When it comes to trying new, exciting cuisine, few foods hit the spot like a deliciously fresh Mediterranean meal. However, we know that it can be very difficult to find authentic Mediterranean grocery wholesalers in Virginia Beach, VA. Having lived in metro Atlanta for years, we realized that our customers needed an easy way to find quality wholesale Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food in bulk. That is why we created Nazareth Grocery Mediterranean Market - to give everyone a chance to enjoy tasty, healthy food, desserts, and authentic Mediterranean gifts at wholesale prices.
Founded in 2009, Nazareth Grocery has become one of Virginia Beach's leading international wholesale grocery stores. We are very proud to serve our customers and do everything in our power to give them the largest selection of high-quality wholesale goods available.
If you're looking for the freshest, most delicious Middle Eastern wholesale products and ingredients, you will find them here at the best prices in the state. We encourage you to swing by our store in Marietta to see our selection for yourself. We think that you will be impressed!
At Nazareth Grocery Mediterranean Market, our mission is simple: bring you and your family the largest selection of wholesale Mediterranean products in Virginia Beach. When coupled with our helpful, friendly staff and authentic Middle Eastern atmosphere, it's easy to see why we are the top Middle Eastern grocery wholesaler in Virginia Beach, VA. We're proud to carry just about every kind of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern product that you can think of, from prepared meals and hookahs to fine seasonings and sweets. We're here for our customers and want each one of them to have a unique, one-of-a-kind experience when they shop with us.
Our loyal customers love our selection of the following wholesale foods and gifts:
There is so much more to Mediterranean food than pizza and pasta. The perfect climate combined with delicious foods and amazing wine makes the Mediterranean incredibly irresistible. That's why our customers absolutely love to buy this kind of cuisine in bulk. Every country in this region has its own set of specialties and delicacies, each with its own flavors and styles of preparation.
Mediterranean countries include:
So, when it comes to the most popular wholesale Mediterranean products in Virginia Beach,
what are we talking about?
Feta cheese is a classic Mediterranean dairy product that is often enjoyed on its own, in Greek salads, on bread, or mixed with zucchini. Depending on where the feta is sourced and produced, the cheese can be made from cow, sheep, or goat milk, or even a combination of the three. Regardless of the animal it comes from, this delicious cheese is a crowd favorite.
This Levantine dish is one of the most well-known Mediterranean dishes to eat in the United States. It typically comes in the form of a dip, served with pita or another kind of dipping bread. Commonly served before dinner as an appetizer of sorts, it usually features tahini, eggplant, garlic, spices, and sometimes yogurt. This tasty cuisine works great as a spread on a sandwich, or you can even eat it with a spoon, all on its own.
If you have never tried authentic baklava before, get ready to have your mind blown. This dessert is a traditional Mediterranean food that will have your taste buds craving more and more. Once you open a box of baklava from our Mediterranean grocery wholesaler in Virginia Beach, VA, you won't want to stop eating! Baklava is made with layers of thin filo dough, which is layered together, filled with chopped nuts (think pistachios), and sealed with honey or syrup. Baklava is so good that its origins are debated, leaving many wondering which country invented the dessert. Everyone from the Turks to the Greeks and even Middle Easterners hold unique takes on baklava. Try each one to discover your favorite!
Fresh, healthy, aromatic, rich: it's no wonder that the popularity of Middle Eastern cuisine and products has skyrocketed in the United States. This genre of cuisine features a large variety of foods, from Halvah to Labneh. If there were one common theme throughout all Middle Eastern food, it would be the bright, vibrant herbs and spices that are used. These flavorings help create rich, complex flavors that foodies fawn over. Typically, Middle Eastern food is piled high for all to eat, with enough food for an entire republic to put down.
This refreshing, healthy dish is chock-full of greens, herbs, tomatoes, and bulgur (or cracked wheat), creating a memorable, bold flavor. This dish may be eaten on its own or paired with a shawarma sandwich or helping of falafel. It's best to buy your ingredients in bulk to make this dish because it tastes best freshly made with family around to enjoy. Just be sure to bring a toothpick to the tabbouleh party - you're almost certain to have some leafy greens stuck in your teeth after eating.
