulk section including spices. I have had some problems with products being expired. Usually, this is with the ethnic foods that are canned or pre-packaged in some way. I don't have this problem with bulk foods, spices, produce, meat, etc. Their coffee wall is fantastic for finding locally roasted and/or fair trade coffee, as well as exotic coffees from around the world. Whether you are going to get a deal here really depends on what you are buying. Bulk items, coffee, and alcohol seem to have great prices, but their fresher items seem to be slightly overpriced.
(3)Tom H.
I want to give it more stars, because it has a huge selection of hard to find products. The problem I have is that I have to watch like a hawk to make sure that the product isn't expired, as in: sell-by dates. The upshot is that you can get incredibly diverse varieties of food and spices, oils, flours, and bulk items that are hard to find. The inventory management must be tough to do, because it isn't being done. There is a TON of diverse wines and beers here for those that are looking for a different source than the Big Red liquor monopoly in Monroe County. Those that compare Sahara Mart favorably with Trader Joes must have different needs than I do, although Trader Joes has prices that are climbing rapidly. Bloomingfoods is often equal in price, or slightly higher, although their inventory is much more trustworthy. I shop here and find great deals on things like bulk olive oil and flours-- flatbreads, and "ethnic" items. But I have to watch them too deeply. I wish it were better. I really do.
(2)Gary M.
There's a lot of good, high quality stuff at Sahara mart, but like most people, I frequented there for the booze. There is a massive wine and beer collection and they have pretty much anything American one can hope to find. (There was also a pretty extensive international collection, but I learned that through a friend, it's not necessarily my opinion.) The staff was always very helpful, and it was always easy to find another person in the store that was willing to share their opinions about which new wine to try.
(3)Nicole W.
Go into Sahara Mart with your eyes open and you'll be fine. Yes, they tend to stock and sell a lot of expired food. This is a bit sketchy. Make sure you look for the expiration date if you're concerned. On the plus side, I've gotten great deals on only-slightly-expired items here -- you just have to be diligent about checking the date. As many reviewers have noted, this place has an amazing beer and wine selection, as well as a great selection of spices and hard-to-find items in general. This is not where you come for your bread and potatoes (although you can find those things here.) The produce is not super consistent, and it's true that prices can fluctuate wildly from one visit to the next. Take it with a grain of salt. Sahara mart has its issues, but at least it's consistent in its inconsistency. I've never gotten anything that's inedible from Sahara Mart, and I've actually gotten more bad produce from Bloomingfoods. I recommend Sahara Mart for the bulk, the spices, the hard-to-find ethnic foods, the chocolate, the beer and wine. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Sara P.
As a previous reviewer noted, you go to Sahara Mart for the hard-to-find items you know you can't find elsewhere and don't mind shelling out extra money for. And, their beer and wine selection is amazing. Besides these pluses, one major issue prevents Sahara Mart from becoming my preferred grocer/co-op (well, besides the high prices): EXPIRED PRODUCTS...in produce, dry/canned foods, meats, deli items, bulk foods...everywhere. The expiration problems are especially prevelant at the newer 3rd St. location. Maybe they don't have an up-to-date inventory system for monitoring the situation, but that doesn't seem to be an excuse for the hundreds of expired products still on the shelves. What's worse is that for very, very expired products (I'm talking 6 months or more), 50% off stickers are attached when they should be pitched! I realize a lot of products are more shelf-stable than their expiration date reads and that some people may enjoy partaking in 50%-off deals for item that has been expired for 9 months (what a deal!). However, the amount/variety of food that is well past expiration is astounding and I'm surprised no one has fallen ill. I've also had a few friends warn me to verify that the organic produce sticker numbers have 5 digits, and begin with a 9. I've not had a problem with conventional fruit passed off as organic yet, but I typically avoid the produce section anyway (due to high prices). I feel bad about being so blunt since the owner and his family are so friendly and since I was so excited about the 3rd St. location's opening, but what I've described above is a major problem. Until they improve their management of inventory rotation, I'd only shop there for wine, alcohol, non-foodstuffs...and bulk smoked almonds...on 10% off Day.
