FAIRHOPE — Tucked away on Scenic Highway 98 is Battles Wharf Market, a quaint, nostalgic market and deli in the Point Clear area of Fairhope.

For years, the establishment was operated by the Buck family. They purchased the property in 1978 back when it was the old "Little Giant" gas station. Under their ownership, Battles Wharf Market became a local spot to grab a bite and to fill up the gas tank across the decades.

In 2025, Jennifer Blackwood, who would come for a sandwich every now and then, heard through a friend that the business was for sale. After meeting and negotiating with owner Ken Buck, Battles Wharf Market became hers, the first time Blackwood a has run a business like the market.

Despite the learning curve that came with acquiring the business, Blackwood said it has been exciting. She said she has the benefit of a great staff, which includes Shaun Stallcup, who has managed the market and deli for 20 years. Blackwood called her the brains behind helping her run the business.

Antique gas pumps are still seen out front, while inside Battles Wharf Market continues to serve breakfast and lunch, including daily specials, along with other goods available.

"You can be creative," Blackwood said. "You can take your ideas, put them in place and see how the customers respond, and making the customers feel like it's not always the same things. We're always coming up with something different."

For breakfast, they serve breakfast wraps with scrambled eggs, cheese and a choice of meat that includes bacon, grilled chicken breast, ham, smoked sausage link or sausage patties. They also offer biscuits and a Belgian waffle sausage patty sandwich.

For lunch, Battles Wharf Market serves a variety of wraps, sandwiches, paninis and burgers, made with Boar's Head brand meats and cheeses. The menu includes their popular club sandwich, muffalettas, chicken quesadillas and red beans and rice.

They have also brought back their fried bologna sandwich and have introduced a roast beef hoagie on pressed, homemade baguette bread with chipotle gouda cheese and horseradish mayo sauce.

Outside of the made-to-order food, Battles Wharf Market also operates as a general market with snacks, wine and other items for travelers coming through such as sunscreen, batteries, aluminum foil, shaving cream, toothbrushes and toothpaste. Several items from local businesses are also available to purchase at the market.

"We have all types of people that come through the store because of the location," Blackwood said. "A lot of construction workers, a lot of Point Clear people, a lot of Grand Hotel tourists, so it's always exciting to come up with different things and cater to everybody, not just one customer type or whatever. It's been fun to be able to be creative and independent and be able to make those decisions myself."

Battles Wharf Market is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Battles Wharf Market also does catering and is available on DoorDash.