Just a small town boy

[yoda21182]

I have found yet another reason why I enjoy smaller cities, as opposed to larger ones. Smaller cities tend to have more "mom & pop" type stores, meaning an establishment that is owned and usually operated by the same few folks. Not that I am opposed to Capitalism. If towns allow Starbucks to come into town and run all smaller coffee shops out...we'

Comments

[aparecida]

I know what you mean. But you know, New York City is like that too. That may sound odd, but it's full of independent establishments where the people get to know you quickly. I already get recognized at my local Thai place, my sorbet stand and taco cart, my grocery store, my drugstore and my nail salon. All of which are in walking distance of me. I haven't been to a national chain business since I got here.

[jenn_possible]

It's true! In a lot of small towns, all you can find is Wal-Mart because there aren't enough people to keep smaller stuff in business.

Also, Starbucks has evil labor policies. They are mostly bastards.

[gershwingirl85]

McBride's general store in Baskett (where I grew up) was like that. It closed when I was about 9 years old (Mrs. McBride died), but I still remember being able to walk behind the counter (and the register) and pick out my favorite pieces of hand pulled taffy and sitting at the counter, waiting on our burgers (she had the best burgers!). Now, at the Niagra general store and Kagey's (in the same county as Baskett), I walk in and they always ask me how my family's doin' and we can actually open a running tab and pay it off at the end of each month.

I think Lexington is the biggest I'll go, as far as city sizes go. There are a lot of days where I actually do miss being on the farm.

[clayse]

Waller Center is the warm, musky center of my existence in Lexington. Wing Zone, Great Wall, Backyard, Yu Yu, the comic store. Though for as much as I know about Waller Center, there is a lot I don't. The tanning place, the Campus Pub, the Laundromat, the Mediterranean place- they're all mysteries to me. I think I've intentionally avoided them, preferring to have some unexplored territory intermingled with all the familiarity.

I also get along famously with the crew at Mellow Mushroom. They give me free food in exchange for "muralizing" their picnic tables and stuff, which is pretty freaking nice in my opinion.