Hillside with trees and fog

Twin Peaks Location – Sarah Palmer Shopping at Keri’s Handi-Mart

In Twin Peaks Part 12 on Showtime, Sarah Palmer has a strange shopping experience at Keri’s Handi-Mart. This is the only time we see the grocery store in the series. While it’s not included in the “Twin Peaks Access Guide to the Town” or mentioned at any other time in the series, the scene is an emotionally charged one with Grace Zabriskie giving an outstanding performance. During a recent visit to California, I stopped by the location where this scene was shot.

WHERE IS THE LOCATION OF SARAH PALMER SHOPPING AT KERI’S HANDI-MART?

Aerial view of Burbank's Handy Market on Google Maps
Google Maps

Burbank’s Handy Market is located at 2514 West Magnolia Boulevard in Burbank, California. According to their website, Harry Arzoian opened the doors of his small family market in 1970:

“The neighbors all commented about how “handy” it was to have a market with such quality and selection right next door. That concept stuck and Handy Market of Burbank was born. Harry set high standards for his market and instilled a dedication of service to the community that is still present today. Harry’s son, Alan, still operates the market with these same successful principals.”

Handy Market in Burbank, California on May 26, 2019
May 26, 2019

Handy Market was pretty easy to find. It’s located near the corner of Magnolia Boulevard and Buena Vista Street (just down the road a little from the Walt Disney Studios lot).

Handy Market sign on May 26, 2019
May 26, 2019

From my research, it looks like the building 9,800 square foot building was constructed in 1952. I’ve been unable, however, to locate any information about what existed in this spot before Handy Market opened.

There was some mention about the Handy Market being spelled with an “I” (Handi) in the 1960s. Yet no photos exist. I did manage to snap this image of their awesome neon sign just after a rainstorm in southern California (I really thought it never rained there … that’s what the song told me).

BEHIND THE CURTAIN AT KERI’S HANDI-MART

Man standing in grocery store aisle
Behind the Curtain – Part 12

Thanks to the Behind the Curtain footage from the Twin Peaks – From Z to A Collection Blu-ray set, we learn the crew visited this grocery store on Thursday, November 10, 2015.

The footage includes the late Johnny Sclimenti who was a Production Assistant on Twin Peaks season two, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me and returned to the crew for Twin Peaks: The Return. He also worked on David Lynch and Mark Frost’s short-lived sitcom On The Air.

Johnny passed on May 28, 2024 at the age of 56, after bravely battling Early Onset Alzheimer’s for seven years.

Inside grocery store
Behind the Curtain – Part 12

Another shot from the Behind the Curtain footage includes a filming notice posted at the register – “On Thursday, November 10, 2015, Handy Market will be closed from 12Noon – 4PM for Filming.” Once the crew wrapped at this Burbank market, they would travel to Chili John’s down the street to capture footage of Pop’s Diner from Twin Peaks – Part 8 from The Return.

David Lynch directing Grace Zabriskie at grocery Store
Behind the Curtain – Part 12

I adore this behind-the-scenes footage as it gives a wonderful look inside how this wonderful and strange show was created. Here David Lynch does a rehearsal with Grace Zabriskie which he calls “Gathering the Vodka.”

Grocery cart with alcohol and Lean Cuisine meals
Behind the Curtain – Part 12

We later see that she has three bottles of Smirnoff Vodka  and two bottles of Mr. & Mrs. T’s Bloody Mary mix. She also has Lean Cuisine meals including one box of chicken fettuccini and three boxes of buttered squash ravioli.

Exterior of Grocery Store
August 26, 2023

Interestingly, the crew had considered using Farmhouse Market in Fall City, Washington as the location of Keri’s Handi-Mart. It’s unclear why the decision was made to move to the Burbank market instead.

VISITING THE LOCATION OF KERI’S HANDI-MART IN TWIN PEAKS

Checking out in Part 12
Part 12

The scene opens with an unidentified cashier (“Mike?”) and customer checking out from the market. She is buying Mahatma Rice (my favorite rice brand I use at home). Behind her are stacks of bottled water cases by Arrowhead, a California brand of bottled water (should be an easy clue that the scene was shot in the Golden State).

I didn’t have my reference images available when I went into the location so I don’t have a shot that matches. I can say this register is closest to the entrance/exit.

Sarah Palmer in Aisle 3
Part 12

The scene cuts to Sarah Palmer pushing a metal shopping cart down the liquor and bread aisle.

Inside Handy Market on May 26, 2019
May 26, 2019

In reality, this is Aisle 3 inside Handy Market.

Sarah Palmer shopping in Keri's Handi-Mart
Part 12

Sarah Palmer has two bottles of Mr. & Mrs. T’s Bloody Mary mix. She smiles like I do when I see bottles of Vodka.

