Subj : Grocery Getters [1]
To : Dave Drum
From : Ruth Haffly
Date : Sat Jan 11 2025 16:27:49
Hi Dave,
RH> I grew up in a small town, population was about 850. At that, there
RH> were smaller villages in the area that had no grocery stores so the
RH> folks came to us for shopping. Going over the mountains in winter was
RH> not a fun experience; one place in particular was notoriously bad. I
RH> think most people stocked up when they came, and, a lot of the farmers
RH> were able to do their own butchering. My parents, having white collar
RH> jobs, bought meat from the grocery stores.
DD> I didn't always live in the "metropolis" that is the State Capitol.
DD> But, both Taylorcille and Carlinville were larger than 1000
DD> population. Still, it was "small town America."
Since getting married, I've lived in places as small as 1,000 (late
70s/early 80s Swansboro) to as large as 3.5 million (reunited Berlin)
and all sorts of sizes between. Always something interesting, no matter
how large or small a place. Some of the big places have "neighborhoods"
so you have a small town feel in the midst of a big city.
DD> 8<----- EDIT ----->8
DD> When my shift at the Zone is done at 11 o'clock I'm swinging by to get
DD> a nice order of frozen and dry goods. All of the attendants in the
DD> pick up section know me and my car so they just automatically pull the
DD> tote with my order and bring it out to the car.
RH> We've not tried that, doing all of our grocery shopping in person. May
RH> hve to change that as we get older, but I'll not like not being able to
RH> pick my own produce, etc.
DD> I still buy/select my own produce and fresh meat. Staple items are all
DD> that I let/have them pick and bag for me.
We may reach that point eventually.
RH> We don't do a lot of bread either but probably more than you do, since
RH> it's 2 people eating from the loaf. I'll use the crusts, etc from my
RH> home made 100% whhole wheat for bread crumbs--haven't bought any in
RH> decades.
DD> Used to get my bread at the "used brad store" of which we had at least
DD> five examples. Two for Wonder Bread and three for Butternut. Now we're
My parents started doing that when I was in college and they went to the
larger towns that had those stores more often. They've never been
convenient for us tho.
DD> down to just one ... a Tasty Kake outlet that I am told is the only
DD> store of that type between Chicago and St. Louis. And their prices/
DD> here named "Harvest Market" which is part of a local(ish) mini-chain
DD> whose "schtick" is locally grown/processed/fresh meat and produce and
DD> packaged products. They have a nice in-store restaurant like Wegman's
DD> or Hy-Vee which I have tried a couple times. I have yet to buy any
DD> groceries at that location.
RH> Sounds like an interesting place to check out.
DD> Oh, I've cruised their produce and meat aisle. And, of course the
DD> canned/ boxed goods too. Pricing is pretty "up-market". And I am a
DD> careful shopper.
DD> It is/was. But, it's about as far from me as it can be and still be
DD> "in town". I've done some 'walk-about' when I've met folks there for
DD> a lunch or similar occasion.
RH> We may be out in that area in spring, going to the Dayton Hamvention.
RH> Also have some things we want to donate to the Chicago Public Library
RH> so need to resume (stopped when Covid shut the country down) talks with
RH> them.
DD> I don't think CoVid shut it down as much as changed the marketplace.
DD> The "weak sisters" did not survive. But the well run, well done places
DD> seem to have survived.
We've got to find out if the person we were communicating with is still
at CPL. Also need to make a list of what we have, run it by my siblings
and get their ok since it is family papers.
DD> Then there are the ethnic markets. We have Indian, Chinese, S.E.
DD> Asian, Italian-American Imports, etc. I buy my miso paste at one of
DD> the Chinese markets. And some Indian specialities at Masala Mart.
RH> Those are all down in Raleigh, don't think there are any in WF.
DD> Probably not enough volume of business to sustain a presence.
RH> Possibly, but the way the town has grown, it won't be long. When the
RH> Wegman's development was announced, it included plans for a number of
RH> other stores and apartment buildings. The other stores are across the
RH> highway, more small restaurants than stores actually. The latest one to
RH> open up opened yesterday, Bibibop Asian Grill. Fast Asian style (mostly
RH> Korean-ish) bowls; we tried it for lunch yesterday. Had a good sized
RH> crowd but that could be opening day novelty; we'll see if it lasts.
RH> Food was ok, not the best Korean we've had but could have been much
RH> worse. We'll go back, but it most likely won't be a regular.
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Catch you later,
Ruth
rchaffly{at}earthlink{dot}net FIDO 1:396/45.28
... You learn something useless every day.
--- PPoint 3.01
* Origin: Sew! That's My Point (1:396/45.28)
