Escalante Mercantile

Escalante Mercantile and Natural Grocery sits on Main Street in Escalante, occupying a historic settlers' home that opened as a shop in 2012. In a town with limited food options, it covers two functions that matter to travelers: a natural grocery with specialty items you won't find at the standard convenience store, and a breakfast and lunch café that turns out made-from-scratch food.

The Café

The menu leans practical but thoughtful. All sandwich breads are baked in-house using flour from Lehi Roller Mills, and the coffee is brewed Italian-style in a Moka Pot. Smoothies and iced drinks round out the drink menu. It's the kind of morning stop that works whether you're loading up before a full day in Grand Staircase or just want something better than gas station food. Hours run Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 5 PM; closed Sundays.

The Grocery Side

The Merc, as locals call it, stocks natural and organic groceries — fresh produce, meats, gourmet cheeses, milk alternatives, and gluten-free brands. It deliberately complements rather than competes with Griffin's Grocery down the street, stocking specialty items that travelers and health-conscious shoppers look for. If you're resupplying for a multi-day backpack into the Escalante canyons, this is the place to source quality food rather than grabbing whatever's leftover at the gas station.

Practical Notes

The location on West Main Street is walkable from most Escalante lodging. Plan your supply run for a weekday or Saturday morning — closed Sundays means you can't rely on it as a last-minute resupply before a Sunday departure.