Friendly Grocer
North Melbourne

In need of a boogie on a Saturday night? Then channel your inner John Travolta and swagger your way to ‘The Disco Market’ with your shopping list tucked into your sequinned flares.

Owner Rohit Malhotra gestures towards the bright lights of the Friendly Grocer in Queensberry Street and grins.

“When I renovated the store I wanted it to look fun and eye-catching. At night, the coloured lights really stand out and the locals starting calling my shop ‘The Disco Market!’”

Rohit opened Friendly Grocer North Melbourne in December 2023 after six months of careful planning and renovations. His goal was to create something special—a lively, unique place where locals could shop and feel like family.

It’s not your typical supermarket. Rohit takes pride in offering a wide range of quality products that cater to the local community's varied tastes and dietary needs, all carefully arranged in aisles marked by disco-style neon lights.

From local and international fresh produce to exotic Indian snacks sourced from his uncle's restaurant (Krishna on Barkly in West Footscray), Rohit ensures there’s something for everyone.

“Any pies or samosas are made fresh daily. Before I come to the shop in the morning, I pick them up myself,” he says. “I’m also really proud of our self-service coffee and chai machine - it’s only $1 a cup. Not everyone wants to, or can afford, to pay $5 for a coffee.”
“Another example - our milk is better than standard supermarket milk. You spend 50 cents extra, but you get proper milk. And if you want real juice, go for this,” he says, pointing to a bottle of cherry juice made locally.

His commitment to quality extends to hand-selecting the freshest produce from Epping wholesale market at 3am. The goal? To provide quality fruit and vegetables at competitive prices so locals don't have to depend on the limited hours of nearby Queen Victoria Market.

This ethos of quality and care resonates throughout the store. Whether it's the fresh produce, dairy products, or gourmet snacks, Rohit ensures every item on the shelf meets his high standards.

“I always put myself in the customer's shoes,” he says. “If something isn't good enough for me, it's not good enough for my customers.”

With nearly 8,000 items stocked, he admits it's not easy to maintain such consistency, but it's a challenge he's happy to take on.

Looking ahead, Rohit has big plans for Friendly Grocer. He's working on expanding the range of fruit and vegetables available and ensuring that everything is locally sourced and competitively priced. He also wants to build ‘The Disco Market’ into a vibrant hub where quality meets community spirit.