Nestled right in the center of the downtown promenade, Avila Grocery & Deli is an iconic part of Avila Beach. Established in 1920, Avila
Grocery is one of the oldest establishments on the promenade. Today, Avila Grocery continues to provide fresh food, hot and cold drinks, and general mercantile for residents and visitors alike.
Avila Grocery embodies an authentic beach town market, with rustic hardwood floors, ceiling fans, corrugated metal accents, and that rare mellow atmosphere found only in beach towns unspoiled by the winds of time. With indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the beautiful Pacific ocean, Avila Grocery is the perfect spot for a relaxing lunch, or to take a break from the hot sun and sand for a bit...
Avila Grocery & Local Photos
Avila Beach History
For thousands of years, Chumash Native American's made what is now Avila Beach their home. The Chumash were hunters, fisherman, and gatherers, utilizing all of the natural resources in the surrounding area. Using redwood-plank boats, called tomols, the Chumash traveled to and from the Channel Islands in the Pacific, where they manufactured specialized drills, stone blade tools, and beads from the island resources.
A revered Chumash story tells how the Chumash came to be on the mainland. It is said that the Channel Islands were becoming overpopulated, so the Goddess Hutash told the people that some should leave the Islands. Hutash created a rainbow bridge from the Islands to Huasna, and the Chumash made their way across to the mainland. As they crossed, some fell into the sea and transformed into dolphins. This is why the Chumash believe they are related to dolphins and whales...
10,000 years ago, the shore of the Avila Coast was at least a mile farther out than it is now. It has been said that village was, and to some still is, located where downtown Avila Beach is now...
