While Tacoma is my homey, Gig Harbor will always have a place in my heart. If I didn't live in T-town, I'm pretty sure I would live across the bridge somewhere. I did occupy The Harbor once upon a time, and worked in Tacoma. There was something very special about leaving the city, crossing the bridge and leaving work behind - on the other side.

Gig Harbor is a funny little village. It's tough to get a good read on what its residents like, or better yet what they will support in the form of a retail business. Some of you know EXACTLY what I am talking about. To make it work, working from a previously successful business template can't hurt.

Clearly Harbor Greens Market based their business model after Tacoma Boys. There can be no denying it, from the hand printed signs, to the homemade store brand tortilla chips, this is Tacoma Boys with a Gig Harbor zip code. But wait, it's not ALL the same.

At Harbor Greens deli you can buy freshly sliced Serrano ham and Proscuitto by the pound. I love all the specialty salads like the Wakema Seaweed salad and the BBQ chicken salad - both awesome.  BBQ brisket anyone, just grabbed some potato buns and you have dinner. The twice-baked potato for $1.99 per piece was OK, but a little dry. In hindsight, I should have slathered on some sour cream.

The meat and seafood case boasts fresh burgers, steak, pork, marinated and stuffed chicken options, my favorite sweet-soy marinated ahi tuna kabobs, and lots of fresh fish. I dare anyone leave here without some sort of inspiration for dinner.

Quality fruit and vegetables are meticulously displayed, but you'll pay the price for them. Not too many deals, but some of their vendors are local, and as I have mentioned before, please support your local farmers. Speaking of not local, I can't seem to stop buying Muscat grapes. They are amazingly delicious. Also, I discovered a great deal on lemon juice, 32-ounce bottle for only $2.

HG boasts a varied and easy to shop wine department. The mark up on their wine is reasonable and they especially like to feature affordably priced wines in large displays. Someone is looking for the deals. The beer selection is nowhere near the range of Tacoma Boys, but maybe that just isn't their market. You will find brands like Stone, Pike, Dog Fish and New Belgium. I can live with those.

Unlike Tacoma Boys, Harbor Greens has a better dairy section, complete with several types of yogurt, milk, eggs and other miscellaneous vitamin D foods. And what goes better with dairy than condiments? Probably everything else, but I needed a tie in for this paragraph. Yes, they have a LOT. Even Fat Bastard Hawgwash BBQ Sauce complete with a small bar of soap. Marketing genius.

I am sure Harbor Greens doesn't appreciate me continually comparing them to Tacoma Boys, but it's really hard not to. Bonus to HB - like, H & L Meat Produce, T-Boys sister store, they are a bit more user friendly to the shopper. There seems to be less "stuff."

If I lived back in Gig Harbor, I would shop Harbor Greens. I thrive on quality and an enjoyable grocery-shopping atmosphere. You'll find it in spades here.

Harbor Greens Market

5225 Olympic Dr., Gig Harbor
253.851.7911, www.harborgreensmarket.com