Driving to Rose Bud today, I discovered this relic:
I note that a fairly recent-looking Arkansas Democrat-Gazette machine is still guarding the door, so this grocer hasn't been closed for too long, I suppose. Judging by its looks, it's probably been around since the 1930s, maybe 40s, and was one of those hardwood floored Third Places where old men gathered around a hanging light bulb and told stories.
It's interesting to me that many old groceries (such as this one, from my friend Barbara's blog) had those old signs with very similar hand-painted text.
I bet that once this place was an oasis of food and culture, the only stop between Rose Bud and Joy or Center Hill, and when you're on unpaved roads up in the hills, that's a long way. It's paved now, of course, but not much more than a half-century removed. I bet this was a great place to gather. It would have had that inviting closeness and clutter that spoke of individuals and care, rather than cold vast-market calculation and consumer psychology. No rolling smileys or self-check outs here, just the people you know.
Ahh, I'm probably just romanticizing it.
-Jonesy
1 comment:
hi, this is crocket's store.owned by the crocket family forever.i remember going there as a kid with my grandparents in the 70's. they sold hardware,tools, groceries
just about anything.the blue building in back was for feed.i remember a produce counter in back,shelves of goods behind the counter,they still used a old brass cash register,and a coke machine that you had to open the door and pull the coke out of the hole.there used to be old gas pumps infront and racks of tin canned oil in front.the Crockets were good friends of my grandparents and were wonderful friendly people.really a good fond memory of my childhood!
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