(2)Pig B.
I'm in graduate school, so my diet mainly consists of large quantities of beer. In this respect, Sahara Mart is truly the one thing that Bloomington has going for it. Don't waste your time at Big Red Liqours. Sahara Mart has a laid back staff who actually know about beer - plus the prices are a lot lower. If Sahara Mart was a girl, I would totally marry her. That's how much I love you Sahara Mart!
(5)James C.
For wine and beer you probably can't do better-- 5-stars. For the rest the selection looked good but I can't say since I didn't buy anything.
(4)Michelle L.
This place is so unique and well stocked.
(5)Matt F.
I really wanted to like this place. It's a family-owned business with lots of hard to find ethnic foods, what's not to like? About a year ago, my roommate bought $3 taco shells from Sahara Mart. When he got his credit card statement a month later, he saw that Sahara Mart had billed him $103. When he went in to discuss the error with the owner, the owner would not give him a refund even though he found the purchase in his system because my roommate could not produce a receipt (who keeps receipts for $3 of taco shells??). If that wasn't enough to leave a bad taste in my mouth, the few times I've bought canned goods from the place, I've gotten home and found them to be expired (not just by a few days, we're talking YEARS). Very bizarre business practices. Don't spend your money here.
(1)E B.
I usually write abrasive and crude reviews, but for this place I'll make an exception. I wish that every town could have a Sahara Mart. Some reviews complain that this place doesn't have a great selection of produce or basic staples. Duh. That's not what Sahara Mart is for. There's a Kroger across the street, go there for your lettuce and chicken breasts. Sahara Mart stocks every spice, herbal plant, and ethnic ingredient imaginable - and for a great price. Buy your basic ingredients at the chain grocery stores, then go to Sahara Mart for all the little luxury ingredients. I'll also echo the praises of the booze selection. There is a beer/wine room organized by region (i.e. Australia, Germany, Japan, Africa, etc.). It's a great place to go grocery shopping simply for the sake of grocery shopping. You're sure to find something interesting and tasty.
(5)Dea A.
For Bloomington, this place is as good as it gets. The produce has its good and bad days... and it usually smells like hippies in here. What's the best part of this place? The cheese case and the amazing beer/wine selection. Honestly, the beer selection for local and delicious far away brews is really quite stunning. They have a little bit of everything here -- and it is starting to beat out Big Red down the block.
(4)William B.
The Sahara Mart has expanded its selection (and a new, and even bigger, store will be opening soon). It still has much of the old eclecticism, but it is becoming more and more reliable (and as Courtney notes, the same is true of their wines). The extra star is for being in Bloomington and being irreplaceable.
(5)MsAnthro P.
I generally like Sahara Mart for harder-to-find ethnic items, such as ajvar, tamarind paste and the like. Because these items are difficult to find (particularly in Southern Indiana), I'm willing to pay a little more for them. Same with the hard-to-find fruits and vegetables. Otherwise, the prices are generally too high. That said, I've found good "reduced for quick sale" deals in the dairy and freezer sections. I do like the selection of bulk nuts, grains, coffee and spices, but I agree with the person who said that sometimes the bulk stuff seems less than fresh.
(3)Jonny S.
Sahara Mart versus Bloomingfoods. That's the choice alternative shoppers have in Bloomington when Kroger or Marsh just isn't going to cut it. You really can't go wrong either way, but I personally enjoy Sahara Mart. Even at their smaller original location they've got great selection. Nutritional supplements, organic produce and dairy. Specialty foods. Local meat and dairy. Even a great beer and wine selection from around the world. I also really enjoy their bulk item where you can buy all sorts of specialty grains, nuts, and beans as well as granolas, dried fruit, etc. Their spice selection is really where they shine. Normally a place like this you're going to expect to pay more for goods (and usually you do) but they have a huge selection of various spices and blends that they must grind themselves that are super cheap, especially compared to the Chain Supermarkets. I also love their coffee and tea aisle where you can pick up all sorts of fair trade and even locally roasted blends. Their staff is very friendly and helpful too.