We mentioned shawarma above, and for good reason - this dish is enjoyed by men and women around the world, and of course, right here in the U.S. Except for falafel, this might be the most popular Middle Eastern food item in history. Shawarma is kind of like a Greek gyro, with slow-roasted meat stuffed in laffa with veggies and sauce. The blend of spices and the smoky meat mix together to create a tangy, meaty flavor that you will want to keep eating for hours. For western-style shawarma, try using beef or chicken. For a more traditional meal, try using lamb from our Middle Eastern grocery distributor in Virginia Beach, VA.
Traditionally used as a dip meant for fresh pita, hummus is a combo of chickpeas, garlic, and tahini, blended together until silky, smooth, and creamy. You can find hummus in just about any appetizer section of a Middle Eastern restaurant menu. That's because it's considered a staple of Middle Eastern food that can be enjoyed by itself, as a spread, or with fresh-baked pita bread. Hummus is also very healthy, making it a no-brainer purchase from our grocery store.
If there's one diet that is most well-known for its health benefits, it has got to be the Mediterranean diet. In 2019, U.S. News & World Report listed the Mediterranean diet as No. 1 on its best over diet list. This incredible diet has been cited to help with weight loss, brain health, heart health, diabetes prevention, and cancer prevention.
Whether you already love Mediterranean food or you're looking to make some positive changes in your life, this "diet" is for you. Eating cuisine like Greek food, Persian food, Turkish food, and Italian food is healthy and tastes great. Even better than that? At Nazareth Wholesale Grocery, we have many staples of the Mediterranean diet for sale in bulk so that you can stock up on your favorites at the best prices around.
So, what exactly is the Mediterranean diet?
It is a way of eating that incorporates traditional Greek, Italian, and other Mediterranean cultures' foods. These foods are often plant-based and make up the foundation of the diet, along with olive oil. Fish, seafood, dairy, and poultry are also included in moderation. Red meat and sweets are only eaten in moderation, not in abundance. Mediterranean food includes many forms of nuts, fruits, vegetables, fish, seeds, and more. Of course, you can find at them all at our wholesale Mediterranean grocery store!
Here are just a few of the many benefits of eating a healthy Mediterranean diet:
Many studies have been conducted on this diet, many of which report that Mediterranean food is excellent for your heart. Some of the most promising evidence comes from a randomized clinical trial published in 2013. For about five years, researchers followed 7,000 men and women around the country of Spain. These people had type 2 diabetes or were at a high risk for cardiovascular disease. Participants in the study who ate an unrestricted Mediterranean diet with nuts and extra-virgin olive oil were shown to have a 30% lower risk of heart events.
In addition to the heart-healthy benefits of a Mediterranean diet, studies have shown that eating healthy Mediterranean and Middle Eastern foods can reduce the chances of stroke in women. The study was conducted in the U.K., which included women between the ages of 40 and 77. Women who stuck to the Mediterranean diet showed a lower risk of having a stroke - especially women who were at high risk of having one.
First and foremost, purchase your Mediterranean and Middle Eastern wholesale foods from Nazareth Grocery - we're always updating our inventory! Getting started on this healthy, delicious diet is easy.
1.
Instead of unhealthy sweets like candy and ice cream, try eating fresh fruit instead. It's refreshing, tasty, and often packed with great vitamins and nutrients.
2.
Try eating fish twice a week, in lieu of red meat. Fish is much healthier and doesn't have the unfortunate side effects of red meat, like inflammation.
3.
Try planning out your meals using beans, whole grains, and veggies. Don't start with meats and sweets.
4.
They're tasty, but try to avoid processed foods completely.
5.
Instead of using butter to flavor your food, use extra virgin olive oil instead. Olive oil contains healthy fats and tastes great too.
6.
Try to get more exercise and get out of the house. The Mediterranean lifestyle is an active one, best enjoyed in the beautiful sunshine when possible.
Buying wholesale and retail are quite different. When you buy products from a wholesaler, you're essentially buying from the middleman between a retail establishment and the manufacturer. Wholesale purchases are almost always made in bulk. Because of that, buyers pay a discounted price. That's great for normal buyers and great for business owners, who can sell those products to profit. This higher price is called the retail price, and it is what traditional customers pay when they enter a retail store.
Free EstimateVIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Hope for Life Rescue, located in the Hilltop area, is an animal rescue facility that is currently over capacity.This is not due to an influx of strays, but rather an increase in previous adoptions being returned.In the last two months, the organization has been asked to take back 15 animals that were adopted over the last few years.Pauline Cushman, founder of Hope for Life Rescue, stated, "We have no space here, and every foster home we have is full."For nearly 25 years, Cushm...
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Hope for Life Rescue, located in the Hilltop area, is an animal rescue facility that is currently over capacity.
This is not due to an influx of strays, but rather an increase in previous adoptions being returned.
In the last two months, the organization has been asked to take back 15 animals that were adopted over the last few years.
Pauline Cushman, founder of Hope for Life Rescue, stated, "We have no space here, and every foster home we have is full."
For nearly 25 years, Cushman has dedicated herself to saving the lives of animals through her nonprofit organization, Hope for Life Rescue. The organization aims to rescue strays, find foster families, and secure forever homes for these furry companions.
The group plans to open an expansion to their facility soon. However, even with the additional space, they are still over capacity. Cushman explained that many of the returns are dogs adopted years ago.
She said the facility will take the animal back however, she's reminding those looking to adopt about the importance of considering this decision as adding a member of your family.
Cushman emphasized the need for future pet owners to plan for life's changes.
"You may have a baby, or you may have to move across the country, but try to plan for things that are just normal life events and include that pet," she added.
Hope for Life offers various ways to assess if an animal is the right fit before adopting.
This includes their fostering program and a "puppy sleepover" event, allowing prospective adopters to take home a puppy for one or two nights to see if they are a good match.
Currently, the organization is processing even more applications for foster homes due to the number of animals being returned.
If you are looking to adopt or foster, click here.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Changes are coming for the Virginia Standard of Learning (SOL) tests, and the move is getting mixed reactions.Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, SOL tests will count for 10% of the final grade for students in grades 7 through 12. Currently, these assessments do not impact student grades.Parents, including Harley Columbus-Boyd of Virginia Beach, are expressing concerns about this significant change. Her 7th grade daughter has ADHD and has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) designed for tho...
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Changes are coming for the Virginia Standard of Learning (SOL) tests, and the move is getting mixed reactions.
Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, SOL tests will count for 10% of the final grade for students in grades 7 through 12. Currently, these assessments do not impact student grades.
Parents, including Harley Columbus-Boyd of Virginia Beach, are expressing concerns about this significant change. Her 7th grade daughter has ADHD and has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) designed for those with unique learning needs. The mother said the expectations have changed over the years.
“It almost seems they’re prepping the entire school year for a test that didn’t count, but now it’s going to count 10% of their grade, and I’m like, ‘Ya’ll are doing a lot of back and forth, shuffle, shuffle.’” She added, “I’m not saying it’s an easy problem to solve, but I don’t think making it 10% of their grade is going to make them more likely to actually want to try and do it.”
The shift to incorporate SOL scores into final grades is part of a bipartisan effort aimed at improving test results across the Commonwealth.
In addition to the grading change, adjustments will include the introduction of a 100-point scoring system, replacing the current 600-point system. Also, the SOLs will be administered during the final two weeks of the school year, rather than over a span of 5 to 6 weeks.
According to the Virginia Department of Education, SOL tests measure students' success in meeting the Board of Education’s expectations for learning and achievement.
Heather Sipe is the president of the Virginia Beach Education Association. She has mixed feelings about the changes, but isn’t a fan of having 10% of the SOL score go toward the student’s final grade in that class.
Sipe stated, “It’s a standardized test, and we don’t have standardized students. We are taught to differentiate to our students needs and throughout the entire year to offer different learning experiences… Many of us give free response in ways that the kids can actually show what they know outside of straight multiple choice or standardized type tests.”
Online, some parents expressed concerns about opting out and retakes.
