Charlie & Liz’s Self Serve Fruit Mart

Nice market near the hostels! The apples aren’t fresh though and the prices are a little high. Staff is friendly!

I often walk past this fruit and veg shop and whether I need anything or not, my eyes linger on the beautiful displays of fruit stacked up on the footpath. My legs keep going but my head and neck kind of lag behind, the voice in my head saying, «Maybe I NEED some of those mangoes or perhaps a pineapple.»
Whilst this is a nice little fruit and veg shop with temptingly displayed produce, I’d never do all my fruit and veg shopping here as it’s too small and too expensive. I try to do a bulk shop on the weekend at either The Gabba Fruit Market or the Davies Park Markets, where you really get value for money, but if I forget something, I’d much rather pop into Charlie & Liz’s than go to Coles. It’s a handy little store, in the middle of Boundary Street, the produce is good and supporting small businesses is always good.

Upon discovering Charlie & Liz’s, I’ve decided I would happily catch the bus from New Farm to West End every week to buy fruit and veg in order to stick the finger to the corporate grocery giants. You might ask why I would go this effort? Well, I’ll tell you.
At this «Self Serve Fruit Mart» the produce is fresher, the prices are lower and service is friendlier than any Coles/​Woolworths experience I’ve had. Not only that, but the produce is all seasonal and chances are the farmer who grew it is benefitting much more from the stock sold.
I am a HUGE believer in supporting local business, so if you’re in, around or even ever in West End, I would highly recommend you pick up your weeks groceries from somewhere like Charlie & Liz’s Self Serve Fruit Mart. Not only will you save money, but what you spend will be feeding the local economy and helping more locals out.

Compared to the monolithic corporate baddie that is Coles
local grocers are positively saint like.
And why not?
The produce is usually heavenly, not overly coated in pesticides
and is not snap frozen like some fruits I have encountered.
(IM LOOKING AT YOU SUSPICIOUS PEARS FROM COLES.)
This store is handily located on Boundary st and has saved my butt numerous times.
(Mainly in the I «reaaaally need an apple man» hangover scenarios.)
The store doesn’t have the largest range in the world,
but they do have the basics all brilliantly arranged
with fruits up the front and business (Vegetables) at the back.
The staff are a bit gruff but friendly
and they offer free deliveries for locals.
If you need to top up your 5+ a day or simply need some veg for dinner,
support local and pop into Self-​Serve today.

Usually, I will get my produce at one of the farmer’s markets that happen around the city on the weekend, but if I can’t, I get my fruit and veggies here. Self Serve always makes sure their shelves are full stocked, giving the alluring appearance of robust abundance. The yellow awning that hangs over the pathway helps makes things look even more attractive; the yellow light throwing off a warm glow to the produce below. They’ve got all the staples, but if you’re looking for more adventurous foods, you might fall short of finding what you want. They’ve got some pre-​packaged veggies if that’s your thing, and there’s usually a ‘cheapie’ section right near the counter. I like Self Serve because the produce always ripely gleams and glimmers at you, and quite frankly, I’d rather support a local small business than give my money to Coles.