Fausto's Food Palace

     For a small island, we certainly have enough grocery stores. I've mentioned our two Publix stores, less than a mile away from each other on Roosevelt Boulevard. We also have a full-sized Winn-Dixie in the shopping center between the two Publix. The oldest grocery store, and certainly the most colorful in the Key West sense of the word, is Fausto's Food Palace. Just the name is very KW - it's a food palace! There are two locations - a smaller one on White Street and the larger outlet on Fleming Street. We use the White Street location most since it is a short bike ride from our house. But lately I've started visiting the Fleming Street location to rediscover some of the neat things I've been missing on my many trips to Publix. (Before we moved here, we would shop at Fausto's for supplies for our rental houses in Old Town but it's been a few years.)

     First, a bit of history. Faustino 'Fausto' Castillo came to Key West from Havana in 1910. He opened his first small grocery shop in 1926. Ten years later Fausto moved to larger quarters on Fleming Street, eventually building the current store after a fire at the first. I'm not sure when the White Street location was opened but I know it's been there for a long time. The Castillo family has always been deeply involved in many organizations in Key West, a tradition that continues to this day. The third generation of the family, Fausto's grandson, Jimmy Weekley, has worked at the stores since he was a kid. Along with running the family business, Weekley has served as Mayor of Key West. My husband knows him from Rotary, and I know his list of community service affiliations is long and impressive. We even watched him marry our friends at their wedding at Ft. Zach several years ago...justice of the peace, maybe?
     OK, now back to shopping. Fausto's has the best wine selection on the island, in my humble opinion. The department manager can be seen holding wine tastings at both locations, and she is helpful and knowledgeable. Next time I see her I will ask her name, so I can thank her again for helping me find my favorite summer wine. The Fleming Street location has a full bakery plus breads from Cole's Peace. There is a hot food station with daily specials cooked in house, including the very popular roast turkey and meatloaf. Great cheeses, antipasti items, and fancy condiments for entertaining. And they even carry Bell & Evans chicken, hormone free tenders for the kids. Your purchases will be packed up in the iconic Fausto's paper sack with handles, which is the perfect size to gather the newspapers for recycling after the groceries are put away. They will even deliver your groceries....how cool is that?