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A little something special; Downtown Fayetteville’s first micro grocery and corner store now open

By Faith Hatton, posted Dec 19, 2025 on BizFayetteville.com

Downtown Fayetteville now has its first chef-driven grocery and corner store in Market Square. 

Market Square Pantry is a new community minded market, offering things like seasonal fresh produce, easy grab snacks, fresh bakery items and other food and drink options. 

Market Square Pantry, located at 23 Market Square, is the third business opened by serial entrepreneurs Staci and Brian Graybill.

Market Square Pantry, located at 23 Market Square, is the third business opened by serial entrepreneurs Staci and Brian Graybill. The power couple also own Pan, an award winning specialty sandwich shop also located in downtown Fayetteville and Napkins Restaurant, an eatery located in Hope Mills, N.C. on site at Dirtbag Ales Brewery & Taproom. 

Owners surprised the community with a spur of the moment opening on Thursday, Dec. 18. They shared that after facing some delays throughout the year, it was time to open their doors. 

They shared that the market is a new concept to both of them and will be something that they learn to run and grow together. 

“You’re always nervous trying to open a new business and making sure everything's perfect and just the way you want it. But it's not going to be. We won't know until we know,” shared Brian. “You can't do that until you’ve opened up and actually talked to people so we can find out what they really actually want and what downtown needs.” 

“We wanted to do something together. I was always helping him with the restaurants, but that was him. I know nothing about restaurants,” shared Staci. “So this is like our baby, and so we're just really excited to do it together.” 

Brian shared that the market will be driven by community feedback, selecting offerings by learning what their customers want and by finding cool and unique products to bring to Fayetteville. While not entirely locally sourced, the market does feature inventory specifically sourced from small businesses. 

“This is going to be evolving as we go. We're probably only at 70% stock right now because we wanted to leave some room for finding out what we actually wanted. If five people in a row tell us we should have this, well, okay, we will. That's the whole point,” shared Brian. “We're more focused on quality, and the adventure of finding something familiar, but something just different enough that it's interesting to you.” 

Along with the store, Market Square Pantry also features an apothecary lab where Staci makes small-batch botanical goods using dried flowers, herbs and magnesium, rooted in simple, feel-good rituals.

Along with the store, Market Square Pantry also features an apothecary lab where Staci makes small-batch botanical goods using dried flowers, herbs and magnesium, rooted in simple, feel-good rituals.

“It all started with my love of flowers and a refusal to waste them, which led me down a very natural, hippie-ish path of learning herbalism and all the beautiful ways plants can be used. Everything I create is meant to feel grounding, intentional and a little magical—wellness that’s easy, soulful and approachable,” shared Staci. 

The store will be open for limited hours for their soft opening week between Dec. 18 and Christmas Eve and will switch to their regular operating hours of Wednesday- Sunday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. in 2026. 

Learn more about the store and keep up with updates on their Facebook page here. 

Market Square Pantry is a new community minded market, offering things like seasonal fresh produce, easy grab snacks, fresh bakery items and other food and drink options. 

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