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From Grocery Aisles to a Delta Landmark: Airport Grocery Serves Up Food, Fellowship and History

September 25, 2026

By MDA Staff Writer | September 25, 2026

CLEVELAND, Miss. — Long before Airport Grocery became known for barbecue, live blues and late-night gatherings, the Cleveland landmark began as a modest grocery store helping Delta families put food on their tables during the Great Depression.

Its story began with Joseph E. Rocconi, an Italian immigrant who opened Rocconi and Sons to provide affordable groceries to neighboring families and plantation workers. When the store later relocated near Cleveland’s early airport, customers began calling it Airport Grocery—a name that would become part of the city’s identity.

The business took an important turn in 1948 when Jim Rocconi began serving inexpensive meals. Over the years, gasoline pumps, hamburgers and pool tables were added, transforming the neighborhood store into a lively gathering place for local residents and Delta State University students.

Under current owner Jonathan Vance, the grocery aisles and gasoline pumps eventually gave way to restaurant tables and booths. However, the business held on to the pool tables, laid-back atmosphere and community spirit that helped make it a Cleveland favorite.

Today, Airport Grocery offers authentic Delta cuisine, including barbecue, burgers, po’boys, steaks, seafood, salads and Southern favorites. Guests can enjoy lunch or dinner in a casual, family-friendly setting featuring a full bar, beer, outdoor patio seating and live music. The dog-friendly patio and late-night hours add to its welcoming appeal.

Music is also part of the restaurant’s legacy. Airport Grocery has hosted notable blues performers such as Willie Foster, Frank Frost, Sam Carr, Fingers Taylor and Blind Mississippi Morris, strengthening its connection to the Mississippi Delta’s rich musical heritage.

With its rustic, blues-inspired atmosphere, comfortable dining spaces and unmistakable Southern character, Airport Grocery offers more than a meal. It gives customers an opportunity to experience a piece of Cleveland history.

From feeding families during the Depression to serving generations of diners, Airport Grocery has continued to change with the times while preserving the food, fellowship and Delta traditions that shaped its story.