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The Lucknow Sentinel, 1978-07-26, Page 18Page 1$-, uckaow Sentinel, Wednesday, July 26, 1178 VARIETY AND CONVENIENCE: Win and Karen Allen who own the Holyrood General Store believe that a country store must stock a variety of grocery items because, if people cannot get things, they will drive by and go to town to shop. vu They find that their prices are competitive with the bigger chain supermarkets in the area and the convenience of a store just down the road is another plus for the country store. Small I�1 • S RQ .. � 1(]x+4 Re • iJiC7 Y W N.1[iV.rpry -4..iDl �. •i' rj) 71N - r"144 f410 • vrZ4 k Ill\ \ WE EXPECT.CROWO$ IIJ[WA Ab SEP DA And the L.ucknoW Craft Festival Friday & Saturday This Thursday, Friday & Saturday We Will Be Offering 20% Off 1O%.Off K 014,:ey Ptr4 s 1O-40%OffAll Summer Wear Exquisite Form Bras & Foundation Garments Macrame Supplies SORRY - NO REFUNDS OR EXCHANGES ON SALE ITEMS Welcome To Lucknow Craft Festival vaRtErY stow I�.L' S . PLACE PHONE 528-2238 SHOP AT BILL'S PLACE IN AIR CONDITIONED COMFORT OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK K OPEN FRIDAYS'TULL 9 p.m. Holyrood Store — Busness is • growing Win and Karen Allen, owner of the Holyrood General Store, believe that a country store must have the space to stock a variety of grocery items because if people cannot get things, they will drive by and go toyown'. The Aliens, who have owned the 'store for a year, have found that people in the area support the store. They have regular shoppers who buy all their groceries at the store. They find customers easy tq,please and they are seeing faces , in the store that they did not see six months ago. The central location of the store is an advantage because people are going by on their way to other towns. The Aliens have found that people like to meet neighbours at the store. In the city you can do your shopping regularly at the same store and never meet anyone you know. Win managed a Shaw's Dairy Store in St. Thomas before buying the Holyrood store and he finds that, in the city, your customer's are transient; you may see a. customer once" and then never see him again, The customers are more often impolite in the city store where in Holyrood the customers are known to the owner and as a store manager you feel you are serving the community. The customers at a country store like to know who they are dealing with and they take the time to get to know the owner says Win. "They have more confidence in you and we find them easier to serve." Win finds that he can be competitive in prices with the bigger chain supermarkets in. the, area. He checks the prices in the supermarkets in the area regularly and finds his prices not only competitive, but also cheaper in some cases. "There is also the convenience aspect to the store which is just down the road," says Win, "Prices don't always matter." Win and Karen looked for a year and a half before they found the Holyrood store. They had checked out a dozen stores for sale and had reached the point where they thought they would have to stay in the city when the Holyrood store came along. Karen says their 16 -year-old son, Stephen, was the most reluctant to make the move from the city to Holyrood because he was afraid there would be nothing to do. "Now that he has livedihere a year, he wouldn't go, back," she .adds, "There's so tnu'ch to do. He helps his friends do their chores on the farm and he really likes it here." The big thing that the Aliens have noticed about people since moving to the country, is that city people doh 't ,take time. "People have more time here," observes Karen, "What can't be done today, ybu can leave until tomorrow." Karen remembers that when she lived in the city, there wasn't time for so many things, but now, she can't really remember what she was so busy doing. The store is open six days a week until 8 p.m. but she still finds time for macrame and she is working a quilt. • The Aliens have some plans for the store. They would like to expand the grocery variety and they also. plan to redo the store front. • "A small store is good for convenience items, like milk or bread, so it should be supported by buying all groceries so the business can remain viable," says Win. He runs specials and those who support the store regularly benefit from these specials. The Aliens are optimistic about their business. There has been a growth in the local business since they took over . the store and they are pleased. The store was built as the Holyrood Hotel in about 1875. The Purvis' operated it when it was still Hotel Holyrood and they were among the original storekeepers. Other owners were the Percys, the Colwells, Morely Hobbs and Agnes Campbell, who was general merchant and postmistress. More recently, Sam 'and .Grace Farmer owned the store for ten years, John and Mildred Frooks operated the store for about five .years, Jack and Laurette Maxwell owned it for about three years and Don and Dorothy Murray had it for about four years. When the store was a hotel, the Allen's living area was a huge dining room. Carriages were placed in an attached shed and the horses were walked through a breezeway to the barn where they were stabled. Johnston Bros. (Bothwell Ltd.) Dungannon, Ontario Sand, Gravel, Crushed Stone P• Cement Gravel and Road Contractors Picked Up and Delivered Open Daily 7 a.m.. 5 p.m. Phone: Dungannon 5.29.7947