Ethnic food supermarkets
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Within the last few years, at least two large ethnic food markets have opened in Staten Island, one pan-Asian (HL Mart) the other Middle Eastern (Mekkah Mart).
This reflects the population changes here, with a marked influx of Chinese, Albanians and Turks. We also have a sudden explosion of Turkish restaurants.
Sociologically, this is irritating some Italian-Americans who believe this is "their" island. They have been for decades a large bloc, but their proportion is declining.
I've been to the Asian market a few times. I just discovered the Middle Eastern one yesterday; they have an amazing panoply of foods. Palestinian olive oil, in gallon tins, even! Lebanese too.
A lot of Mexicans have settled in, and they have their markets too, but they tend to be little places, nothing like the others I mentioned. The Sri Lankan population has 2 or 3 of its own small markets too, and a few restaurants.
I'm enjoying the availability of these varied foodstuffs for my cooking, even if I only understand how to use a fraction of the offerings.
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We had an H-Mart near us in CA and it was wonderful!
The food court alone!
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We have so many ethnic grocery stores.
H-Mart (several locations)
Mitsuwa - Japanese
Caputo's - Italian
Garden Fresh Market and Brookhaven Market - Eastern European
Deli4U and Montrose Market - Polish
Tony's Fresh Market - a little bit of everything
Patel Bros. - Indian and Indo-Chinese. Looks like they've gone national - look for one near you! https://www.patelbros.com/
And an outdoor Mexican market that I haven't been to, but that looks intriguing. I'm guessing @Steve-Miller would be in seventh heaven...
https://fooditor.com/most-authentic-mexican-street-food-market-chicagoland/
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Lessee, there's Costco, Safeway, Albertson's, Super1, Walmart, the locally owned supermarket, a locally owned health food store, and a Natural Grocers. Sometimes Natural Grocers has offbeat ethnic foods, and sometimes the locally owned supermarket surprises with offerings I wouldn't have expected. There are also a couple of butchers, a few bakeries, and a local farm share--though we don't partake.
And, groceries are crazy expensive out here. It's kind of like island living, except instead of needing boats to bring in our food, we need long haul truckers.
I have to order anything unusual from Amazon.