Fresh made-to-eat lemon chicken salad containers are chilled and ready to eat at the grand opening of Ari's Pantry on Main Street in downtown Dallas, May 14, 2025. The Italian gourmet market offers pasta, charcuterie, fresh produce, cookbooks, gift baskets, coffee and gelato bars, and fresh, ready-to-eat meals.

Downtown residents and workers have a new grocery option in the heart of the city.

Fresh fruits and vegetables fill a cooler at the grand opening of Ari's Pantry on Main Street in downtown Dallas, May 14, 2025. The Italian gourmet market offers pasta, charcuterie, fresh produce, cookbooks, gift baskets, coffee and gelato bars, and fresh, ready-to-eat meals.

Ari’s Pantry, which includes an emphasis on Italian fare, opened Wednesday to the public at the intersection of Main and Ervay, across the street from Neiman Marcus. The store is the third for the market that also has locations in Oak Cliff and Trinity Groves.

Fresh made-to-eat meals fill a stand alone cooler at the grand opening of Ari's Pantry on Main Street in downtown Dallas, May 14, 2025. The Italian gourmet market offers pasta, charcuterie, fresh produce, cookbooks, gift baskets, coffee and gelato bars, and fresh, ready-to-eat meals.

Shoppers were greeted with options for blood oranges, watermelons and parmigiano reggiano cheese and much more, including some basics such as eggs and milk. There’s also a dining area and options for sandwiches, espresso and a gelato bar. Visitors can even grab a small shopping cart.

Founder Ari Lowenstein visits with downtown Dallas resident MJ Davenport during the grand opening of Ari's Pantry on Main Street in downtown Dallas, May 14, 2025. The Italian gourmet market offers pasta, charcuterie, fresh produce, cookbooks, gift baskets, coffee and gelato bars, and fresh, ready-to-eat meals.

The store is filling a key void with a new grocery store after Berkley’s Market closed a shop in the same location last year amid consolidation, leaving downtown shoppers with limited options for those looking for basic items — a key need as downtown attracts more and more residents. Ari Lowenstein, founder, said folks have been showing interest even before it opened.

Sweet Italian deli meats wrapped in butcher paper are ready to eat at the grand opening of Ari's Pantry on Main Street in downtown Dallas, May 14, 2025. The Italian gourmet market offers pasta, charcuterie, fresh produce, cookbooks, gift baskets, coffee and gelato bars, and fresh, ready-to-eat meals.

“One woman walked by and actually looked in the window yesterday and started jumping up and down with excitement,” Lowenstein said, noting the buzz around something like Ari’s Pantry for downtown.

Jars of fresh Aris tomato sauce fill the checkout shelves at the grand opening of Ari's Pantry on Main Street in downtown Dallas, May 14, 2025. The Italian gourmet market offers pasta, charcuterie, fresh produce, cookbooks, gift baskets, coffee and gelato bars, and fresh, ready-to-eat meals.

While the new store has many items, there’s room for more products — and that’s not an accident.

Lee Jamison of Oak Cliff (left) has a fun time with co-owner Amy Lowenstein (right) and Jackie Hoegger during the grand opening of Ari's Pantry on Main Street in downtown Dallas, May 14, 2025. The Italian gourmet market offers pasta, charcuterie, fresh produce, cookbooks, gift baskets, coffee and gelato bars, and fresh, ready-to-eat meals.

“I want to leave space for someone saying, ‘Hey, can you carry something?’” he said Wednesday.

An exterior view of Ari's Pantry on Main Street in downtown Dallas, May 14, 2025. The Italian gourmet market offers pasta, charcuterie, fresh produce, cookbooks, gift baskets, coffee and gelato bars, and fresh, ready-to-eat meals.

The store covers about 3,500 square feet with a large part of that devoted to the main store area for customers.

Downtown Dallas resident Loraine Martin (right) shops for fresh made, read-to-eat meals at the grand opening of Ari's Pantry on Main Street in downtown Dallas, May 14, 2025. The Italian gourmet market offers pasta, charcuterie, fresh produce, cookbooks, gift baskets, coffee and gelato bars, and fresh, ready-to-eat meals.

Lee Jamison of Oak Cliff (right) checks out at the register during the grand opening of Ari's Pantry on Main Street in downtown Dallas, May 14, 2025. The Italian gourmet market offers pasta, charcuterie, fresh produce, cookbooks, gift baskets, coffee and gelato bars, and fresh, ready-to-eat meals.

Judy Wilburn (left) and her husband Dave visit with Amy Lowestein and her cousin Justin Newman during the grand opening of Ari's Pantry on Main Street in downtown Dallas, May 14, 2025. The Italian gourmet market offers pasta, charcuterie, fresh produce, cookbooks, gift baskets, coffee and gelato bars, and fresh, ready-to-eat meals.