Thanksgiving Travelling

For my family Thanksgiving is a time of travelling to the most rural of rural areas of Arkansas.

It is a time to celebrate together with my brothers, sister and their children

during this treasured holiday of gratitude.

There isn't a lot of shopping going on because this time is about being together. 

But the shopping-local-adventure is wide and varied.  Even in a little cabin in the woods of Arkansas new insights continue.

Occasionally we are privileged to have a guest....someone who to one of us is so especially likable, we want the rest of the family to meet them.

This was one of those years.

And our guest was Rachel.

Rachel is one of those warm endearing personalities who is liked right away. She is genuine, sincere, and comfortable in her skin as they say.
 Someone you hope to get to know well.

But what has this to do with local shopping?

I soon discovered Rachel's family has owned a local business in Sheffield, Alabama for 60 years.  Her Grandfather started the business, her Father and Uncle now sustain it.

They sell

appliances, furniture

and tires.

My conclusion is this:
 Not only is local shopping better for the economy, it is better for families,
 because small businesses provide an environment which allows families to work and grow together which results in some really nice people,

like Rachel.

So shop local and maybe someone really nice will join your Thanksgiving celebration next year.

John Do-nut Company

314-241-3360

Hours: midnight til 1:00pm

(Isn't that clever? Sell donuts
while making them...fresh and
warm...mm-mmm)
Closed Sundays

I was talking with my new friend Joe who works at the Hi-Pointe.
 I don't know Joe very well, but I'm learning about some of his interests.
He likes donuts and he likes to bike.  

 On the night of the full moon he and many of his friends take a long moonlight ride all over St. Louis.
It is their custom to pause at a favorite bar to refresh before the ride home.  On this particular night their favorite spot was closed.

In need of an alternative, they decided to get donuts.

"Did you go to Johnny's?" I guessed. 

 And I was right.

Bill, Will, Micha and I had investigated "John Donut Company" a few weeks ago with a thorough sampling of their many varieties.    

You are going to love this place!

Almost in the shadow of the Arch is this little shop of donuts.

Those of you who have followed this blog know I can approach sentimental romanticism when it comes to our small business heroes.
 Johnny doesn't have time for sentimentality.
  
He has been making donuts and breads since he was a boy. He knows it is just hard work, with long hot hours, often requiring a second job to simply make ends meet.  When he's not here, he's baking at a local hospital, making it possible for us to enjoy the hidden treasure behind these doors.

When you visit John's you must allow time to savor the atmosphere.

There are 

all sorts 

of sassy signs on the walls,

 some murals,

and Superman is

everywhere, 

he's everywhere.

So how did the superman collection begin?

Aw, there's a story.  John comes from a family of St. Louis bakers.  At one point his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Pearey, moved to Metropolis, Illinois to be near some of their family. They opened a little bakery.

Here is a picture of them in front of their pastry shop.

 I'm not sure how these things evolve.  Something about coming from Metropolis,
the home of Superman, 

has inspired John's adoring customers to bring him all things Superman related.
It's a way to say thanks to John for making such delicious treats.

Now that you've taken in the surroundings and enjoyed the local color,

let's get serious.

Whether you have them with milk or juice

or coffee or tea,

the real reason you've come is:

 donuts!!

Oh,

and 

they are

oh,

so

good!

'nuf said!!!

John interrupted his breakfast of oatmeal to tell me a little bit of his story, growing up in north St. Louis as the son of hard working bakers and becoming a baker himself.  He told of truckers who kept knocking on the shop door at 2:00 O'clock in the morning while he was baking, pleading for donuts until he finally changed his hours to accommodate them and about the time in the army when he stayed up all night making pastries for tomorrow's visiting dignitary, Spiro Agnew. 

He is a humble man, not thinking himself great, but as I watched his loyal customers come and go throughout the morning, the camaraderie they all share, their affection and loyalty to this place and its owner....

