We used to have a store called High’s that was a cheap knockoff of 7-11. Actually it was pretty much the same thing. They had Icies instead of slurpies, and what was really odd, they sold their own brand of milk- I can still picture the carton. I’ve never seen a national brand of milk. Do they still exist anywhere?
I begin every day by typing my full legal name into a search engine. I know it’s going to be a great day if it says “Sorry, no matches were returned”.
I know I’ve seen a High’s somewhere around here (PA)…but I can’t remember exactly where. So yes, I still think theyre around.
“I am so smart, I am so smart, s-m-r-t, i mean s-m-a-r-t”
In Massachusets, they have Tedeschi’s, which if you know female vocalists is owned by the family of Susan Tedeschi, who is a rockin’ blues singer.
In NYC, we’ve got many many bodegas. They don’t really have names, but they all look the same. Detergent in the windows so you can’t see in. And “bullet-proof” plexiglass about 1 foot thick by the guy at the counter.
Here on Long Island there are a couple of places called In’N’Out, which I think are on a par with “Kum 'n’Go” for sending root beer through your nose when you see the sign for the first time…
Cats are like Baptists. They raise hell but you’ll never catch them at it.
In the areas in which I tend to roam (southern Minnesota and northern Iowa) we’ve got:
Kum & Go (I worked in one for 4 years.)
Casey’s
Kwik Trip
Kwik Star
Quik Trip
Citgo
Greenway
Super America
and my all time favorite:
the Pump 'n Munch.
“Organs gross me out. That’s organs, not orgasms.”
-the wallster
Here in Savannah, the closest store to me is called Parker’s Market. I think its a local chain, since I’ve only seen the three or four around here…and all the other places are usually named things like ‘Billy Bob’s Chevron’ or just the gas station name.
I do recall back in Charlotte, NC, my favorite store was one called ‘Starvin Marvin’. We all though it was a hoot as children.
Lil’ General (I recall, years back, stopping in there one night on my way to another bar, the first having become boring. There was this young girl at the counter – you’ve seen them, the hot little kinda trashy, trailer living, well built chicks. This one had on the only set of jeans I’ve ever seen with a zipper that started out as a fly, went down between her legs and up the crack of her butt. (A NICE butt it was too!)
7-11 (One used to be the local spot for nearly every drunk to stop at after the bars closed for coffee or munches. It got entertaining around 3am on a Friday night.)
Cumberland Farms
Stop N go
Used to be a Majik Market around. (Met the hottest little red haired lady there. I still think about her from time to time.)
Now we’re getting these big gas stations with a little store, plus a Big Apple Pizza plus a Johns’ Subs – one long counter served by the same people but 3 different companies. Actually 4, including the little shop.
Then a couple of those used to be 7-11s, which started going out of business after their single, late night, young or old women employees got tired of being raped, robbed and killed or shot because the company provided no security and insisted on having only 1 worker there until the State stepped in and said they had to clean up their act. Now they are run by people who come from lands of lots of sand, speak funny English, look swarthy and jack the prices of everything up.
CAREFUL! We don’t want to learn from this!(Calvin and Hobbs)
The one that sticks out most in my mind was in Georgia - Quick n’ Easy, I believe it was. They handed out bumper stickers that actually read “I’m a Quick n’ Easy Lover!”
THAT helped when I was trying to meet girls.
I’m so miserable without you, it’s almost like you’re here.
-Country Singer with a Mullet.
In Louisiana we have :
Cracker Barrell
Shop Rite
Jet 24 (but it’s not open 24 hours a day … go figure)
Race Track
Diamond Shamrock
In metro Atlanta some of the chains stores are:
Circle K
Kangaroo
Stop ‘n’ Go
In and Out
Speedway
Racetrac
County Cupboard
Handy Pantry
Almost every ‘name brand’ gas station has their own convenience store attached.
Some oldie-but-goody independants were:
After all, what is your hosts’ purpose in having a party? Surely not for you to enjoy yourself; if that were their sole purpose, they’d have simply sent champagne and women over to your place by taxi. – P. J. O’Rourke
I grew up in BR. About a year ago in Austin, some friends told me that they were going to the Cracker Barrell for dinner. I thought they were nuts - eating at a convenience store! I found out later that there is a restaurant chain with the same name.
One I saw all over Austin was: the Quicki Picki
There were plenty of 7-11s, Diamond Shamrocks, Exxon TigerMarts, etc.
Hill Country favorite is: Sack N Pack They stretch from New Braunfels to Austin (possibly beyond).
My favorites are the family owned stores. I once bought condoms at Tom’s (or was it Dan’s?) from a grandmotherly Asian woman who winked at me and wished me a good evening. And the Indian brothers at the store next to my apartment on Congress (TGR Mart, I think)were so sweet. They always greeted me and even put their Bass Ale/Becks Dark/Newcastle (or our current favorite beer) on sale twice a month. (My neighbors and I drank a considerable amount of beer every night.) I still go in there if I am in town, and they still remember me.
There is a great store that sells every kind of beer known to man and cigars. I cannot remember the name, probably because I was always drunk and chauffeured to that location to purchase beer.
There is a S&M Appliances (or something like that) in Caldwell. It’s not a convenience store, but it always cracks me up.
In Anderson, population <500, there are 2 convenience stores: Clint’s and the “store owned by the foreigners”. The “store owned by the foreigners” has a pay-at-the-pump. Clint’s has groceries and gossip.
That’s because you can’t miss it until it’s gone, goof!
I sold my soul to Satan for a dollar. I got it in the mail.
I once worked at a Kwik Pantry, from which I was fired for failing to stay awake on the night shift.
Side topic: Why do so many convenience store names feature creative misspellings? I suppose it’s to draw your eye or to make a copyrightable name, but it always annoys the hell out of me.
BTW, if “Pump & Munch” doesn’t make Dopers all over the world spray the beverage of their choice all over their computer monitors, I’ll be sadly mistaken.
Live a Lush Life
Da Chef
I think I must mention that my parents own 3 Nebraska Casey’s stores!
Also, Shop N Hop is a decent name, I’ve seen 'em in Western Iowa…
Sweet Basil
ps- h thur, Where was your apt. in Austin? I’m moving soon and need to find a place…
SRB will get you girls!!
I lived at the Chateau Deville (which has since been remodeled) on Congress Avenue. Then I lived in a beautiful apartment on Windsor Road. In a house in a horrible neighborhood in the 183/I-35 North area. I do not recommend living in that area. Then a hot box on S. 5th Street. My last residence was a duplex on Bucks Run in Southeast Austin off William Cannon.
I highly recommend living in South Austin (South of the River) or near downtown if you can afford it. There are great neighborhoods in S. Austin. I met many wonderful people there.
My favorite addresses were the apartment on Congress (it was a seedy place back then, but fascinating) and the apartment on S. 5th Street.
A great apartment locating service is: Habitat Hunters. They are fabulous - and you can find great deals through them, especially if you are looking for a duplex or house.
You can email me if you want the low-down on different neighborhoods or information.
Man, I miss Austin. If you get a chance to see Fred Sander’s band while you are there (or Hot Buttered Rhythm - or any other bands those guys are in) do it (if you like jazz). They are some serious musicians.
aaahhhh Austin.
-Heather