The BTC Old-Fashioned Grocery
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The BTC Old-Fashioned Grocery
The B.T.C. was the daydream of Alexe van Beuren, a Virginian transplant to the small town of Water Valley, Mississippi. Inspired by the possibilities of the historic brick building her husband, Kagan Coughlin, had bought and single-handedly rescued, Alexe decided to combine her love of food, story, and place into a store like no other.

A place where women in church hats and men off of trucks would mingle and where there's a playhouse just for children. Dixie Grimes, an Oxford Mississippi Chef, became part of the B.T.C. in 2011. After building a following for her lunch offerings, Dixie became a partner in the B.T.C. in 2015, moving the Dixie Belle Cafe up front and cooking wildly inventive lunch specials along with Southern staples.
Reviews (23)
Jodi Chase
Jodi Chase
Sep 03, 2021
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What a friendly authentic atmosphere! Wonderful finds and the sandwiches hit the spot!
Joe McLellan
Joe McLellan
Aug 21, 2021
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Great lunch place with excellent service! Good foods that taste good! Large variety of items on the menu. Very reasonable pricing?
Alexis B.
Alexis B.
Apr 28, 2021
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IYKYK -- The BTC is the heart and soul of this town! I come here every time I visit my mom & it keeps getting better and better.

Their lunch sandwiches are DELISH!!! And so are their breakfasts, so when they offer that you should go (but you probably already do :) This time we had the Traveler of the Valley sando, The turkstrami rueben, and of course fries with that dipping sauce! All excellent.

Not only is their food yum yum yum, but their whole shop and offerings have a soul and spirit that make every item even more special.
Scott Parkhurst
Scott Parkhurst
Apr 25, 2021
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Absolutely love this place. COVID consistent and friendly. Alexe always makes you feel at home, and part of the family. From restaurant to groceries, everything is fresh and wonderful.
Fernae Ellard
Fernae Ellard
Mar 30, 2021
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The BTC is a wonderful place! Great locally-sourced groceries, the staff work hard to bring in variety while supporting the community. Dixie's cooking is top-notch, the portions are always huge, and I love the fun flavor twists on southern classics!
Mk Spencer
Mk Spencer
Nov 20, 2020
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This place is an hour away from me and always on my list whenever I go to Water Valley. Excellent carryout meals, the best local groceries & a mini antique / cool stuff spot, too. A real gem and absolutely worth the trip!
B. Had
B. Had
Sep 11, 2020
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Very cool place with great atmosphere. Food is great, as is the chef and staff. Fresh produce, jams, jellies, etc.
DobsonPartyof
DobsonPartyof
Sep 11, 2020
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This shop was on my bucket list for a long time. Spent a day driving out of the way and stayed in a local Airbnb just to see it. I talked about it so much made my kids sick. My husband and I love old architecture and redevelopment of old buildings so we were really inspired by their documentary they were apart of. So excited to finally visit before Christmas but sad to see the famous little diner closed and the shop just about shut down and depressing. Lady at the counter which appeared to be the owner was not very welcoming nor friendly. Didn’t say much. Very strange stuffy cold vibe. Couldn’t
Emma Nation
Emma Nation
Dec 16, 2019
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Awesome burger. Service was warm and friendly. Nice selection of locally sourced grocery items and some antique shopping. Also free book swap. Wonderful small town vibes.
Erin L.
Erin L.
Oct 10, 2019
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This was SUCH a pleasure to find! I loved my autumn salad, it was full of rich ingredients that complimented each other well. I am charmed by the atmosphere here and will be back often to enjoy lunch!
Jessica H.
Jessica H.
Jul 17, 2019
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If anyone rates the BTC lower than 5 stars, they are liars of the worst variety! Every dish that Dixie and her kitchen staff serve is delicious! There are so few stores like this left, and it's a true gem! Most of the products are locally sourced or grown so it's grocery shopping you can feel good about (while also filling your belly). My only qualm is that they are only open a few days a week, but everyone needs a break! BTC is a true treasure, not just for Water Valley, but for all of Mississippi!
Andrew M.
Andrew M.
Jun 15, 2019
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Absolutely fantastic food served in a very interesting building in a historic town. This place has an interesting dynamic with a restaurant, grocery, and thrift store all in the same building. I ate a half order of the "Big Momma's House" (cornbread pancake and country ham served over grits and hash browns) and had a nice fluffy pancake on the side. It was absolutely delicious, and I will definitely be coming back soon. After our meal, we had a great time walking through the downtown of Water Valley on a sunny Saturday morning.
Cady P.
Cady P.
Mar 06, 2019
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This is water valley's gem. Located about 20 mins from oxford, it's worth the drive. All the the sandwiches are incredible! Seriously, try them all! There's guaranteed to be something everyone loves. Their fries and onion rings are tasty and go great with a sauce they have. Don't forget to get a slice of pie or cake!
Kirk M.
Kirk M.
Apr 26, 2018
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I had a very tasty sandwich here today. My background is that I grew up in New Orleans, lived in Nashville over 20 years and Portland, Oregon for 4 years. So, I've been around some good food.

