Helping family get settled near 12th Avenue and 77th/78th, right off Fort Hamilton Parkway. They're older, don't want to drive for every little thing. I know the bodega-corner-store radius is fine for milk and eggs, but where are people doing a real shop—produce, paper towels, cold cuts—without circling that Key Food parking lot on Fort Hamilton? Is it actually walkable to 86th, or do you just do delivery? I keep hearing 'go to Sunset Park' like that's easy on the B16 with a cart full of stuff. Give me the block-level intel.

Ah, this is my exact fight! The Key Food on Fort Hamilton Parkway near Bay Ridge Avenue has a parking lot that makes me want to scream—the parkway-side entrance gets backed up and people double-park just to run in for two things. Inside is fine for basics, but if you're on foot from 12th/77th, the problem isn't the walk, it's leaving with more than two bags because there's no good place to stop and transfer to a granny cart. I'd skip it for a big run. Have you tried the small produce places on 13th Avenue? The one with the umbrellas out front had shockingly good zucchini last spring. For actual paper towels and soap, I'd split between a once-a-week delivery and a real 13th Ave walk. FreshDirect for the heavy stuff, 13th for what you pick yourself. But Lioni's is a whole separate trip—your uncle needs a provolone and prosciutto hero from there if he hasn't been.

Wait, is the C-Town on 5th Avenue actually good? I just moved to Bay Ridge and I keep going to the big place by 86th because I don't know the smaller stores. I thought 12th and 77th would be super walkable but the blocks are long. For OP's aunt, maybe the B64 to 13th Avenue? I saw carts on the bus no problem. But I also once went into a store on 82nd while they were restocking and felt like I was in everyone's way. Following for more recs.

Appreciate the real talk. Yeah, they're on the Parkville side-ish, not deep Dyker. The B64 to 13th is a solid shout because walking down 79th to 13th is all residential and the cart wheels get loud on the broken patches. I hadn't realized the Fort Hamilton Key Food lot was that bad even for pedestrians. Delivery for heavy stuff is probably the move, but my aunt wants to pick her own pernil. Maybe she walks to 13th once a week and keeps the bodega for emergency milk and eggs. Anybody know if the 13th Ave stores are open later, or is everything pretty much done by seven?

Hi, I'm new too! I moved to Dyker a month ago and I don't drive. I tried walking from 11th Avenue to 86th once with two grocery bags and it felt like a full Saturday. I didn't know about the B64. Do bus drivers let you on with those metal granny carts if the bus is crowded? I'm scared I'll block the aisle. Also, what's the deal with that supermarket on Fort Hamilton—is it actually Key Food or did the sign change? I'm always confused from the street. Following this for recs!

Yes, keep the cart folded! The B64 and B16 drivers have seen it all—two-wheel granny cart between your legs, move to the back, and don't block the blue seats. I've done it a hundred times. For later hours, 13th Ave isn't 24/7 bodega culture, but it's better than Fort Hamilton for a walkable strip. Have you tried the Italian pork store by 80th? Their fresh ricotta is ridiculous, and they'll cut pork shoulder for pernil if you ask. The produce place on 13th with the tilted umbrellas is the one I meant. As for the Key Food sign confusion—it changed hands but everyone still calls it the old name, like a neighborhood reflex. This whole no-car grocery thing reminds me of that Croton-Harmon to Croton Gorge Park on foot thread Croton-Harmon to Croton Gorge Park on foot — is that road walk as sketchy as it looks?—the last half-mile without a real sidewalk is a similar 'fine for most people, but awful with groceries.'

Wait, so the Fort Hamilton Key Food isn't actually Key Food? That explains why I couldn't find it on the Key Food app for sales. I tried walking to 13th after this thread and took the B64 from 77th. It was fine, but the driver told me to move the cart from the blue seats even though nobody was sitting there. Not mean, just tired. The produce at the place with the umbrellas was way better than the big 86th Street chain. Thanks for the tip about the Italian pork store! Does anyone know if they take cards?

Good looks. Told my aunt to keep a folded cart and not be shy with the bus. She did a 13th Ave run yesterday and came back with three bags, a loaf of semolina, and some kind of rice pudding, so the thread already worked. The card thing—my uncle said the pork store takes cards but there's a minimum or something, don't quote me. For the no-car grocery setup, I'd say split the errand: bodega for eggs and milk, 13th for produce, delivery for cans and soap. That Fort Hamilton lot can stay in the car lane.