A grocer is someone who owns or runs a grocery store, selling food and household supplies to people in their community. Before supermarkets became common in the 1950s, most Americans bought their food from small neighborhood grocery stores run by grocers who knew their customers by name.

Over time, grocer came to specifically mean someone who sells food and everyday household items. A grocer might sell fresh vegetables, canned goods, flour, sugar, soap, and other necessities.

Today we usually call these large stores “supermarkets” or “grocery stores” rather than naming them after the grocer, but some neighborhoods still have small markets run by individual grocers. These local grocers often take pride in knowing what their regular customers like, suggesting good recipes, or setting aside special items they think someone might enjoy.

You might hear someone say they're “going to the grocer's” or “stopping by the grocer,” meaning they're going to buy groceries. The word groceries (the items you buy) comes from the same root as grocer (the person who sells them).