From the ceiling hang beautiful chandeliers and lining the walls are dozens of fine art paintings by Thomas Arvid. The air smells of freshly baked cookies and savory meatballs and marinara. Friendly staff members greet customers and offer advice on proper food preparation or the perfect sauce and wine pairings. Walking through Market 30A at the Crossings in Inlet Beach is an experience all its own. One would never guess from the ambiance that this upscale grocery’s focus is Gulf-fresh fish and high-end meats, in fact at Market 30A, the white glove shopping experience is part of what makes it one-of-a-kind.
“It’s different from any seafood market you have ever been in,” said Market 30A Owner Pamela Wellborn. “The concept is to have everything imaginable to make breakfast, lunch and dinner, a little bit of everything but with a big focus on the local fish, quality meats and cheeses and the essential proteins to make dinner.”
Now in their eighth year of business, Pamela said the idea for the store came to her while traveling. Avid boaters, Pamela and her husband Tim would often shop in fine grocery stores in places such as Naples and Key West, but she was not able to find a similar shopping experience at home in 30A.
“There wasn’t really anything like that in our area in 2016,” Pamela said. “There were other seafood purveyors, but nothing that carried wine, cheeses and other meats. Now I see it as a win-win for me as I am often inspired by ingredients, menus and shops when I travel. I see ingredients in other places and I wonder if I can get that special ingredient for our store.”
Pamela said her travel inspiration coupled with customer requests has caused the inventory at Market 30A to grow quite a bit over the years. In addition to an impressive wine selection, fresh Gulf seafood, quality meats and cheeses, the market also offers custom made steamer platters, house-made sides and sauces, a huge selection of olive oils and spices and all the quality dry goods necessary to fill a pantry.
“When you are shopping, you are hunting for the freshest ingredients,” Pamela said. “The fresher the ingredients the healthier and more appealing your food will be for you and your guests. My motto is ‘It’s only going to be good if it’s fantastic and fresh.’”
Everything at Market 30A is high quality, including the staff. Pamela is a certified Sommelier and Chef Alan Balthazar oversees all the cooking and training of food handling on site. Pamela said one aspect that makes Market 30A stand out is the dedication of her staff to excellent customer service. Recently, a customer called Pamela to thank her for having such a knowledgeable staff.
“The woman had bought scallops for dinner, and she said it was the first time she asked the best way to prepare it. Our staff gave her the specific oil to use, the suggested temperature, and even tips on how to season it. She said she never received cooking instructions for scallops that actually worked. She and her husband were so happy, and they had a delicious dinner, not only because of the quality of the product but because the instructions for the preparations were spot on.”
In addition to the fine selection of food, Market 30A also boasts a large selection of fine wine, craft beer and top shelf liquor. In 2019, Market 30A acquired a liquor license and became one of very few grocers in the 30A area to offer the ability to sip and shop.
"It was a big deal, we were one of the first in the area to get that going," Pamela said. "We have a huge selection of spirits both domestic and international, a good craft beer selection and the wine selection is one of the best because I am able to have allocations that aren’t available at other stores. We have a temperature controlled area for the rare and allocated wines; Worthy of anyone's wine cellar or wine collection."
Being part of the 30A community is important to Pamela as she said she loves seeing her work positively impact the area. Whether it be a happy customer returning for more ingredients or a new customer searching for the perfect wine pairing, Pamela wants Market 30A to be a welcoming and upscale place for everyone.
“I love what I’m doing right now, it’s fun work for me. It really does make me happy to be part of a business where people are going home with a quality product," she said. "As a sponsor of Destin Charity Wine Auction, Emerald Lagasse Foundation, Symphonia Gulf Coast and Alaqua Animal Rescue, we have stepped up to be good custodians of our community to help make our community a better place.”
“It makes me happy to be part of a business where people are going home with a quality product."
“My motto is, ‘It’s only going to be good if it is fantastic and fresh.’”
30A Wild Mushroom Sauce
Ingredients:
1/2 stick butter
2 sliced bacon minced
1 shallot, minced
1 package of exotic mushrooms
1 cup water
1 cup red wine
1 and 1/2 package of More than Gourmet Veal Demi Glacé
Directions:
Cook bacon and set aside. Add butter to bacon drippings and sauce shallot. Add demi glacé, water and wine. On medium heat, stir until all has dissolved then add mushrooms. Reduce down and add water if necessary until the mushrooms are tender. Serve with any game or sliced meat and vegetables. Enjoy with those you love!
Market 30A Deli Selections:
Take a look inside the deli case at Market 30A. Enjoy a selection of chef prepared steakhouse sides such as creamed spinach, twice baked potato casserole, sweet potato and green bean casseroles, lobster mac & cheese, roasted fingerling potatoes, potato salad, cole slaw, cucumber salad, green bean and bacon, pasta salad and other seasonal selections.
Pack to Go!
Another amazing perk of shopping at Market 30A is the option to have items packed to travel. The grocery store is stocked with custom coolers and ice, and can pack any item for a car drive home, or even a flight. Gulf Seafood and Halpern’s Prime Meats are even available for shipping straight to your doorstep. Ask about packing options next time you visit!