The Busy Bee Mercantile

So thankful to have a local and black owned grocery store in the neighborhood! The Busy Bee stocks a great variety of produce and herbs and spices (not a full fledged grocery store.) They also have great fresh food made to order. I tried the 3rd eye chakra pasta which was so tasty (just not a huge serving.) The hibiscus lemonade is delicious and I want to try Taco Tuesday soon!

The Busy Bee is an oasis in a food desert. Combination grocery store and cafe. We were delighted to find locally grow produce, special teas, smoothies, gourmet goods and gift baskets. The staff was super helpful and friendly.

Love this little vegan cafe and mini market! The food is amazing, the chefs are so friendly and personable. There's always seems to be something interesting to find that you can't find elsewhere. I live in Fort Walton Beach, but I will drive to Pensacola just for this place.
Let me not forget, they also have weekly prepared meal options you can order online... so good!
Vegan food, smoothies, lemonades, teas, desserts.....All made in house.
Fresh market items, jams, local honey, dry good options and other neat and interesting items.
Personal story, I contacted the chef and asked if she could make vegan lasagna, she said she hadn't attempted it before. Long story short... she produced two vegan lasagna options, one with beyond meat and one with veggies.... let me tell you.... Both were Absolutely amazing and a hit with my other veggie and vegan friends and even meat eaters who tried it.
I think it may occasionally be on their menu.

If you are vegan, you must check this place out. And even if you aren't vegan, you will be pleasantly surprised!

Best vegan meals in town. You will usually get full before you finish the whole meal. Prices are far better than any other vegan place in town since Chizuko. Some of the vegan places with scalp you for inhouse products while Busy Bee really seems to be paying attention to what people can afford. The owner also works really close with minorities and under privileged people in our community. So happy I finally have a place I can afford to eat at and actually enjoy with my many dietary restrictions.

This place is so unique and their food is great! Excellent prices on their produce too. I got the daily special that was carrots, balsamic cabbage steak and rice. Upon first glance, I was worried it would be plain, but it was sooo flavorful and fresh. I also got the throat chakra pasta which the ingredient combo sounded odd but oh my it was delish. Lastly, they had a lavender hibiscus limeade that was so refreshing. A perfect combo of sweet and tangy. Overall I highly recommend. This is a delicious spot that has great vegan and omnivore options.

The food here is AMAZING! Huge portions and very reasonable prices. We had the Ribz Platter and Asian Chikn Nachos, WOW!!! DELICIOUS!!! Blueberry lemonade and Hibiscus Berry smoothies are the bomb. EOTL may be the OG around here but Busy Bee is our new favorite, we can't wait to go back!

So thankful to have a vegan restaurant in our community… it just so happens that this is top tier delicious vegan food! Incredible cakes (the chocolate cake is the best I’ve ever had in my life), amazing soul food (try the platter), and very friendly staff. My ONLY down comment is the collard greens are much too salty but I eat them anyways. Lol. I eat at Busy Bee at least once a week! Go try something today!!!

The food here is amazing! I didn't even know this place existed, and my friend went in while I was next door getting some stuff.

Amazing produce with other handmade goods. I ended up buying a veggie pesto wrap (vegan) and some pickled cabbage. Cloud nine! It was so flavorful and fresh!

While I don't go out to this side of Pensacola often (I live in Perdido Key.), I'll definitely make a stop by here when I do head out that way again!

Keep being amazing, Busy Bee!

I have had the chance to stop by this wonderful spot twice now. Each time I’ve found delicious vegan lunch options - with unique beverage selections. For example- the prickly pear lemonade is absolutely perfect for the summer.
Additionally, rich vegan desserts are available and have yet to fall short of amazing. (Banana pudding, cupcakes, etc.)
The small batch soaps, prints, and other artisan goods displayed are also beautiful and wonderful choices for gifting season.
The Busy Bee Mercantile provides a wonderful spot for delicious, health-oriented, and affordable food!

These pasta bowls are great and fresh she made the pasta bowl right when I ordered it. Love the taste. The blueberry Basile lemonade is so good. Will definitely be getting their lemonade regularly. She even refilled it for me while I waited for the pasta bowl. They are so sweet in there. Also have great hand painted pots some with plants in them which have a note attached to them for you to read. Other pots are empty. We bough a bar of soap which smells really good can't wait for my boyfriend to use it. Also got some garlic pickles. I'll be also stopping here to get my garlic to it looks so fresh and Metter then what you buy from the store. Oh and they have spices in bags so you can grab and go with those.

This place has great food for their pasta, smoothies(super filling), tacos, meat less protein options are great. They have something different each day they are open. Ohhh and their meal prep(5dish great for lunch or dinner) are amazing. I am about done with my meals for the fist week and the taste is just amazing. Way better then grabbing something grease.

AWESOME and then some. Excellent vegan food at an affordable price with outstanding portions. So good! We will be back next time we are in town. Until then we will be jealous of the locals who have such a great business and restaurant to frequent.

I’ve been meaning to come here for a while, but I was never in the area. I’m glad I finally did! The Buffalo tacos were too good, and I’m not even a vegan. The ONLY thing that would’ve made them better is a thin slice of avocado. I cannot wait to go back!

First time here. Wife and I had the brisket nachos and it was delicious and the service was so friendly can't wait to try the other vegan items on the menu. definitely worth the drive from crestview.

Always amazing atmosphere, staff, and quality of food. The amount of daily vegan and vegetarian options they have available is spectacular! Oh my, you can never go wrong with the smoothie if the day!

A black-owned grocery store with locally grown produce, wraps, tacos, iced teas, AND CHOCOLATE + peace, kindness, and good music??? Yes please ma’am, may I have some more 🤩🥺💕 I will be getting my fruit and veggies from here from now until forever. Thanks for creating this bastion of hope 🥰🙏🏾 After leaving the store my soul feels happy and nourished.

Ashe ✊🏿

I'm from the south and we do collards. We do them often and I'd say mine are the best I've ever eaten. However, Bust Bee really stuck their foot in the collards here!!!! They were perfect! Amazing even!

Bittersweet post, since I am just now discovering this spot in 2022. Where have I been?! Sweet part, I will be visiting the cafe from here on out. The food at the cafe is so delicious and I’m ready to work my way through the menu.

I found this place through Asher and Bee and I love the food. I go by at least once every two weeks (gotta control my spending that way). The pastas, the plants, the specials, the atmosphere. It's a vibe for me

Absolutely amazing vegan food. The buffalo wings and bbq brisket were so good. Staff was amazing as well. Will definitely be back soon!