Sipe said she’s glad teachers have time to decipher the changes and inform students.
“It’s going to take us the summer to digest and process, and then that’s when we’ll probably really get the thoughts and feelings of the impact of this,” she said.
Christy McAnally is a former Virginia Beach City Public Schools teacher, now working in North Carolina schools. She sent News 3 the following statement.
“Not every student is a good test taker, and there are other ways students show mastery of the standards. It would penalize those students to attach SOL scores to their grade. Re-testing students just places added stress on children who were feeling anxious to the SOL to begin with. In my opinion, teachers feel the pressure and end up teaching to the test. We need to do away with all this unnecessary testing, especially for elementary children.”
Former VB School Board member, Vicky Manning weighed in, writing:
"I see both sides on this issue. While I wish we could go back to traditional exams as measures of student knowledge--will school leaders actually enforce these? If we are going to have SOLs, then maybe they should actually mean something. Right now, it seems the system is flawed with requiring students to retake tests to memorize the material so the school gets credit. It seems the new model will at least prohibit or severely limit retakes and possibly take up less instructional time. I do like the scoring change to 100."
For more information on the legislation, click here.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Meals in Virginia Beach are getting a little more expensive. While it may not seem like a big increase, businesses News 3 talked with said it could have a big impact.One of those businesses is The Stockpot, located just a few blocks from the Virginia Beach oceanfront. Co-owner Amber Kostka smiled as she worked, despite being frustrated about the meal tax increase.Watch: ...
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Meals in Virginia Beach are getting a little more expensive. While it may not seem like a big increase, businesses News 3 talked with said it could have a big impact.
One of those businesses is The Stockpot, located just a few blocks from the Virginia Beach oceanfront. Co-owner Amber Kostka smiled as she worked, despite being frustrated about the meal tax increase.
Watch: Meals tax, boat registration fee, library cuts included in approved Virginia Beach budget
“Our industry is continuously looked at, not just here in Virginia Beach, but across the state, to kind of make up budgetary shortfalls," said Kostka.
On May 13, Virginia Beach City Council approved the budget for fiscal year 2026 in a 10-1 vote. The budget includes increasing the city’s meals tax from 5.5 percent to six percent starting July 1.
“We net three to five percent on a good year here at our location, so that means at the end of the day, the city’s making more money off the restaurant than we are. So it’s really something to think about in terms of what is a recipe for success. Right now, I don’t feel like we are coming up with that," Kostka said.
Watch: Virginia Beach restaurants feeling impact of egg price increases
News 3 went to the oceanfront to talk to others about their thoughts on the tax increase.
"Oh, yes. Definitely," tourist Carina Potts responded when asked if a meals tax increase woulds make her consider eating out less. "Because I like to take my daughter to eat out. As a single mom with limited income on VA disability, that would definitely limit our ability to eat out.”
Like Kostka, she wondered why the money can’t come from somewhere else.
“I feel like there’s property taxes, there’s things like that," said Potts.
Watch: Will politics keep Canadians away from Virginia Beach? The local tourism industry hopes not
Another Virginia Beach restaurant owner News 3 talked with who didn’t want to be identified said they don’t understand why the tax was even considered. They believe it’s bad advertisement for the city.
The city estimates the meals tax overall will bring in $111 million for the city, an increase of more than 14 percent from the current fiscal year.
“We have a lot of benefits that we offer to our staff, like health insurance, a 401K, paid time off. Things you can get at a normal job. My goal is to continue to expand those benefits, but if I can’t get enough business, how can I do that?" said Kostka.
The tax increase is expected to pay for projects to boost tourism and preserve outdoor spaces.
The school board voted 6 – 5 in favor of keeping the suspension, which was the second vote that failed to pause the suspension in one week.VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Beach School Board met for the third time on Tuesday to determine their stance on diversity, equity and inclusion in the school division.The school board voted 6-5 in favor of keeping the suspension of DEI initiatives in schools....
The school board voted 6 – 5 in favor of keeping the suspension, which was the second vote that failed to pause the suspension in one week.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Beach School Board met for the third time on Tuesday to determine their stance on diversity, equity and inclusion in the school division.
