Our Story

A Family Tradition of Serving Cayman

For more than 60 years, Kirk Market has been part of everyday life in Grand Cayman, serving generations of customers with fresh food, trusted essentials and a world of choice. As our store and community have grown, we have remained a local, family-owned grocery store, proud to serve the islands we love.

A Family Legacy in Cayman Brac

The family story behind Kirk Market goes back to 1896, when, after years of saving, Walter Aaron Kirkconnell had enough money to start his own business. He began by selling a small range of household basics from his home in Cayman Brac. His sons later grew the business as R.B. Kirkconnell & Brothers, creating a family tradition in trade and shipping. One of them was Captain Charles Gerald Kirkconnell, called Captain Charlie, who later ran the family store in Cayman Brac.

Years later, Captain Charlie’s three children (his sons, Captain Charles and Captain Eldon, and his daughter, Alex) continued the family’s entrepreneurial tradition. Like their father, the brothers went to sea as young men and became master mariners.

Following Captain Charlie’s death in 1961, ownership of the family companies passed equally to the three siblings. Captain Eldon came ashore after 15 years at sea to manage the Cayman Brac store, while Captain Charles remained involved with the family’s shipping operations. Alex later held a management position at Kirk Supermarket during its early years.

Capt. Eldon Kirkconnell, OBE, JP

From Cayman Brac to Grand Cayman

In 1963, Captain Eldon moved to Grand Cayman with his wife, Pat, and their children, Gerry and Debbie. He opened an office and warehouse for Kirkconnell Brothers Ltd., initially planning to establish a wholesale operation. Its scope soon expanded.

In 1965, Captain Eldon and Captain Charles partnered with their cousins, Captain Dillon and Barton Kirkconnell, to open Kirk Plaza in George Town. Combining a supermarket with a wholesale goods company, Kirk Plaza offered groceries, household goods, furniture, appliances, clothing, linens, motor vehicles and more under one roof.

By 1984, Kirk Plaza had developed into a convenient one-stop shopping destination in central George Town. Alongside its wide selection, the supermarket offered daily specials on everyday needs, brought in special items at customers’ request and introduced an express checkout for shoppers short on time.

Kirk Plaza car park, 1991. – Photo: T. Dailey (Compass Media, Time Back Archives)

Growing with Cayman

As Grand Cayman grew and customers’ needs changed, the family’s businesses grew as well. Kirk Plaza eventually couldn’t fit everything the company offered, so its different divisions became separate businesses over time.

A New Generation

Eventually, the next generation of the Kirkconnell family took over the grocery business. In 2013, Kirk Supermarket rebranded as Kirk Market, starting a new chapter in our story.

While the new name reflected the store’s evolution, the ship’s wheel at the heart of the logo remained a connection to the Kirkconnell family’s seafaring heritage.

Growing with Cayman

As Grand Cayman grew and customers’ needs changed, the family’s businesses grew as well. Kirk Plaza eventually couldn’t fit everything the company offered, so its different divisions became separate businesses over time.

A New Generation

Eventually, the next generation of the Kirkconnell family took over the grocery business. In 2013, Kirk Supermarket rebranded as Kirk Market, starting a new chapter in our story.

While the new name reflected the store’s evolution, the ship’s wheel at the heart of the logo remained a connection to the Kirkconnell family’s seafaring heritage.

Continuing the Tradition

Today, Kirk Market brings together trusted staples, local favourites and exciting finds from around the world. We are proud to support Cayman’s farmers by offering fresh, locally grown produce alongside quality meats and seafood, artisan breads and pastries, chef-prepared meals, fine cheeses, beautiful flowers and much more.

Behind it all are our people. Every day, our team members select, prepare, bake, arrange and stock what our customers take home.

The pride and care they bring to their work are as much a part of Kirk Market as the products on our shelves.

Much has changed since our family business began in Cayman Brac in 1896, but the Kirkconnell Brothers’ motto – “Quality, Reliability, Integrity and Service”– still guides the way we do business today. As we continue that tradition, we’re proud to serve our islands and share our love of good food.