In the real world, building and stocking a new grocery store can take two years. When producers needed to create a life-size, working supermarket for Guy's Grocery Games, they had three weeks. As many fans know from watching the show, the 24,000-square-foot set is a fully functioning grocery store — all 100,000 items have been inventoried and priced and are ready for scanning at the register. "Every chef walks out of here asking, 'Are you going to open one of these in Cincinnati?' or 'Can you bring this place to Texas?' I just say, 'Nope, this is one of a kind,'" notes Triple G's host, Guy Fieri. 

 

Photographs by Mark Peterson

Technically, this set is close enough to Guy's house to be his neighborhood supermarket — he lives in Santa Rosa. Production moved here from Los Angeles after the first season because Guy's shooting schedule was so intense. Unfortunately for the cast and crew, the store isn't open for business after a shoot. "I'd do anything to have this be my actual grocery store," says Guy.

Every product in the market has a working bar code; the price is the average cost in the real world.

Produce is delivered once or twice a week; any excess food is composted or donated to charity.