Zabar's, New York

When Louis and Lillian Zabar opened a 22-foot-wide shop on Broadway in 1934, they laid the groundwork for an empire. Today, the original Zabar's—which celebrated 80 years on 80th and Broadway in 2014—nearly spans the entire block. The Zabar family oversees a bustling scene inside, where customers stock up on the store's smoked fish, caviar, cheese, baked goods, and specially roasted coffee, of which Zabar's sells more than 400,000 pounds per year.

But even customers who live outside New York can enjoy the shop's treasures, since it ships nationwide. Whether full of meats and cheeses or gift baskets, its packages are all shipped from the original Broadway store. Zabar's also puts together seasonal catalogs so customers can browse what's in stock without having to call the store or send in a spy.