Beloved Miami Grocery Milam's Celebrates 4 Decades

In a city where supermarket chains prioritize efficiency over personal connection, Milam's Markets has spent four decades doing the opposite. Founded in 1984, the family-owned grocery store, now operating six locations across Miami-Dade, is a rare breed in an industry dominated by big-box retailers and delivery services.

But Milam's success isn't just about selling groceries — it's about building relationships. The company has managed to hold onto its identity as a local, family-run business while adapting to a rapidly evolving market. So what's their secret? It's a mix of old-school values, smart business decisions, and a willingness to evolve without losing sight of what made them successful in the first place.

From Tupelo to Miami: A Grocery Legacy

Milam's Markets may be a Miami staple, but its roots go all the way back to 1930s Mississippi, where Michael Gunner ran a Farm and Implement store in Tupelo — a key spot for locals to buy their groceries. His daughter Joan married Thomas "Pop" Milam, a WWII Air Corps flight officer who later built a career in the grocery industry. After working for a major food distributor for years, Pop and his son Max decided to go into business for themselves. In 1984, they opened the first Milam’s Market at the corner of Red Road and Bird Road in Miami.

From the start, their philosophy was simple: treat customers like family. It wasn’t about gimmicks or corporate strategies — it was about creating a store where people felt welcome. That focus on community has remained central to Milam’s Markets even as it has expanded across Miami-Dade.

The Family Touch in a Corporate World

Fast forward nearly 40 years, and Milam's Markets is still family-run, with 12 family members actively involved in the business. But staying independent in an industry where grocery giants rule is no small feat.

"We compete against the big chains by focusing on things they can't replicate: customer service, a welcoming atmosphere, and quality products that we personally believe in," says Kristie Milam, chief marketing officer and director of real estate.

The difference is something regulars pick up on immediately. Walk into any Milam's location, and you'll see employees greeting customers by name. Need a product they don't carry? They'll do their best to order it. That personal touch has built a loyal customer base that big chains struggle to replicate.

Milam's Does Whatever it Takes To Honor Every Single Customer Request

One of the main reasons Milam's has stayed relevant is that it knows its audience. While national chains stock their shelves based on corporate buying strategies, Milam's curates its selection with Miami customers in mind. That means an emphasis on Latin American, Caribbean, and European ingredients, a robust kosher section, and a selection of specialty products that reflect the city's diversity.

"We listen to our customers," Kristie says. "If people want more of a certain product, we try to get it. If there's a local vendor making something great, we want to support them.”

At Milam's, this isn't just talk — it's a system. Every single customer request for a new product goes directly to Kristie's dad, Max Milam, who personally reviews each one and does everything in his power to get it on the shelves. And when he succeeds, he takes it a step further: he personally contacts the customer to let them know their requested item is available. In the past year alone, this dedication has led to the addition of 800-1,000 new products, each one driven by real customer demand.

Bringing TikTok Trends to the Aisles

Milam's also keeps up with viral food trends, making sure customers can get their hands on the latest must-try items.

"If there's ever an item on TikTok, we'll try to get it," Kristie says. One recent example is Fruit Riot, a brand known for its sugar-coated frozen grapes, which gained popularity online. Another is Coconut Cult Yogurt, a probiotic-rich, small-batch yogurt that customers started requesting after it made waves on social media. "We didn’t even realize at first that these were trending online—we just kept seeing requests for them," Kristie says. "Once we got them in, they flew off the shelves."

Supporting Local, One Product at a Time

The team's hyper-local approach extends beyond just knowing what customers want — it's about actively bringing in products from the community. Milam's has built relationships with local farmers and small vendors, giving them valuable shelf space in a way that big-box retailers often don’t.

"For a lot of these small businesses, getting into a major chain is nearly impossible," Kristie explains. "The barriers are high — strict contracts, high fees, and minimum order quantities that most small vendors just can’t meet. At Milam's, we make it easy for them to get started and grow."

Thanks to this philosophy, shoppers can find items like Big Mama's Dressing, a small-batch, locally made salad dressing, and Aroa Yogurt, an artisanal brand that might have otherwise struggled to get shelf space. By making room for local products, Milam's not only offers customers high-quality, unique finds but also helps small entrepreneurs thrive in a highly competitive industry.

More Than a Job: The Employees Who Make Milam’s Feel Like Home

But it's not just customers who stick around — many of Milam's employees have been with the company for decades, some since the very first store opened in 1984. "Our employees aren’t just numbers. We know them personally," Kristie says. "We talk to them, we share stories, and we're just really blessed to have such an amazing group of people who choose to work with us because we know they have so many other options." At the original Red Road location, several employees have been there for 40 years, forming close bonds not just with the Milam family but also with the customers they see every day.

"For some, their coworkers and the customers are their friends — it's their community," Kristie explains. Some employees, including retirees, work at Milam's not just for a paycheck but because they enjoy being part of something, staying active, and connecting with people. It's that sense of belonging—of being part of a tight-knit team — that has kept so many employees around for the long haul, making Milam’s feel like more than just a grocery store.

The Future of Milam's Markets

As Milam's enters its fifth decade, the family has no plans to slow down. While they are open to expanding if the right opportunity presents itself, their main focus is on improving existing stores. That means refining their product selection, enhancing services, and continuing to put customers first. So what's the biggest challenge ahead? "Staying true to who we are while continuing to grow," Kristie says.

"It's easy to get caught up in trends, but at the end of the day, people come to Milam's because they know us. They trust us." That trust, built over decades of family-run service, is what sets Milam's Markets apart. And as Miami continues to change, one thing seems certain: Milam's isn't going anywhere.