LANSDOWNE — For four decades, Travers Food Market has been more than just a place to pick up groceries. For many in the Lansdowne area, it’s a place where customers are greeted by name, homemade meals are prepared daily, and generations of families return again and again.
Owned by David and Donna Travers of Ridley Township, the market will soon celebrate its 40th anniversary, marking a milestone that reflects both family dedication and deep ties to the community.
“It’s a family food market,” David Travers said. “We’re the kind of place where you can send your child in with $5 for a loaf of bread, and you know he’ll come home with the bread and the right change.”
From Erie to Lansdowne
David Travers’ journey to Lansdowne began in the fall of 1971, when he moved from Erie. His brother and sister were living in a duplex in the borough, and the area quickly became home.
At the time, the small neighborhood market that would later bear the Travers name had already changed hands several times. It was first known as Montbard Market, and later as the Country Butcher.
Early on, Travers found work with Wawa, where he served as a market operator for Wawa Store 1 and Wawa Store 41 in Ridley Township.
But when Country Butcher went up for sale, an opportunity arose that would change his life.
His late brother Fred asked if he’d be interested in going into business together.
The two purchased the market and renamed it Travers Food Market, beginning what would become a decades-long family enterprise.
When Fred retired in 2003, Donna Travers stepped in as David’s partner. At the time, she had been a stay-at-home mother raising their three children.
David and Donna Travers, owners of Travers Food Market in Lansdowne, at their deli counter. (PEG DEGRASSA/ DAILY TIMES)
A family effort
Today, Travers Food Market at 199 Shadeland Ave., just steps away from Drexel Hill, remains very much a family operation.
Their daughter Christina serves as head chef, preparing most of the store’s homemade foods.
“She does all the cooking,” Donna said.
Another daughter, Brianna, manages the store’s advertising and marketing and multitasks in other ways.
The couple has remodeled and expanded the market several times over the years, enlarging the deli and updating the layout by converting doors to windows and windows to doors.
It’s all in the family at Travers Food Market in Lansdowne. Donna and David Travers with daughters Brianna, left, and Christina in the black shirts. Christina is the head chef at Travers and Brianna helps with the store’s marketing and advertising, and other tasks. (PEG DEGRASSA/ DAILY TIMES)
They also expanded the menu dramatically. The market offers a variety of sandwiches along with weekly specialty sandwiches created by Christina.
Their made-to-order sandwiches and platters include Hot Roast Beef, Hot Roast Pork, Meatball, Chicken Parmesan, Cheesesteaks, Reuben, Chicken Salad, Cheeseburgers, Grilled Ham and Cheese, Italian Sausage and many more. Plus, the market offers grab-and-go meals and full catering trays.
Among the hot sandwiches on Travers Food Market’s menu is The Chicken Italiano, made with homemade Chicken Cutlet, Broccoli Rabe, Roasted Red Peppers and Sharp Provolone. (PEG DEGRASSA/ DAILY TIMES)
“Everything that we make is from my mom’s recipes,” Donna said. “If you come to my house, you will eat the same food that you’re eating here.”
The store is especially known for its chicken cutlets, chicken tenders, spaghetti sauce, hoagie trays, potato salad, egg salad and chicken salad, all prepared from scratch.
“We’re very picky about our sauce and our food,” Donna added.
Nothing is frozen, the couple said. All meats and chicken are cut and prepared in the store’s kitchen.
The family has also dramatically increased their catering, supplying raved-about party trays and catering for graduations, bridal showers, First Communions, birthdays and all types of occasions.
Loyal customers
Travers Food Market has built a loyal following in the Delaware County area and beyond. People often stop in just to grab a cup of coffee and snack and talk about the day’s happenings.
“Our store has a real neighborhood feel to it,” Donna Travers said. “You don’t get that same feel in large supermarkets.”
During a typical day at the store last week, longtime customer Denise Love of Drexel Hill stopped in and shared her thoughts.
“The people are nice here. They’re always sweet,” Love shared. “They have good food, and they have the best chicken salad in the world. I never had any better. It’s to die for. And, I won’t get my lunchmeat in any other store. They have quality meats and cheeses here and they slice it perfectly.”
