Island Cove Market isn’t like San Francisco’s other grocery stores. Not just because its metal awning resembles the red roof of a Pizza Hut. Nor because it shares its quiet block on Treasure Island with a company that rents out shipping containers.
Island Cove is unusual for what’s behind its doors. Which is everything, more or less, except for Broccolini. If a Costco were squeezed into a 10,000-square-foot box, it might look similar. Marinara sauce and instant noodles share an aisle with cable locks, auto duster spray and “Mulan” coloring books. There are as many flavors of Monster Energy as there are types of fruit.
The store’s organizing principle, it seems, is to stock everything a person could need. This makes sense, since Island Cove Market is the only grocery store on Treasure Island.
Feeding an island
According to Abdo Nasser, Island Cove’s owner, the store’s selection is a reflection of years of trial and error…