Milam's Market: Family owned, Community based

As a local food blog, MIAbites has always tried to feature locally based restaurants, chefs and events that highlight the creative and passionate food scene that makes up the vibrant Miami community.

While National chains and NYC based restaurants have “discovered” Miami as it has become one of the top 10 fastest growing cities, it is the local based places that have continued to grow and thrive because of their commitment to their community.

Milam’s Markets, a third-generation, family-owned supermarket has been serving Florida’s Miami-Dade County since 1984. Founded by Thomas “Pop” Milam and his son Allen, the business remains deeply rooted in family, with 13 members playing distinct roles across the company. Each person has their own distinct role within the business, overseeing different aspects of operations while collectively upholding Milam’s commitment to quality, service, and community.

Unlike large corporate chains, Milam’s prioritizes what customers want to buy, not what the store wants to sell. “We’re in the service industry just as much as we’re in the grocery business,” says Kristie Milam, Chief of Marketing and granddaughter of Founder Pop. “It’s about listening to our customers, knowing them by name, and making sure we offer the best selection, quality, and experience possible.” This customer-first approach has helped Milam’s grow to six locations while maintaining the warmth and attentiveness of a neighborhood market.

From USDA Prime and A5 Wagyu beef to florist-grade flowers and a carefully curated international selection—including an extensive variety of Russian specialty items in Sunny Isles—Milam’s Markets offers a high-quality, full-service shopping experience that stands apart. Their dedicated employees, some of whom. like Mayra, have been with the company for over 40 years, further reinforce their commitment to excellence.

At its core, Milam’s is more than just a grocery store—it’s a business built on relationships, trust, and an unwavering dedication to the communities it serves. Whether it’s responding personally to product requests, supporting local causes, or simply offering a warm shopping experience, the Milam family remains committed to serving Miami the way they always have—with integrity, passion, and a personal touch.

We are especially fond of Milam’s because of their support for the past three years of our nonprofit, Food Rescue US South Florida. Every week, our volunteers rescue unsold /unused food from their locations and deliver it to local shelters, food pantries and churches for distribution to those in need. By reducing food waste and feeding the local community they are also helping mitigate climate change by keeping edible food out of landfills where decomposing food produces harmful methane gas.

Our volunteer rescuers have gotten to know the receiving managers and staff who set aside the unsold items for donation and are always willing to lend a hand to help load into our vehicles. It is this personal touch that makes Milam’s a special place to shop and a special place to rescue from.

“Family and community are at the heart of everything we do. Partnering with Food Rescue US allows us to ensure that excess food from our stores goes to those who need it most, reducing waste and feeding families in our community. Through our register collection program, our customers also help make this possible—turning generous monetary donations into meals for neighbors. We are so grateful for Food Rescue’s commitment to ending hunger and truly appreciate our partnership.”, says Krisitie Milam about the non profit’s partnership. 

So, If you haven’t shopped at Milam’s, we encourage you to visit and make sure to thank them for supporting Food Rescue South Florida!

For the location nearest you, visit their website: milamsmarkets.com

And follow them on IG:instagram.com/milamsmarkets/?hl=en