Christine M.
Yelp
I routinely shop at Madison's to see what is fresh, local, and in season. They seem to stick to those criteria when selecting their fruit and vegetables, so in my effort to seek this out, they certainly make it easier for me. The local (like down the street in Findlay gardens) as well as more traveled items, are usually labeled. As I am not 100% committed to eating only local, I recognize the need to bring some things in. That said, I can't recall a time when I bought something that came to me any further than Mexico (usually my avocados), which is unique in a grocery store.
Though I would definitely categorize this as a grocery store in its variety of food (fresh fruit, veg, packaged goods, sauces, stocks, dairy, cheese, eggs, etc.) sold, it doesn't have any of the overwhelming feeling of a "normal" store. An accurate description might be the EDGE of the grocery store, which is where I shop anyhow, so it works for me. Additionally, I trust that the products they carry are tried and true since they don't have room to stock many brands of one item.I also know that they are receptive to customer feedback and suggestions, which is nice to see when you need something that can be harder to find. Overall, the space is charming to me, but can get crowded.
The owners and people who work at Madison's are, perhaps, the best part of the experience (which is hard to admit when fresh food is so important to me). Mr. and Mrs. Madison are about as adorable and helpful as they come. Though I certainly don't know them personally, they have never been anything but kind, entertaining, and friendly. If they were my grandparents, I assume I'd be pretty satisfied. The other folks working in the store, as well, are always available to answer questions (off the wall and otherwise) and point me in the right direction (for a small store, I am sometimes confounded by where I would find 'x').
The items I really like at Madison's include: gelato, MadPops, seasonal fresh fruits, stocks, Snowville Creamery milk/creamer, and Grateful Grahams.
One last kudos to Madison's in their endeavor to sell fresh foods, which was pointed out to me, is that they are the only fruit/veg stand at Findlay that is also air conditioned. I had made a comment to the staff about previous experiences "shopping around" at the various stands, but seeming to come back to them because they had the least spoilage. They pointed out that this is likely an important difference in my experience; I'm sold. If something does go bad, as well, they are happy to replace it for you. Good customer service!
The entire experience at Madison's can be quick and easy- in and out- or you can take your time, browsing, chatting, and comparing notes. It's a bit of what I'd imagine "stores used to be like", and I'm happy to be a routine customer.