Fruit Stand @ South End Avenue

Very convenient location for people who live along South End Ave. I order most of my groceries from Fresh Direct, but I’m a little old school when it comes to picking out my fruit. I want to actually be able to see the fruit that I am buying and choose for myself.
With this stand open I can’t comprehend why anybody would buy fruit from Gristedes since this stand is just about half price on every item I’ve looked at.

With JJ’s corner deli suddenly going out of business last month, the arrival of this fruit stand turned out to be very timely. It definitely fills a need in the neighborhood since Gristedes tends to be overpriced, and it’s a lot more convenient than trekking to the Whole Foods in Tribeca. It’s a wonder, too, that their prices are comparable to Chinatown.
There is a rotating cast of fruits (and some veggies) on the roster, but bananas are a mainstay due to their high popularity. The bananas are usually sold out by the evening, so be sure to stock up when you can! The fruit, in general, is very fresh and the guys will allow you to have a taste if you’re skeptical about the sweetness or quality. They obviously stand behind their product, and you gotta respect that.
This fruit stand is open 24 hours, which is another major bonus in this neighborhood. So you can get your fruit fix any time, day or night. And the guys are all really friendly and helpful. They’ll even be honest with you when they know the mangoes or avocadoes aren’t quite ripe yet. That’s good business, and I’m happy to have them in the neighborhood.
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Update 11.19.09: Okay, so they’re not exactly there ²⁴⁄₇. Depending on weather and other factors unbeknownst to me, the fruit stand is sometimes missing from the corner. (My fiancé’s theory is that they close on the Muslim holy days.) So don’t be disappointed if you sometimes can’t get your banana fix from them.