The school board voted 6-5 in favor of keeping the suspension of DEI initiatives in schools.
Back in April, the school board voted on a resolution to suspend DEI to comply with an executive order made by President Donald Trump.
Then, the board hosted a special meeting on May 6 to reconsider their vote on the school division’s stance on DEI, with a proposed pause on the suspension.
During that special meeting the board ultimately tied with a 5-5 vote, as one school board member was not in attendance.
Virginia code 22.1-75 states when there is a tie vote and not all school board members are present, there must be a re-vote at the next school board meeting, which was Tuesday night.
Tuesday’s meeting featured several Virginia Beach community members sharing their opinions on whether they were in favor of a pause or in favor of a suspension of DEI.
“These decisions and gutted policies are heartbreaking as a teacher,” said one Virginia Beach City Public Schools teacher in favor of a pause of the suspension.
“Equity and equality are two different things,” one man in favor of the suspension said to 13News Now. "I'm all for equal opportunity, which is enshrined in the Constitution, but equal outcome, which is what equity is, is not enshrined in the Constitution."
One of the reasons the school board originally created the May 6 special meeting was due to several court cases across the United States challenging the legitimacy of the executive order.
“The school board hasn’t been clear on what they’re getting rid of … they haven’t given clear guidance on what will be affected,” one student told 13News Now.
During the meeting, there was more insight to what will change under the suspension of DEI in Virginia Beach City Public Schools.
Proposed modifications include removing words like "diverse" from the school division’s compass, and replacing it with the phrase “a wide range.” Changes to the compass could also include removing the phrase “equity emphasis.”
It is still unclear what programs in the schools could be affected.
The school board will meet again on May 27 to vote whether to adopt the proposed changes.
A new strawberry festival kicks off at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront this weekend with music, contests, and local vendors.VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A new strawberry festival is coming to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront this weekend!The first annual Strawberry Fest at the Beach will be held May 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Laskin ...
A new strawberry festival kicks off at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront this weekend with music, contests, and local vendors.
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A new strawberry festival is coming to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront this weekend!
The first annual Strawberry Fest at the Beach will be held May 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Laskin Road, near Pacific Avenue and east of the roundabout. It will feature a (strawberry) jam-packed schedule with local vendors, live music, a pie-eating contest, and much more.
Here's what to know about Strawberry Fest at the Beach:
8 a.m. - 8:50 a.m. -- Free community workout with Kayla Cason of Drip Athletic Club
9 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. -- Live Music: Take Your Pick Bluegrass Band
10 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. -- Live Music: DogJaw
12 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. -- Pie Eating Contest (featuring members of city council!)
1 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. -- Live Music: Lost Berry Pickers
3 p.m. -- Raffle Prizes
3:15 p.m. - 5 p.m. -- Live Music: BuckShot
5 p.m. - 8 p.m. Strawberry Fest After-Party at the Smartmouth Pilot House featuring the Tiki Bar Band
Other events throughout the day include face painting for kids, a chalk mural, and local vendors and artisans will be selling their work. At least 10 local farms will also be providing fresh strawberries!
Many local restaurants along Laskin Road will be serving up strawberry-themed dishes as well:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Below is a map of where the festival will be held on Saturday, May 17. Laskin Road will be closed east of the roundabout to Pacific Avenue. Arctic Avenue and Holly Road/Baltic Avenue will also be closed at the Laskin Road intersections.
Parking will be available at the 31st Street Garage event parking. The lot across from Murphy's Irish Pub at 2906 Atlantic Avenue will also be reserved for Strawberry Fest attendees, with a flat rate of $10 per car.
Credit: strawberryfestvb, arterydistrict on Instagram
Festival organizers say parking is limited, and recommend if you live in the North End or along the Oceanfront, to take a bike or golf cart to the festival.
Long-time residents may remember Virginia Beach's long-running Pungo Strawberry Festival.
This festival is all-new, but organizers say it's inspired by the Pungo festival, which has been on hiatus for the last five years. That event began in 1984 and was held every year until the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Organizers previously told 13News Now they had struggled to find a suitable venue for the Pungo festival.