Look carefully to her right and you’ll see what appears to be a coffee cup left on the bread shelf.

Sarah Palmer grabbing Smirnoff Vodka
Part 12

Sarah adds three bottles of Smirnoff Vodka to her cart.

Handy Market on May 26, 2019
May 26, 2019

This is the approximate spot inside Handy Market where Sarah stood. They have since added a metal shelf filled with Tastykake.

Steven with Bloody Mary Mix
May 26, 2019

I couldn’t resist grabbing a photo with Blood Mary Mix in Aisle 3 during my visit.

Sarah stocks up on Vodka
Part 12
Liquor aisle at Handy Market
May 26, 2019

The camera cuts to a side view of Sarah grabbing alcohol. The locations for the types of alcohol remained about the same as the episode. They had plenty of Smirnoff when I visited.

Sarah ready to check out
Part 12
Liquor aisle at Handy Market on May 26, 2019
May 26, 2019

As Sarah finishes loading her cart with Vodka, the scene cuts to a wider angle of her standing in front of bottles. The bottom image is the approximate location where the scene took place.

SARAH PALMER CHECKING OUT AT KERI’S HANDI-MART

Sarah checking out of Keri's Handi-Mart
Part 12
Register at Handy Market in Burbank, CA
May 26, 2019

Sarah proceeds to the first register found at the end of Aisle 3 in Handy Market. The ACER monitor was turned away from the camera in the episode.

Victoria at Keri's Handi-Mart
Part 12

Our first look at “Check-out girl” Victoria as played by Zoey McLane. We see an out-of-focus cameo by the unidentified cashier “Mike” in the background.

Part 12 Jerky
Part 12
Turkey and Beef Jerky in Part 12
Part 12

Sarah spots a display of Smoked Turkey Jerky and All-Natural Beef Jerky behind the register.

Sarah spots jerky in Part 12
Part 12

She doesn’t remember seeing “those beef jerky there before.”

Inside Handy Market on May 26, 2019
May 26, 2019

Sarah is correct – that beef jerky doesn’t exist inside Handy Market. I was surprised to see that the counter behind the register had no such display. And the Albatross brand doesn’t exist either.

Victoria and Oscar inside Keri's Handi-Mart
Part 12

We get a look at both Victoria, the Check-out girl and Oscar, the Bag-boy played by Johnny Ochsner, whose only acting credits are this episode. Ochsner would later become a Farmers Insurance agent for a brief time in Seattle, Washington as seen on this Facebook page.

Sarah at the check-out in Keri's Handi-Mart
Part 12

Sarah owes $133.70.

Inside of Handy Market
Photo by Steve Sherman

Thanks to a photo by Steve Sherman from this article in the Tolucan Times we get a better look at the entire checkout area.

Sarah Palmer leaving the store
Part 12
Sarah Palmer leaving the store
Part 12

After having a mental meltdown at the register, Sarah quickly leaves the shop.

Inside Handy Market
May 26, 2019

The coolers she walks by as she exits are still in Handy Market.

Sarah leaves as Bag-boy looks on
Part 12
Inside of Handy Market on May 26, 2019
May 26, 2019

The Bag-boy Oscar watches as Sarah leaves through the main entrance/exit door.

Bag-boy watches Sarah Palmer leaving
Part 12
Google Maps image
Google Maps

After Sarah leaves the shop, we catch a glimpse of the building next to Handy Market in Burbank. You can see the “Enter” sign that still exists outside the building across the street.

Victoria and Oscar in Part 12
Part 12

Victoria and Oscar aren’t sure what to think after seeing Sarah’s meltdown. The Bag-boy mentions he knows where she lives and he could deliver her groceries. Everyone is so friendly and helpful in the town of Twin Peaks.

That's a wrap for Grace Zabriskie at grocery Store
Behind the Curtain – Part 12

This was Grace Zabriskie’s last scene for the third season of the show. Much of her footage was captured on location in Washington state.

Author

  • Steven Miller at Twede's Cafe enjoying cherry pie and coffee

    A "Twin Peaks" fan since October 1993, Steven Miller launched Twin Peaks Blog in February 2018 to document his decades-long fascination with David Lynch and Mark Frost's wonderful and strange show. With his Canon camera in hand, he's visited numerous film locations, attended Twin Peaks events and conducted extensive historical research about this groundbreaking series. Along with fellow Bookhouse Boys, he dreams of creating a complete Twin Peaks Archive of the series and feature film. Steven currently resides in Central Florida.

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One thought on “Twin Peaks Location – Sarah Palmer Shopping at Keri’s Handi-Mart

  1. That’s so awesome. You put all that together clean. Nice. I want to join the blog.

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