The life of a rural store

Staff at Eugene’s General Store have taken calls from people across the country looking for information about Tignish. “You’re a general store; we just figured you knew what’s going on,” Tommy Perry generalized their reason for calling. They have a point, he admits. During storms, they get calls asking whether the Co-op or the Credit Union is open, and some call because they heard the church bells ring. “Who died?” they’ll ask. Joanne described how, during a snowstorm and blackout a couple of years ago, a staff member walked to the store and Tommy arrived there by tractor. Soon there were several tractors, snowmobiles and a horse and sleigh out front. “Everyone came knowing we were here.” The store has a busy meat department and that business really ramps up during the summer months. Summer residents sometimes call before arriving back in P.E.I., just to get their meat orders ready. Steaks, spare ribs, salted neck bones and bologna are some of the popular meat counter items. The store does a booming lottery ticket sales business and carries a wide variety of grocery items. The business also has a coffee drive-thru where staff knows in advance what most customers order. Tommy said he was in early one morning fixing a cash register when he heard the attendant say, “Oh, he wants a hot chocolate, too.” Looking out, he saw no one at the window. The attendant explained a particular customer toots as he rounds the corner. The second toot means he wants a hot chocolate in addition to his coffee. Providing treats for the dogs in the vehicles has also been good for business, Tommy admits, as some customers tell him their dogs freak out if it looks like they’re bypassing the drive-thru.