Himalayan Stores

Wow! It has been a long time since my original review shortly after the opening. I went back last week and was truly wowed! Firstly, don’t let the name fool you. Himalayan does not nearly encompass all that they have. They have Eastern European items galore, tons of Indian stuff, and a good bit of Turkish items as well. The selection here is insane. There are tons of brands, tons of item variety, and the scope is just massive. You can find cheeses and yogurts, global pickles, dirt spices of all kinds (including Szechuan peppercorns), flours in all types and varieties, beans and lentils of all kinds, and the candy, omg, the candy.
So the candy needs a whole new paragraph. That’s just how serious this thing is. Let me just tell you, Valentine’s Day is Sunday, and you need not go anywhere else. Go get your girl some chocolate here. Who cares which one, it’s all freakin’ amazing. The prices are the best in town, and the variety is the best as well. You can roll up to some high dollar chocolate shop, or even World Market, if you want to but you’ll pay twice as much, and you won’t even find half of the stuff you’ll find here, even if the other store has the same brands. Okay, so I’m a huge Milka chocolate fanatic. There is no better milk chocolate bar, period. Well, they have like 6 types of Milka, plus they have at least three or four varieties available in the size that’s as big as my head. The big-​as-​my-​head-​sized one is even available in my favorite, toffee and nougat with caramel *drool*. As if the Milka weren’t enough, they have Kinder. I’m shaking my head right now in case you can’t see because this is already ridiculous by now. Kinder? Yes, Kinder. You shall find various Kinder offerings, many of which I have neither seen here nor abroad, and the prices are quite reasonable. You must try the individual serving size Kinder bars in the 5 or six pack with the milk filling, SO good and perfectly portioned! There are tons of other European chocolate varieties, both Eastern and Western, from a plethora of brands in various varieties.
This store is clean and organized as well. Best of all, the prices are clearly marked and easy to spot. This is a rarity in the international market world. There’s no strange market smell here either. Anyway, I shop for weird varieties of spices, beans, lentils, and gluten-​free flours all over this town, and this place has the best prices, and some of the best variety as well. If you are gluten-​free or trying to use flours with a lower glycemic index, you can find tons of options here. If you like heirloom lentils and beans and such, this is your place too. If you like trying randomness that you’ve never had before, this is your spot. If you are a fanatic for quality jam and preserves, come on down. I mean, I am trying to figure out why you haven’t come yet. I just don’t get it.

They have some of my Favorite candy’s: Flying Chimp Fuel! Two kinds five ways! Found a flavor I had never seen nor heard of before! On the outside it looks like it used to be a convenience Store, now it is a Convenient International Food Market! The Owner was Friendly and quick to help, offering to order anything we wanted!

Don’t let the outside fool you. It may seem a little scetchy but the staff were very friendly and helpful. It is a small store, but with a good selection. They didn’t have exactly what we were looking for but the owner was willing to order it for us, even though we didn’t live in the area. Prices are reasonable, and the quality seems good. Everything we bought was good! When back in the Richmond area, we will be stopping in!

I have been here a couple of times to find goods that are not available at the big box markets. Himalayan stores is more of a small scale grocer that has a selection of goods that you would not always find at the semi-​small cultural specific markets.
Whether you are looking for Indian or Bulgarian food items, chances are you might find some of the items you need in this store. I wish the layout here was more organized though as it can be hard to find the prices for specific items.