Many customers purchase their freshly prepared meals to take home for the week.
“There are a lot of older people and single people who come in for our prepared meals,” Donna Travers said. “Sometimes they buy a week’s worth of meals at a time.”
David Travers with the display case of grab-and-go meals that are freshly prepared for customers each day. (PEG DEGRASSA – DAILY TIMES
Despite being a small neighborhood market, the owners say they work hard to keep prices competitive with larger supermarkets.
“We’re not out there to rip people off,” David said. “We want to serve the public and make them happy.”
A workplace that feels like family
The market currently employs eight people, many of whom have long histories with the business.
One of them is Gina Herm, who has worked at Travers Food Market for more than 25 years.
Herm grew up in the neighborhood and attended Penn Wood High School, often stopping by the store with friends.
She eventually got a job there as a teenager and never left.
Travers Food Market owners David and Donna Travers with longtime employee Gina Herm of West Chester, who was a frequent customer of the store when she was a young girl living in Lansdowne. She has worked there for over 25 years. (PEG DEGRASSA – DAILY TIMES)
“The Travers are like family to me here,” Herm said. “I grew up with some of the customers, who come in here. Now they bring in their own children. I’m waiting on a second generation of customers.”
Her role varies day to day.
“I multitask,” she said. “Wherever and however they need me, I go.”
Awards and recognition
Travers Food Market has earned multiple local honors over the years.
In 2025, readers of the Delaware County Daily Times voted it the best place in the area to play the lottery. The store has produced a $1-million winning ticket along with numerous other lottery winners.
David and Donna Travers with the many signs posted after customers bought winning lottery tickets at Travers Food Market, including a million dollar lottery winner. (PEG DEGRASSA – DAILY TIMES)
The deli has also won Best of Delco awards for Best Deli, Best Chicken Salad and Best Potato Salad.
The store carries a variety of local favorites, including Dietz and Watson lunch meats, rolls and tomato pies from Corropolese, Bernie’s Pretzels, Hershey’s ice cream and Scaramuzza’s Pasta.
Many desserts are homemade in the store or supplied by neighborhood bakers. Just recently during the Easter season, Donna was swamped with orders for her homemade Easter Bread and Ricotta Pie.
Another customer favorite is Donna’s Jewish apple cake, which she prepares every Monday.
“It can’t stay on the shelf,” she said.
Breakfast and holiday traditions
Breakfast sandwiches made to order are another popular staple.
“We go through 30 pounds of bacon every single morning,” David said. “And dozens and dozens of eggs.”
During the holidays, customers can also order fresh turkeys and the Travers will bring them back from Loag’s Corner Turkey Farm in Elverson, at the northern tip of Chester County, a tradition that has become a seasonal favorite.
A community gathering spot
Over the years, the market has become a place where customers stop, not only for groceries, or to buy lottery tickets or a meal, but also for conversation.
“We’re kind of like ‘Cheers’ without the alcohol,” Donna said with a laugh. “We know everyone’s name, and if we don’t, we’ll get to know you.”
That community connection became especially clear during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were swamped,” Donna recalled. “People didn’t want to go to big supermarkets. They wanted to come somewhere small where they could get in and out safely.”
Even customers who move away from the Lansdowne area often return.
“When people move away,” David said, “they often come back to visit, because they miss us. We’re a unique market in the neighborhood and they know we will make them anything that they want.”
Celebrating 40 years
Travers Food Market will mark its 40th anniversary on May 22.
Since they don’t want their anniversary festivities to interfere with Memorial Day, the family will celebrate the 40th milestone, with a community celebration, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 6.
The event will include food samples, vendor giveaways and prizes. Everyone in the community is invited to join the celebration.
“We’ve been very blessed,” Donna said. “The community has always supported us.”
Travers Food Market
• Travers Food Market is at 199 Shadeland Ave., Lansdowne.
• Hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday; 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
• For more information, call the Market at 610-626-6330 or email traversfoodmarket@yahoo.com.