Way back in 1971 when Jimmy Buffett first came to Key West, the Fleming Street grocery store Fausto’s Food Palace had been around almost fifty years.
As Buffett absorbed the everyday life of his adopted tropical island, he discovered where the locals went for groceries and a morning after cure.
In Buffett’s 1976 album “Havana Daydreamin'” with the song “My head hurts my feet stink and I don’t love Jesus” chronicling the morning after a particular Key West party night and supplies needed to recover from a crushing hangover, including orange juice, something for his aching head and chocolate milk.
Buffett immortalized Fausto’s with one line in the song:
“I’m going down to Fausto’s to get some chocolate milk”.
During one of Buffett’s concert tours, he even turned his stage into a larger than life Fausto’s used as a backdrop.
For Parrot Heads it’s a real accessible piece of the Key West that Buffett knew as Fausto’s celebrates their 100 year anniversary.
This historic locally owned and family run store now has two locations, the original on Fleming Street and the other on White Street, serving writers, artists, housewives, husbands, children’s locals and visitors.
Fausto’s advertised itself as “not just a grocery store, but a social center”.
It brought together sailors, writers, bartenders, fishermen, politicians, longtime, families and newcomers.
If you want that Old Town charm non-chain feel with a friendly and helpful staff, this is the place.
Easily the best butcher counter on the island with hand cutting steaks, preparing fresh sausages and fresh seafood.
They know to stock extra chocolate milk for Parrot Heads recreating Buffett’s famous morning after errand too.
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