All In One International Market in Baltimore: A Family-Run Source for West African and Caribbean Staples

All In One International Market is a single-location, independently owned grocery specializing in West African, Caribbean, and some South Asian products, stocked for both cooking-from-scratch shoppers and people maintaining diasporic food traditions. Located on Pennsylvania Avenue in West Baltimore, it operates as a full-service market rather than a specialty spice shop or import boutique, meaning you can buy fresh produce, proteins, grains, and prepared items under one roof, though inventory and availability reflect a neighborhood grocer's model rather than a supermarket's scale.

What the store actually stocks

The store carries dried goods (cassava flour, fufu powder, specialty rice varieties), fresh and frozen proteins (goat, stockfish, canned mackerel), canned vegetables and sauces (palm oil, egusi, okra), root vegetables (plantains, yams, malanga), and prepared foods made in-house or sourced locally. Shelves include brands and products you will not find at Safeway or Whole Foods: Maggi cubes, specific West African candy and snacks, and multiple varieties of jollof rice seasoning. The produce section rotates by season and supply chain; plantains and cassava root are consistent, but availability of leafy greens like bitter leaf or callaloo depends on current shipments.

Pricing and what a typical trip costs

Single items cost less than specialty import sites but more than large supermarkets. A pound of plantains runs $0.79 to $1.29 depending on ripeness. Cassava flour (a staple for fufu and cassava bread) costs $3.50 to $5.00 per pound bag. Fresh goat meat is $8.00 to $12.00 per pound. Canned mackerel and herring range from $1.50 to $3.50 per can. A basket for a single meal (proteins, starches, and prepared sides) typically runs $15 to $25. Prices shift with import costs and seasonal availability; call ahead if you are hunting for a specific item in volume.

How it compares to other Baltimore international groceries

All In One focuses on West African and Caribbean items more heavily than Lexington Market's general international vendors, which stock multiple cuisines at lower density. For Caribbean staples specifically, Caribbean Food Center (also on the East Side) carries similar produce and proteins but operates as a smaller stall rather than a full market layout. For South Asian groceries, Akhtar Market on Greenmount Avenue has greater depth and lower prices but carries minimal West African stock. All In One suits someone cooking from a single tradition or blending West African and Caribbean cuisines; it does not replace a broad multiethnic import market but beats traveling to multiple vendors for interconnected product categories.

Who shops here and who should not

Regular customers include immigrants from Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Jamaica, and Trinidad maintaining home cooking practices, Baltimore-born cooks learning family recipes, and restaurant workers sourcing specialty ingredients. The store is not a destination for convenience shopping (no extensive American packaged goods section), bulk staples at rock-bottom prices (shop a large supermarket instead), or rare, hard-to-find items you cannot source elsewhere (specialty import sites online may beat it). If your goal is one specific ingredient and you are uncertain about availability, calling ahead prevents a wasted trip.

What a first visit involves

Enter expecting a compact, densely stocked space organized by product type rather than by cuisine (frozen proteins, then canned goods, then produce). Staff know the inventory deeply and can point you toward specific brands or substitutes if an item is out. Expect to move slowly if the store is busy; it is a neighborhood destination rather than an efficient self-service operation. If you do not know what you are looking for, arrive with a recipe or dish name, and someone can likely point you toward components. Payment is cash or card (confirm card acceptance when you call).

Hours, location, and parking

All In One operates Tuesday through Sunday, typically 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., though hours fluctuate seasonally and during holidays (call to confirm before a special trip). Street parking on Pennsylvania Avenue is free but competitive during afternoon and evening hours. The store occupies a corner lot with modest foot traffic accessibility; arriving mid-morning or early afternoon reduces crowding. No website or email ordering system; phone is the fastest way to check stock or place a hold on bulk items.

All In One fills a narrow but essential role in Baltimore's food landscape, serving people who cook from diaspora rather than trend, and proving that neighborhood groceries can thrive by knowing their customers' actual needs instead of chasing broader appeal.