(4)Josh R.
Sahara Mart is appealing because it stocks some items that are difficult to find elsewhere, but every time I'm lured there the perishables are expired and the "non-perishable" items often have a layer of dust that leaves an ominous question about how perishable "non-perishable" might turn out to be. I've had a few bad experiences with giving into a temptation to try the deli foods and had my worst fears confirmed after reading about Sahara Mart's citations for keeping and selling food past the expiration date in the Herald Times. As much as I love ethnic and organic foods, trust is the key to a good ethnic or organic market and Sahara Mart has absolutely squandered all of my patience and good faith. There's no excuse for such a persistent pattern of dangerous and, frankly, dishonest practices.
(1)Daniel C.
Fantastic specialty/organic shop. Everything from chocolates to coffee and wine, cheese and local beef, chicken and vegetables. These are all great, and one could write up paragraphs detailing each, but the real reason I go there is for the beer. There is no better place in Bloomington to shop for import/micro/craft lagers and ales. You'll find substantial selections from Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, UK and the United States as well as a smattering from other European countries and Asia. They are often the only place in Bloomington to have limited releases like Stone Brewing Company's Old Guardian Barley Wine or Double Bastard. They also have a nice selection of brewery glasses at dirt-cheap prices.
(5)Colleen M.
love you for your beer selection, your wine selection, your cheese selection, your sausage and other meats selection, and your little mini pre-made stuff in the back. Great place, I love all the sahara marts for carrying stuff you can't find everywhere, and carrying quality stuff. Always pleased with my visits here.
(4)WFIU P.
Sahara Mart has an excellent selection of local and organic foods, and many items you can't find anywhere else. My favorite aspect of Sahara Mart is their huge selection of specialty tea and coffee. I also like the bins of various things that you can buy by the lb. My quarrel with Sahara Mart however, is how expensive all of their items are, the worst being produce. You can get locally grown produce at the farmer's market or local produce shacks in the summer for considerably less.
(3)Matt H.
Best prices in town, great wine, cheese, chocolate, coffee, bulk selection, good deli (stay away from their hummus, tho). I feel guilty going here because I'd like to support Bloomingfoods, but Sahara Mart makes a strong case. I've heard people complain about getting expired food here, but it has never happened to me.
(4)courtney g.
Since I live out of town, I can't really enjoy their food much, so all of these stars are for their liquor selection. I have been very impressed every time i come, and actually make a point of perusing the aisles nearly every visit to find something to take back either for myself or for friends. The prices are reasonable (especially compared to Chicago), they've got a great selection of local and regional choices, as well as a really nice variation from regions around the world. The staff have always been friendly and helpful without ever having made me feel hovered over, and I've gotten some good recommendations.
(4)Justin S.
good selection of hard to find foods, and great health & beauty section. a few of the employees are pleasant, but i always get this overwhelming sense of sketchiness... sometimes the price on something i like goes up drastically for a few weeks, and then slowly comes back down, with no logical explanation. also, i have had two bad experiences with their bulk section: one time, i was excited to find ethopian harrar coffee, which is a little rare to find and tastes amazing like berries almost. i got a pound of it (like $11!), got it home, and it tasted like folgers. no flavor, no body, totally NOT HARRAR! the second one was moths IN a bulk bin IN THE STORE! how could they not notice? gross. but, there's so many things that i get here regularly that i always end up coming back.
(2)John G.
The newly expanded Sahara Mart offers a plethora of ethnic foods that are nearly impossible to find conveniently in the midwest. The prices are very good. For instance, one US gallon of peanut oil is $10.99 while a liter is $6.99 in the local grocery stores. There are lots of bulk items, like different legumes and grains, spices and herbs, again at good prices. The dairy department has a wide variety of international cheeses and local cheeses, as well organic dairy items. Much of the produce is also organic. Prices are very good and every Tuesday is 10% off most items. Very good wine and beer section (craft brews). Large department of supplements, too. Open 365 days a year. Friendly, helpful staff. Compares favorably with Trader Joe's.
(4)