Meet Littleton’s: the newest market that boasts a French shopping experience
Imagine a place where you can sip on a glass of wine while shopping for your next dinner recipe; a place where you feel truly inspired by the food and ingredients that surround you when you walk in. This concept is not just a dream anymore to the people of Columbus. Littleton’s Market, located at Tremont Center in the former Huffman’s Market, opened in early December, with tremendous love and support from the community.
But Littleton’s is not just about the wine – nor is it just a specialty grocer or farmers market. The best way that Sam Harris, General Manager of Littleton’s, described it as “a chef’s pantry for everyone that walks in — customers and employees.”
A culinary haven to all who enter, Littleton’s Market offers a unique shopping experience for all. With a focus on community integration and feedback, Littleton’s is committed to providing kitchen staples and specialty products alike, while celebrating the rich culinary heritage of the region.
At the helm of Littleton’s is Sam Harris, a fourth-generation restauranter and artisan producer with a passion for preserving and innovating culinary traditions. Sam met Rob Littleton and Alan Scantland, co-founders of the new market, in downtown Manhattan just a few short years ago and never looked back. The two shared with Sam the project that they were working on in Upper Arlington. Sam knew he had to be a part of it, so he picked up his family and headed to Columbus.
While the concept may feel new to Columbus shoppers, the heart of Littleton’s is the traditional marketplace.
“We wanted to bring an old-school mentality to the market,” Harris explained. “We started to look backward in order to move forward. Working with over 150 small, local vendors instead of one or two large distributors, requires our team to be on standby during the day, so they can answer questions, calls and meet small vendors for deliveries.”
“It’s a very French shopping experience,” Harris said. “We wanted people to shop with us for the specialties and essentials. We wanted them to come in to gather ingredients for one recipe, and then come back for more days later, focusing on seasonality—a chef’s mentality.”
Chris Dillman, sommelier and Director of Beer and Wine at Littleton’s, built the wine program from the ground up. His prized possession, 900-plus bottles of imported wines, is a sight in itself the moment you walk in the doors. Dillman is on the floor at all times, giving guests the opportunity for retail discussions to utilize his expertise.
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The in-store café sits in the midst of the wine selection, and guests can grab a bottle from the shelf to enjoy there in Littleton’s. From seasonal specials like short rib and smoked salmon, to a rotational menu that will change weekly, designed by Culinary Director (and recent Chopped champion) Alexia Osburn, the café aims to inspire customers on what they can do in their own kitchen.
Local pastry legend, Aaron Clouse, joins Littleton’s as their Executive Pastry Chef, where he and the team are launching a new space where he can excel in what he does best. The bakery will launch with eight specialty pastries, inspired by New York City, France and more.
“It’s amazing to see the depth of which each of these individual categories evolved (re: the wine program, pastry department, cafe),” said Harris. “This is a special place where culinary creatives can work together and build something really special.”
One of the core values of the Littleton’s team is their respect for food and how perishable it can be. The team is partnered with Ohio Food Rescue to provide them with any food waste at the end of the day, ensuring customers that the freshest ingredients are used in-house. They have also teamed up with the Upper Arlington Civic Association, Common Greens Farmers Market, Upper Arlington Education Foundation and local schools and libraries.
“Our vision for Littleton’s Market is to connect us to the food we eat through a joyful experience,” said Rob Littleton. “We want to stay true to our goal of showcasing incredible ingredients, sourced responsibly, that people can feel good about sharing with their families. The markets that have occupied our space for the last 70 years have always been known for their commitment to the community, and we are honored to continue that legacy.”
Take a trip to Littleton’s Market, located at 2140 Tremont Center in Upper Arlington, OH. Learn more about their specialty goods at littletonsmarket.com.
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