I think I now know why they bring him Superman keepsakes.

Sappington Farmer's Market

sappingtonfarmersmarket.com

Dining at St. Louis' many excellent restaurants is surely a delight, but for us, most meals are about buying groceries at the market and bringing those groceries home to prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The St. Louis local grocery possibilities are abundant.  And since food is such a necessary part of everyone's budget we can really make a difference by finding a local alternative for our purchases of this life sustaining commodity.

I had been shopping at Sappington Farmer's Market a few months before this official adventure began in March.

I liked it immediately on every level: practically, philosophically, and nostalgically.

Practically speaking Sappington Market works.

They are known for their produce;

you will find variety, 

low prices, and 

many locally grown fruits 

and vegetables.

Because Sappington Market is a small full-service grocery store, 

they also have 

 dairy products,

a plentiful assortment of groceries

and

canned goods.

Because it is small I can be in and out in 45 minutes. Because this little market has every basic food item (plus paper products, toiletries, and  cleaning supplies), 

 I can get everything I need in one stop.

Because of their great specials and case prices,

 Sappington Market truly is an economical choice.

Put all that together and you've got practicality !

Philosophically, I like that the store is owned by farmers; I trust their interest in protecting the small farmer.  This seems important, since this whole food thing originates with farmers and we would be pretty much lost without them.

On the shelves of Sappington Market you will find many products produced right here in Missouri and Illinois.

Like cheeses from local dairies,

potato chips made and coffee roasted here in St. Louis,

wine and jellies from our own grapes and berries,

and Purly's cookies made by some nice ladies in their church kitchen.

And

the clerks are all really friendly, and I think that is because the store is founded on great principles, philosophically speaking.

Why

Nostalgically, 

you may wonder.

Because they have a model train chugging around and I love seeing the children gaze at it,  and remember when other children marveled at other trains.

The scenes of rural life remind me of the hardworking farmers in my hometown, 

like these good men waiting outside the Newton County courthouse during their weekly trip to the town square.

A visit to Sappington Farmer's market is like a visit to times past, and I feel for a moment like I'm back in Neosho shopping with my mom at McClintock's IGA.

The Green Goose Resale and Consignment

greengooseresale.com

Today we celebrated Lindi's Birthday, 

an opportunity to thank her for the joy her life brings to our lives...

a time for gifts.

Gifts are easy in the world of local shopping because the possibilities are endless.

However, she had a specific need for black picture frames. The kind that are readily available at the big stores,  

but could I find them at a small shop?

I remembered the Green Goose Consignment and Resale Shop had many, many pictures hanging all over the store.  One phone call to a friendly clerk at the Green Goose and I knew the sizes and prices of the four black frames they were selling.  Because of her willingness to answer all of my questions, I knew she had what I needed. 

 A quick drive to the Green Goose and my gift shopping was accomplished.

Business is brisk for Robin as she enters her second month of operation.

So much so, she is excited that she now needs to hire another person to work at the shop.

"Entrepreneurs and their small enterprises 

are responsible for almost all the 

economic growth in the United States."  
Ronald Reagan

reflections

"The biggest mistake people make in life 
is not trying to make a living 
at doing what they most enjoy."  
Malcolm Forbes

Aw, sickness and travel have distracted me from one of my favorite activities:
telling you about all the excellent local businesses I'm discovering. However, while travelling I've been thinking.  Thinking that every time we shop at a small local business we are not only helping someone make a living, but make a living at something they enjoy.  And that, I believe, makes the world a nicer place to live.

Let's think for a moment of all the dedicated people we've met over the last few months.

Whether they are showing movies

or making music;

painting houses,



designing houses or 

fixing houses;

selling baby things or

selling records;

Making cookies and cakes or

growing tomatoes and zucchini;

or earning RFT's title of "best barista" in St. Louis....

they brighten St. Louis with their energy and talent.

And it is our privilege to support them in their dedication to our hometown.