Closing store remembered like a friendly neighbor

Since I heard IGA (I will always call it that) is closing, I’ve been doing some reflective thinking. I would like to hear more stories about everyone’s memories of IGA. These are mine.

Today I bought my last toothbrush at IGA. Anyone who shops at this store knows the stories of the toothbrushes and greeting cards. The conveyor belt had this little opening at the end that you had to watch carefully or your thin items would slide down, and you would return home without those items.

I don’t know how many times this happened to us, but it was a lot. They were always so nice to me and told me to go get another one.

My son, Drew, was tiny and riding in the cart at IGA as we put in Graham Crackers, peanut butter, candy … (back in the day).

Then he was a toddler and I would hang on to him and push the cart and sometimes he would ride in the bottom for fun.

Then, the day came when he got old enough to ride his bike or skateboard to IGA and would ask for a dollar or two to buy a Coke or a Snickers.

Then all the boys got older and drove their cars to IGA. Many of his friends worked there. I was so delighted to walk in and see them there and have them take my groceries to the car.

When they changed owners a few years back, the store changed also, as we all know. There was no more of “our music” and the store was so bright I had to wear sunglasses inside. Seriously! I complained about it, but I was still going to shop there.

All the workers made it an amazingly friendly store with a heart. Recently, Daniel, one of the employees, told me again how Drew is very tall now. “Yes, Daniel, he got very tall.”

I sure will miss hearing that and all the amazing people who made that store our store.

MARY TRULOCK Fayetteville