Surf City IGA

Surf City IGA is the full grocery store on the island itself, so a forgotten ingredient doesn’t have to mean a trip back over the bridge in beach traffic. The Christopher family first ran a grocery in their Surf City Shopping Center in 1967 and has run the IGA since 1991, and it still feels like an old-fashioned hometown market.

• Surf City
• On the island
• Family owned
• Meat counter
• Beer & wine

What stands out

Visitors keep coming back to the same two points: it saves a drive to the mainland, and the people behind the registers are unusually friendly. The building is older and the aisles are snug, and prices run a little above the big mainland stores. Plenty of repeat guests do one big stock-up on the drive in and use the IGA for everything they run out of during the week.

What to pick up

• Steaks and cuts from the meat caseThe store runs its own weekly meat sales, and regulars praise the butcher for cutting extra steaks or special cuts on request.
• Beer and wineA long wine aisle that includes North Carolina’s Duplin wines, plus a beer selection with NC craft brews, ciders and seltzers.
• A whole pig for a pig pickin’The store takes special orders for whole pigs, kegs and cases of a particular beer or wine, and has rented out a pig cooker. Call ahead for current details.
• Produce and beach-week basicsFruit, vegetables, snacks, drinks, grilling supplies and the everyday things you forgot to pack.
• A look in the gift shopThe family’s gift and beachwear shop sits next door, with T-shirts, souvenirs and books on local history.

Before you go

• Parking can be tight at busy times; allow a little extra time for your stop.
• Special orders such as whole pigs and kegs need notice, so call the store before your trip.

Plan your visit

• Where: 106 S. Topsail Drive, Surf City, NC 28445
• Hours: Open daily; the store’s website lists 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Confirm before late-evening runs.
• Phone: 910-328-3961
• Website: surfcityiga.com
• More nearby: grocery stores and markets near Surf City

Staying nearby? Browse our Surf City vacation rentals, all cared for by our local team.

Based on the business’s own website and social posts and on recurring themes in public reviews; checked October 2026. Hours, stock and prices change, so confirm with the store before you go.