Merchant and Harbor master Abel Willis sold groceries to Alexandria families for more than forty years. His first grocery store was on King Street in 1804. Over the years his business shifted to new locations on Prince and Forfeits Streets. In 1845 his brother joined him in business. Only a few months later the Alexandria Gazette showed each brother operating separate and competing shops.

In the early 19th century, grocery stores sold primarily imported goods from Europe, the West Indies and other parts of America. The Alexandria farmers' market supplied locally grown fruits and vegetables. It was not until 1845 that Willis added "fresh fruits and country produce" to his advertised foodstuffs.

In 1804 Abel Willis' usual stock included oranges, limes, tamarinds, nuts, Spanish segars [sic] and "all kinds of groceries." A competitor's advertisement defined groceries as "consisting of tea, wine, rum, spices, rice etc. etc. Advertisements often listed the product's origin: West India sweetmeats, Maine, Rhode Island or Nova Scotia Potatoes, English cheese, Philadelphia buckwheat, New York cabbages and new England rum.

Preserved meats and fish were also sold by the grocer. Early advertisements listed smoked or dried mackerel, codfish and pork. In 1844 and 1845 sugar cured smoked beef and tongues, bacon, ham, canisters of fresh salmon and lobsters "already prepared for the table" were among the delicacies enumerated.

Although Willis advertised items for family use as early as 1804, the wholesale trade to ships and country merchants was a large part of the grocers' business. Not until the 1840's were family-sized packages regularly listed, and "Cheap Family Groceries" advertised in the local newspaper.

Mid-19th century changes in the grocery business reflected changes in trade, technology and consumer needs. These included an increase in the variety of foods available through a widening trade network, advances in food preservation (including canning and the use of family ice-boxes), and changes in marketing strategy aimed more at the family level. These advancements are reflected in the Alexandria Gazette advertisements of Abel Willis and his contemporaries.