Wednesday, September 10, 2008

The old store and the old man...

The old store had a suitor yesterday.

Yesterday afternoon before my husband left for work an older gentleman pulled into her old parking lot and wandered over to knock on the front door of our little house. Hubby went out to greet him before he made it to our front porch.

As he got to this part of the story I was wondering- What now? You see, when you own an old building, namely an old store, you have constant traffic in the old lot. If I had a nickel for every car that turned around out there or parked out there...well, I'd have a lot of nickels.

It turns out the old man was interested in renting our little piece of the past. Well, I don't think so. She's mine...all MINE- insert evil laugh. A lot of folks fall in love with the store. Of course I understand. It was love at first sight for me, after all. I am sure like myself he had visions of soda machines filled with old Coke bottles, Yoo-Hoo's, Nehi's and shelves filled with Moonpies and vintage wares. I bet he wanted to replace the old cash register and fill the freezer with frozen treats again. Maybe he peeked into the window and pictured the old wood stove burning again. Maybe he wanted to sell fishing tackle for the locals that head up to the lake across the road. I can understand a man that sees potential like that.

But apparently he was a blind man. He wanted to rent the store to sell (and I quote) high-end antiques. Um, I don't think so. Okay, so there is nothing wrong with high-end pieces but this girl squirms in a place like that. Give me junk, let me thrift, take me back to good old times, but don't put me in a high-end sort of place.

The old man tried to persuade my husband. Are you sure, are you sure?- he asked over and over. He told him it was ours and we had our own plans and dreams for it one day. Poor girl, I bet she shuddered at the thought. My poor little store.

As the man was about to leave he discovered that he had locked himself out of the car. My husband grew increasingly impatient and needed to get to work. He helped him for a bit and then the man called his daughter to bring the extra key. He told the man he was welcomed to wait under the old eaves of the store, so he took a seat, sheltered from the rain showers yesterday. On the way out hubby stopped by with a A&W Root Beer and the old man was happy to oblige.

As he drove away the old man sat outside the old store sipping the soda, as I imagine many of the local old men around here used to do. I wish I had that picture and all the ones that came before it. All remains just as it should be- once an old general store and always our old general store.

13 comments:

traci said...

glad you guys did't cave in. i love that place too. can i come and work with you. i'll even help with all the work to get it going.

Anonymous said...

What are your plans for the store? I am sure you have posted about it before but I am new to your blog. I will have to look back through. Looks like a great little place with lots of potential!

Georgia Girl said...

Oh that place is so cute. My grandaddy had a store like that...I remember the big glass jars with cookies and candy in them...They were lines of them...also remember the hard wood floors..h how it would be neat to run an ole store like that...Please tell me what your plans are..yep who wants high end stuff in this quaint little place...that would only make me think of snobby folks who have so much money they don't know what to do with it except sell expensive stuff and not thrift items and what most folks can handle...a consignment store would be neat to do in there...just use stuff that is old though...that would be pretty neat...all the thrift store finds you have and slowely get something going...heck sounds liek my store...let me know when you open it..love to mosey on down that way...love nostalga...see I can keep rambling on about ole times...sorry

Yankee Ridge Primitives said...

What an awesome place! What are your plans for her? I can picture it totally restored:)

Unknown said...

wow, that's a beautiful building. it must be so special to your family. great blog!

Liz Harrell said...

Good for you... do what you want with that precious little store. I cant wait to see someday!

Kim's Treasures said...

I wouldn't want to rent it out either! I would be filling it up with vintage thrifted treasures! It is so cute!

Hope your workday and evening are great!

Hugs!!!
Kim

Whitney said...

WOW! That looks so neat. I can so envision it looking awesome. I can't wait to see what's going to happen with it!

Weeksie50 said...

Oh what a cute place. What do you plan to do with it?

Mrs. B said...

I can just picture him out there sipping his soda! Loved seeing the pictures of the store. I also really liked those twilight pictures you took!

Anonymous said...

High-end antiques? Bahahaha! Where's the fun in that?

Your store is beautiful! The wide plank floors in the fifth picture are to DIE for:) I want those in my home!!

I have an old wooden box that was used to ship coffee. It came out of my Great Grandfather's store (circa early 1900's) - which was also a post office. Your store probably used to have one just like it. Cool stuff:)

Suzanne said...

stop, Stop, STOP....don't do this to me again and again. It's torture I tell you. You're torturing me with photos of this store. You can tell that old man to BEAT IT....the store is mine. Well, it's yours, but for dreaming purposes it's mine.

Yes.....Yoo Hoo, and Moon Pies. The screen door should have a diagonal cross bar with a colorful metal plate declaring the fact that Rainbow Bread is sold inside. A big pot bellied stove in the corner with chair around it.

In the south of my childhood the benches in front of the general store were referred to as the "Buzzard's Roost" because that's where all the old men whiled away the day, talking about old times and telling the tallest tales. Gee, does are there any storytelling traditions out there anymore? My Uncle Murdoch could tell some terrific stories.

Get it ready, I'll help fill it with homemade aprons, jam, and other country goodies. I'm sick, I'm totally sick. I don't have an old store. DANG.

Unknown said...

Never, I say....never will she sell pr rent pr elase out that store to anyone!!! LOL, I love that little place and thanks for showing it. I will work for free on the weekends!!!

Love ya...
Marlene