EXHIBIT 5.1

                      PAUL, HASTINGS, JANOFSKY & WALKER LLP
                                   Suite 2400
                           600 Peachtree Street, N.E.
                             Atlanta, Georgia 30308

February 1, 2002

Ingles Markets, Incorporated
1560 Highway 70 East
Asheville, NC 28711

Re:      Ingles Markets, Incorporated -- Registration Statement on Form S-4

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This opinion is delivered in our capacity as counsel to Ingles Markets,
Incorporated, a North Carolina corporation (the "Issuer"), in connection with
the Issuer's registration statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement")
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Registration
Statement relates to the offering by the Issuer of 8 7/8% Senior Subordinated
Notes due 2011 (the "Notes").

In connection with this opinion, we have examined copies or originals of such
documents, resolutions, certificates and instruments of the Issuer as we have
deemed necessary to form a basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed. In
addition, we have reviewed certificates of public officials, statutes, records
and other instruments and documents as we have deemed necessary to form a basis
for the opinion hereinafter expressed. In our examination of the foregoing, we
have assumed, without independent investigation, (i) the genuineness of all
signatures and the authority of all persons or entities signing all documents
examined by us, and (ii) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as
originals and the conformity to authentic original documents of all copies
submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies.

With regard to certain factual matters, we have relied, without independent
investigation or verification, upon statements and representations of
representatives of the Issuer.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that, as of the
date hereof, when the Notes have been duly authenticated by U.S. Bank, N.A. in
its capacity as Trustee, and duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Issuer
against payment therefor as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the
Notes will constitute binding obligations of the Issuer, subject to applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance and transfer,
moratorium or other laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the
rights or remedies of creditors generally and by general principles of equity
(whether applied in a proceeding at law or in equity) including, without




Ingles Markets, Incorporated
February 1, 2002
Page 2


limitation, standards of materiality, good faith and reasonableness in the
interpretation and enforcement of contracts, and the application of such
principles to limit the availability of equitable remedies such as specific
performance.

We are members of the Bar of the State of New York, and, accordingly, do not
purport to be experts on or to be qualified to express any opinion herein
concerning, nor do we express any opinion herein concerning, the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York.

We hereby consent to being named as counsel to the Issuer in the Registration
Statement, to the references therein to our firm under the caption "Legal
Matters," and to the inclusion of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within
the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Securities Act, or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.


Very truly yours,



/s/ Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP