The more it changes the more it stays the same

Sometimes we assume things are a certain way, and then the facts and light of day show us a different story than what we thought we knew. Kelly Bradham and I visit about Nevada's past every now and then. From sports to whatever we both like remembering the Nevada of our youth. One of our favorite topics has to do with the small mom and pop grocery stores that used to be everywhere in Nevada.

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the GI Cafe and some of the restaurants that are no more in our town.

I received more phone calls about that article than any I have written. So that gave me incentive to go back to the Library and the old business directories to look up grocery stores.

Once again, I apologize if I have left off the list your favorite store. There simply is not enough room to list them all. Here are a few that stood out from my memory.

Cox's Market had two locations. One was on Cherry just east of the Legion Hall. The father ran this one. His son, Kenneth, had the other family market at 629 S. Cedar where Ed Peterson now has his dental office.

This last one was located only a half a block from my grandmother's home. Like many of the other small stores it commonly had charge accounts which people paid once a month. I was sent many times to pick up something and I was so proud when I got to say "charge it." Not too far to the west of this store was Ewing's, that store was at 627 S. College. Although I did not go there often, I know that the kids in that neighborhood loved it just as much as we did Cox's store.

Ferguson's (owned by Charley Ferguson) was to be found at 515 N. Ash. Charley was known to all the kids.

When I went to Bryan Grade School it was one of our favorite stops. Many of these little mom and pop markets had their own fresh meats and produce. In fact just about anything you find in a supermarket of today you could buy in them. Each had its own personality and loyal customers. To many of us the passing of these stores from our community was sad.

Here is a short list of some of the other names.

Andersons, Bill's Food Mkt., Dowell's, Hardin Groc., Horner's, Karbe's, Longstreth's, Maxwells, O B Market, Schreibrel's, Well's, Wilson's, A & P, Davis, Cottey Corner, Cozy Corner, Kroger, Safeway, Samuel's, and Sid's. What a list it was.

Not only could you find a local store within easy walking distance of your home almost anywhere in Nevada, you could also get free deliveries from most stores. In fact, there were several companies such as the Stanley Man, the Fuller Brush man, and the Jewel T man that made regular deliveries of a vast array of items to the home shopper. Sheila Merrit one of my high school classmates told me stories about her father Orville, who worked for Jewel Tea for many years.

All of these small stores and delivery services are a thing of the past, and we are stuck with only two big supermarkets and Wal-Mart, right? No, you are wrong.

Things have come and gone, but the more they change the more they stay the same. I'm not crazy, you just don't realize that we still have the little mom and pop stores. Today they are called "convenience stores." In the current Nevada phone book, there are 10 "convenience stores." That's right TEN! There are three Cash n' Dashes. Then you will find listed, Fastrip, The Truck Stop (Nevada Fuel Mart), gas stations on South Barrett Avenue, Quality Convenience Store, Ricketts Southside Plaza, Tim's Convenience Store, and the Tobacco Shack, and while it was not listed, I think that Mr. D's Smokeshop actually qualifies as number 11.

It really was surprising when I realized that there were so many of these small stores operating here in town. I might add, that they all seem to be thriving just as the old corner mom and pop places of my youth did.

The question begs to be asked why are they doing so well when they have to compete with the supermarkets and Wal-Mart. They succeed because they are first and foremost convenient. You can stop, get gas, a pop, several grocery items, lottery tickets, tobacco, and the list just goes on.

The prices are higher than those in the supermarkets or at Wal-Mart. Still customers seem oblivious to their lack of savings. They also are loyal. In talking to several people they told me they have been to most of these stores, but they generally have a favorite one.

So to all including me who worry that the big bad Wal Marts and other big chain stores are going to kill off our little local businesses, fear not. Just like when I was a kid and we saved our meager collection of coins so we could buy baseball cards and maybe even a Coke at Cox's, so, too, we see that the youngsters of today use our convenience stores as their "hangouts." It really does my heart a lot of good to know that some things seem to change, but when I look closer, they really have not. Well one thing has changed, if you went in one of these stores now and said "charge it," they would think you really had lost your mind!