Bravo Supermarkets — Local services in Ocala

We made our first visit to check out this Bravo Supermarket. We went on a weekday morning in the spring of 2024. The first impression was a acceptable clean parking lot and store frontage. As we approached the store, we were greeted with the sound of latin music being sung in Spanish. Although we do not speak Spanish, it was very welcoming compared to most grocery stores. Once inside it was apparent that Bravo caters towards Latin customers as a core customer. That is not meant in a bad way. Only that you might find a lot of the items Bravo carries, are things that may not be quite as prevalent in more main stream supermarkets. Be that as it may, Bravo still carries many common items and brands that folks from other heritages might find more common. This Bravo was smaller than a lot of supermarkets. But it is large enough to carry most of the things folks might need. I found the inside of the store to be adequately clean upon glancing around. As we walked the isles, we compared prices to the other supermarkets close by. We found the prices on average to be on the higher side of the spectrum. I’m not saying that all their prices are more expensive, only that the majority of the items that we compared prices tended to be on the higher side compared to the competition. The competition having one store slightly south on Rt200, and two others even closer, just north on Rt200. We also found that some of the products did not look or seem all that fresh. I’m not saying anything was bad. Only that some things (more towards the back of the store) didn’t seem as fresh as the same types of products at all three competing near by supermarkets. Maybe mid week isn’t the best time for freshness. All in all, we found Bravo to be a nice little supermarket. It has its good points and bad points like most stores. It may be the place to be if you’re looking for certain items or brands that may be less common in other stores. But I have to weigh that against what I found to be higher prices and questionable freshness. Either way, I think it would not hurt to check them out and decide...

As a first generation Afro-Caribbean, I love and appreciate any store that brings the flavors and atmosphere of what I consider to be home. I find it ironic that while the store has pictures and banners, welcoming other Caribbean nations (Haiti, Jamaica, Belize, Panama, Trinidad, etc), the quality of the customer services seem vary on whether Spanish is spoken or not. This feeling of "unbelongess" is, sometimes, also felt from other Spanish speaking shoppers as we've seen and experienced people being skipped in line for services, not receiving polite customer service and harsh demeanors, and a sense of unequalness as customers. It's very off putting and can detract others from shopping their because it could be deemed "a Hispanic store only", which would be super unfortunate. I give the benefit of the doubt that this is not their intention but the energy and interactions strongly gives that vibe. The only reason I gave it a two star, and not one, is because I feel that there are employees there that really try to connect and engage with all of the customers that walk through the store and make a difference. Unfortunately, there's only a small number that is observed to be that benevolent. This is not a race/culture bait review but I'm just afraid and disappointed that their lack of quality customer service and disrespect from other patrons of the store could tag it as such. Shout out to the positive employees there. I guess every nose...

One of my favorite grocery stores in the area. Prices are decent, if a little on the high end, It's clean, the workers are kind and courteous, and my god, the prepared food they serve is amazing. We make it a once a month visit just to have their Pernil, but try to go more frequently when we can. They offer some harder to find products, especially a wide variety of foreign cheeses, particularly from Hispanic countries, but candies, breads, vegetables, and fruits as well, you name it, they have it. Excellent selection, beautifully cut meats in the back, and the manager always tries to order anything he doesn't have for you if you ask. They even have a decent imported wine selection that are not products you'll find in other local stores. Definitely check this place out, you...