SC has one of most legendary grocery stores in South, according to Southern Living. Here’s why

Tucked into a triangular lot in Charleston’s South of Broad neighborhood is a little grocery store where okra soup is a staple and nearby residents get to decide what’s in stock.

It’s Burbages Grocery, an 80-year-old store that started with Al Burbage and continued with his son Robert and now is owned by Lisa and George Bowan, who call themselves the mom and pop of the mom and pop store at the corner of Broad and Savage.

And now it’s also considered one of 10 legendary grocery stores in the South by Southern Living.

Lisa Bowen said she worked at the Piggly Wiggly in high school then had a long career in retail before she and George bought Burbages in 2013.

“We wanted to save the store,” she said.

And it’s become a family affair with the Bowen’s three children, all of whom have worked there and the youngest is poised to take it over one day.

It’s not unusual to see dozens of children crowding into the store after school or neighbors coming in for a store-made tomato pie or broccoli and spinach. Hot dogs, hamburgers and some truly yummy looking sausage and egg muffins are popular.

“It’s fun,” Lisa Bowen said.

”Burbage’s is an institution,” said Alana Al-Hatlani, the food editor at Southern Living.

She called out comforting soups (including chili, Brunswick stew, and potato vichyssoise), as well as locally brewed beer, an extensive wine collection, and a full deli in the back.

“Did we mention the hot dogs and pulled pork sandwiches?” she said. “Yeah, there’s little they can’t do. At Thanksgiving, they’re even the go-to spot for ready-made sides and desserts.”

Al-Hatlani said she made the legendary grocery store list because exploring local grocery stores is one of her favorite parts of travel.

“Some of the best souvenirs come from the condiments aisle, whether I’m bringing home fancy pistachio paste from Italy or jars of chowchow from Tennessee.”

The other stores on the list are:

• Your DeKalb Farmers Market - Decatur, Georgia
• Phoenicia Specialty Foods - Houston, Texas
• Modica Market - Seaside, Florida
• Pruett’s Market - Signal Mountain, Tennessee
• Buford Highway Farmers Market - Doraville, Georgia
• The B.T.C. Old-Fashioned Grocery - Water Valley, Mississippi
• Dorignac’s Food Center - Metairie, Louisiana
• High Point Grocery - Memphis, Tennessee