How you can help keep our store healthy

Our deepest thanks… and how you can help.


Thank you to Tamara Shopsin for her illustrations to support the safety of retail workers!

Keeping safe to keep you fed.

We are so grateful for the response we’ve received to our pick-up and delivery services, along with all of the in-store safety measures we’ve put in place. These changes pose a real challenge to our business, and we’re glad to hear you appreciate our efforts. We know it is an adjustment, but thank you for meeting us there.

Listening to stories from around the country, we realize how fortunate we are to work where we do. Reports from the field make grocery shopping out to be a nerve-wracking errand: aisles filled with crowds of hapless customers and empty of the products we want. Where other stores have empty shelves, our small size has meant we can pivot and respond to demand to keep staples (flour, beans, yeast…) and specialties (tinned fish, chocolates, flavorful condiments) in stock. Sure, we’re not pouring wine or serving up afternoon cheese boards, but we have bountiful produce because of Rubinette’s deep relationships with local farmers, artisan bread from the ovens of Little T, seasonal bouquets of local flowers by Hilary Horvath, fresh seafood thanks to TwoXSea’s dedicated fishers, and sustainable meats direct from the butchers at Revel Meat Co.

And we’ve maintained this level of “normal” by changing what it means to do business as usual. We’ve reduced hours to allow more time for safe stocking and cleaning, limited store capacity to provide actual space for social distancing, and helped a growing number of you transition to curbside pickup and delivery. NPR recently queried experts on the best “safe shopping” practices and they offer some advice for how you can help us to keep our store healthy:

“Look for a grocery store that limits the number of shoppers that are allowed to go in at one time … While that might lead to a long line outside, it’s also likely to make it easier to practice social distancing inside the store.” That’s us!
“Consider wearing a mask.” On Monday, we began asking all customers to wear a facial covering. Our staff wear cloth masks, and we believe everyone can follow the CDC recommendation—a bandana, scarf, old t-shirt, pillowcase, cloth napkin, or a lovingly home-stitched mask all do the trick! But remember, masks don’t replace good distancing—please still keep 6 feet of space with others!
“Go to the store alone if you can, because bringing the whole family shopping is just going to add to crowding in the aisles.” We know social outings are rare these days, but sadly our store can’t play that role right now. Please leave children and family members at home or outside to allow us to serve more individual customers and reduce crowding in the store.
“Have a list, move through the store quickly and efficiently.” To which we’ll add: please minimize your handling of products and limit your visits to every few days or weekly—we love you, but don’t need to see you for daily drop-ins!
“Protect [cashiers] by making sure you stand 6 feet away, or as far as you can, while checking out.” We have installed plexiglass screens at our registers, but please leave some space while we ring you out!
“One simple way to stop worrying about grocery shopping and practice social distancing is online delivery.” Seriously: take advantage of our parking lot pick-up service, or home delivery if you need it!

We know that none of this is convenient, but hopefully if we all make this effort right now, we’ll hasten our return to a more sociable and pleasant way of life. In the meantime, thank you for being our partners in this!

Pick-up + Delivery

Our pick-up and delivery service helps to keep our community healthy by significantly limiting the number of people in the store. While it is a lot safer, it is also a bit slower, and our team is working hard to keep up with the growing demand. We hope that our system runs so smoothly (ha!) that you assume we have apps and algorithms and dozens of warehouse staff, but we are certainly no Amazon Fresh. While the mechanics may look different, we’re still the same store, and we’re trying to offer the same service and care for our community we always have. All of that is to say, please be patient with us. We’re working our hardest to keep you well-fed. If we make mistakes or run short of a favorite product or delay your order, we’ll make it right, but please remember the people on the other side of this who keep this all running. We’re so thankful to play a role in feeding you in these times!

Whenever possible, we ask that you please choose our curbside pick-up service to keep home delivery capacity for customers who need it most.

Pick-Up Service

Based on demand, orders are currently 24-48 hours out. We will assign a day when we confirm your order. Pick-up is available between noon and 6p, Wednesday through Monday. Because we are closed Tuesdays, please plan accordingly for delivery on Monday or Wednesday.

Minimum order is $30.
Email orders@providorefinefoods.com. You must provide a contact phone number where we can reach you for payment details and any questions that we have regarding your order. You will receive an initial email within 24 hours to confirm receipt of your order, followed by a phone call on the day of pick-up once we have begun shopping for you. We will take payment and quote a pick-up time on that call.
If you’re interested in leaving a tip for our staff, please specify a dollar amount when we call to confirm the order. It is much appreciated, but certainly not expected.
Please do not arrive at the store if you have not received a phone confirmation and please do not call to ask for updates. We have a small staff who are balancing serving customers in the store and selecting products for your order! If you have a question about your order, please reach out to us at orders@providorefinefoods.com.
When you’ve arrived, please call the store at 503.232.1010 in the parking lot and let us know your name and the make of your car. Leave a trunk or door open for contactless transfer of your groceries.

Delivery Service