The turkey sandwich I had today would have gotten a maximum score in all of those urban centers, as it was fantastic

I love what they are doing with this market, and it's obviously a labor of love. They are doing a great job, and I hope the community supports them, as they deserve success in this endeavor.
Deidre K.
Deidre K.
Apr 08, 2018
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Alexe and crew have this mastered! Everything is even better than we'd hoped it would be. Thanks for an awesome experience in Water Valley!
Sharon K.
Sharon K.
Oct 24, 2017
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Fried bologna sandwich was amazing. A must to try. The Dustin Rosie sandwich is a fried chicken sandwich also a must. Onion rings must get full basket to share.
Matt H.
Matt H.
Oct 21, 2017
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What a great place. Big Momma House and The Finley Monkey. Gotta stop and meet the locals.
Reed Nolin
Reed Nolin
Sep 09, 2017
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A really neat place, extensive food menu, prepared there, or take some with you, and cook it yourself.
Lauren S.
Lauren S.
Jan 27, 2017
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Delicious, every bit of it. I've tried almost every menu item from Dixie's Cafe, and everything is cooked to perfection. The menu changes seasonally if I understand correctly. The BTC grocery offers local and seasonal groceries and other items.

Beware of the desserts. They're unbelievable. May I suggest the cheesecake and chocolate pie.

We also love their subscription box, picked up on Thursdays, which is stocked with special items to cook with...last box included things like local eggs, dairy, mushrooms, greens, casseroles, etc. changes weekly.
Peter G.
Peter G.
Jan 17, 2017
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Old-Fashion indeed! Great selection of local beers AND BBQ Sauces plus an amazing food spot for lunch. Bottomline: If you're in Water Valley, stop in and check the place out. The atmosphere is awesome and you'll definitely find some great items to take home.
Craig M.
Craig M.
Jul 11, 2016
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It's a good spot for breakfast! went there as a family before we departed to come back to Colorado and it was a great experience. The pancakes were phenomenal and the service was great. Highly recommend.
Lindsey K.
Lindsey K.
Sep 12, 2014
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A charming and unexpected restaurant and grocery in downtown Water Valley. As a resident of Oxford, MS, I would love to have something like this. Much of the produce is local, and the prices are very reasonable. Baked goods are delicious, there's even a meat and cheese fridge case. Also frozen casseroles and hormone-free, happy pork products. There's also a nice selection of local beers (what little we have), grains, dried fruits, and healing oils from MS folks.

Breakfast is excellent (although 8-10 on weekends, so wake up early) and again, priced affordable for poor graduate students
Nancy L.
Nancy L.
Dec 31, 2013
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Truly loved this place - lots of interesting items, case full of pre-made casseroles, a very charming and pretty little store with an eatery at the back and a great deli case. The sandwiches were yummy, and the hoop cheese I bought didn't last long. If I lived closer, I'd be a regular.