Farewell toast to Lucky’s Market

Learning that the party’s over at Lucky’s Market was truly shocking.

Fans of this quirky organic grocery chain are heartbroken over the news. That’s because Lucky’s put the fun in food shopping by encouraging customers to sip craft brews or wine while strolling around the store jamming to live music or classic rock hits on the PA system. It even had its own radio station. It also had some terrific weekly specials on meats and produce.

The chain had been planning to open in Boca Raton, Cooper City, Dania Beach and Miami, among a 20-city expansion announced in 2018. No more.

After Kroger, Lucky’s primary financial backer, decided to pull its support, Lucky’s is making a last call. We fans are left crying in our $2 beers as all but one Florida store, in Melbourne, will close. But there is still a little time for a last few sip n’ strolls.

On Tuesday, Lucky’s posted a thank you note to customers on its Facebook page: “We are sad to say the rumors are true. We’re closing many of our stores and couldn’t be more upset to be leaving so many communities who have supported us for years.” Hundreds of customers showed outpouring of love and admiration.

Now, the big question is: Where the heck are we going to drink and shop for groceries while saving on meats, homemade bacon and produce?

Surprisingly, Lucky’s isn’t the only grocer that lets us belly up to the bar to make that weekly chore of food shopping more bearable.

Here are a few options to help ease you into a Lucky-less world.

Doris Italian Market & Bakery: This South Florida chain, with stores in Sunrise, Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines, Boca Raton and North Palm Beach,

is known for its specialty Italian foods and fantastic prices. Before we lost my beautiful Sicilian grandmother, I used to take her to the Sunrise store every week for fresh cannoli, Italian canned tomatoes and cheap chicken breasts.

Our store didn’t have a bar, but the one at 11239 U.S. Highway 1 in North Palm Beach does. It features help-yourself wine dispensers. Choose from 1-, 3- or 5-ounce pours into a proper stemmed glass and then start shopping. (I

highly recommend the Cannoli Cake.) Unfortunately, there are no cup holders in carts, but you can buy a clip-on Wine Hook for 9 bucks on Amazon. Hey, it will work on a beach chair, too.

While other Doris stores don’t have this amenity, they do offer frequent free wine and food tastings, as well as monthly wine nights where you can try more than 100 varieties (wow!) while feasting on a gourmet buffet and artisan cheeses for $24.95 per person. The next events will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 22 in Coral Springs and 8:30 p.m. March 7 in North Palm Beach. Sign up at DorisMarket.com or call 954-572-5269 for more info.

GreenWise Market: Publix took a page from Lucky’s playbook by adding bars to new organic markets popping up around Florida. Your first stop at the newly opened Boca Raton store should be the POUR bar. Grab one of 10 local craft beers or five wines on tap. Prices run $5 to $7. Or, opt for a kombucha (whatever that is) or nitro cold brew coffee, also on tap. Glasses conveniently fit in smart carts that also have a slot just for smartphones and hooks for

purses and packages. Tip: Hit up the cheese section for free samples of three wines on BOGO each week.

A Fort Lauderdale store with a bar will open in the fall on Las Olas Boulevard. Publix Aprons Cooking Schools also offer wine classes. A Wine & Dine: Spain event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 7 in Plantation. Cost is $50 per seat. Go to Publix.com/recipesplanning/aprons-cooking-schools to find more events.

Whole Foods Market: You can sip beer or wine and shop at several South Florida locations, including the La Rachetta Pizza, Wine & Beer Bar inside the Pompano Beach store, and the Watering Hole in Davie. There also are bars inside locations in Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines, Boca Raton and Wellington. Prices range from $3.25 to $9. Happy

hour is from 4 to 7 p.m. daily with

$2 off beers on tap and $5 wine. There are food specials, too. Bring your Wine Hook: Shopping carts don’t have cup holders. Grab a glass and you’ll be ready to snap up specials just for Prime members.

Wine aside, if you’re a big fan of bulk items at Lucky’s, Sprouts Farmers Market, Whole Foods and The Fresh Market all sell serve-yourself grains, candy and other tasty treats by the pound.

In the meantime, save at least

25 off at Lucky’s liquidation sales going on now and make one last toast to Lucky’s. We’re really going to miss you.

LUCKY’S MARKET/COURTESY Lucky’s Market posted a note on Facebook: “We are sad to say the rumors are true. We’re closing many of our stores and couldn’t be more upset to be leaving so many communities who have supported us for years.”

THE DAILY MEAL/COURTESY You can sip beer or wine and shop at several South Florida locations, including the La Rachetta Pizza Wine Bar inside the Pompano Beach store and the Watering Hole in Davie.