A supermarket runs through it
There was a time not so long ago when my unincorporated area of Little Martin had a population of around 3,500. Today, those fleeing Palm Beach, Broward, and Dade Counties have swelled that number to more than 35,000.
I can't blame them for evacuating those Hell holes, but they sure managed to screw up our road system, schools, and what's worse, our one little supermarket. Grocery shopping at the only store in town became a nightmare that included an absolutely full parking lot, aisles so crowded you couldn't use them, obnoxious city types overdosing on rudeness, and shelves picked bare. A nightmare, that is, until an acquaintance of mine, Joe, built his brand, spanking new supermarket one mile from ol' B2's homestead.
A remarkable man
Joe is a remarkable man, one of a dying breed. You see, he built, owned, and operated the only truly independent IGA grocery store in Little Martin, a large, modern, very successful marketplace located in our largest town. His penchant for a super-clean store, courteous employees, quality produce, and incredible variety could teach those big chain stores a thing or two. In fact, his family-run store was so successful that Joe decided to expand.
But deciding and doing are two entirely different things, especially when your plans rest upon the mercy of county government. I won't go into all of the heartache and hoop-jumping the county put Joe through, nor the five years of battling it took to mollify the newly-arrived, rich, walled estate residents in my area who didn't want their lives burdened by low-life rabble (meaning us locals) trafficking to and from his planned store.
Hey all you bedroom commuters, here's a news flash: You already killed our thoroughfare levels of service by moving here, so stuff a rag in it. Little Martin will approve a 1,200-residence development at the drop of a dollar to accommodate the influx of nouveau riche southern refugees, but approving something that would enhance our local quality of life -- only when pigs fly.
A plus for the neighborhood
Well, old Joe persevered and ultimately triumphed. I did not immediately trade at his new store because the grand opening hoopla kept his parking lot full for a month, just like our only other supermarket. So more than a month after the grand opening, in fact just yesterday after work I stopped to reprovision, figuring that a Friday afternoon was a good time to test the crowd factor...and what a wonderful experience it was...
Spit-shine clean, the freshest produce, meat and bakery sections that put the big-chain giant to shame, a kaleidoscope of shopping amenities, a pleasant staff that other employers would kill for, highway-wide aisles, and a parking lot less than third-full. Bonus? As I said, one mile from my house and right along the route home.
Downside? Being an independent, Joe must charge a bit more for certain things, but my total bill was about two dollars more than what I would pay at the chain store. Plus, every penny I spend stays within Little Martin -- there are no out-of-area corporate headquarters to siphon off profit or hundreds of other chain store locations with flagging sales to prop up.
A tip o' the hat from B2, Joe...thanks for hanging in there and I hope you and your family make a ton of money -- I'll do my part.