Most grocery stores are bright, busy, and noisy places. However, after the last customer has left and the lights are turned down low, they can become a very different and very spooky environment. The long, empty aisles and the hum of the freezers can play tricks on your mind. In many towns across America, these stores are the subject of local ghost stories. Here are five grocery stores that locals and employees swear are haunted after closing.
1. The Brookdale Lodge (Boulder Creek, California)
The historic Brookdale Lodge is one of the most famous haunted places in California. The entire lodge is said to be haunted by the ghost of a young girl who drowned on site about 30 years ago. There have been several reports of spooky behavior in and around the lodge, including at the grocery store on the property. Employees have reported seeing some spooky things, like items flying off the shelves and whispers. In a paranormal subreddit, one person said they visited the location and was able to take some photos through a window, although the old lodge location is shut down. Many people in the comments exclaimed that they could see a girl in the photo. The Redditor also said, “The spooky thing is that a few years ago a boy almost drowned in the same river and he said that he played with a small girl prior to being ‘pinned down’ in the river.” What do you think? Haunted or just a way to get lodgers in the door?
2. The Market Basket in Wilmington, MA
This specific Market Basket is a hotbed of local legend. It was built on the land of the 18th-century “Poutshoppe Plantation.” According to the lore, a woman named Sarah was murdered on the property in the 1700s. Employees and shoppers have reported seeing the apparition of a woman in a white dress. They also report hearing strange noises and feeling an eerie presence long after the store has closed for the night.
Christiana Bush, an employee at the Market Basket, spoke to TODAY back in 2019, saying she saw the woman herself. “I was in the bakery working and I was writing on a cake for a customer,” she told the publication. “And when I turned around to bring the cake back to the counter, I saw the lady in the background — she was staring right at me. I looked down for a second because it didn’t register and when I looked back she was gone.”
3. The “Ghost-Town” Grocer (Bodie, California)
This is a grocery store that is permanently “closed.” The general store in the ghost town of Bodie, California, has been perfectly preserved as it was in the 19th century. The shelves are still stocked with the original, dusty products. Visitors and park rangers have reported seeing the ghost of the former owner. They claim that he is still dutifully standing behind the counter and watching over his old shop.
You can still visit this ghost town, but it’s best to go with a guide. Also, according to legend, you shouldn’t take any “souvenirs” from Bodie. If you take something from the abandoned town, it is said you’ll die. Several people on Reddit shared near-misses after grabbing a screw or something small from Bodie.
4. A Historic Market in New Orleans (New Orleans, Louisiana)
New Orleans is one of the most haunted places in the United States. The city is over 300 years old, and with its rich history, there are a number of ghost stories. One place that is said to be very haunted is the Omni Royal. Although this is a hotel now, it sits on what used to be a slave market. While many accounts talk about a ghost maid wandering throughout the hotel, others have said that they have heard disembodied moans all around the property.
That isn’t the only ghost story you’ll find in New Orleans, though. This Reddit post from a NOLA reporter who specializes in the paranormal and downright creepy answered some questions. Some of the tales he told were absolutely spine-chilling.
5. Gebo’s (Farm & Ranch Store) in Amarillo, TX
Once a grocery store, Gebo’s is now a farm and ranch store. Its location on I-40 East in Amarillo is famously haunted. In the early 1980s, there was an incident with an employee who was stabbed to death in the store. Shortly after the employee’s death, strange things started happening in the store. Employees report seeing shadowy figures after hours. They also hear disembodied voices and whispers. Objects like tools and boxes have reportedly moved on their own, and when employees open in the morning, they might see things spilled on the floor. As a result, it is nearly impossible to hire night stockers.
The Night Shift
The grocery store is a place of bright lights and busy shoppers. However, it is also a place with a high turnover of employees who work long, late hours. This makes it a perfect breeding ground for local legends and for spooky ghost stories. While many of these tales are likely just the product of an overactive imagination, they are a fun and very creepy part of our modern folklore. They are a reminder that any place can feel haunted when you are all alone in the dark.
Does your local grocery store have a ghost story? Have you ever had a spooky or an unexplained experience while shopping late at night? Let us know in the comments!
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