I grew up in a small community.  The business district was busting out.  We had to patronize more than one grocery or hardware store.  That was the common names that we used to talk about them and of course family and business names were well known.  Main street had these common stores and they did well:  dime store, dress shop, meat market, meat locker, grocery store, sundries store, jewelry and watch store, appliance store, furniture and carpet store, newspaper and printing, office supplies, shoe store, variety clothes and craft store, bakery and lunch bar, photography shop, drug store, liquor store, bar/food, cafe, beauty shop, barber shop, lumber yard and supply, gas/garage/tire/brakes/oil change station, ice-cream and soda, plumbing service and parts, and more.  There were two or three stores of a kind sometimes open during the same years.  Reputation was very important.  You could expect their usual and out going friendliness and service.  You should notice how I give you the old terminology for these years 1950-1980.

All of these stores hired help.  They were all well informed, helpful and trusted workers.  Raising a large family was made much easier with customer service.  The small town store had no special counter for this.  You just approached that friendly worker and told them you had a problem.  Now I remember some of those wonderful and respected people in the community.

I want to tell you what a typical store from this time line looked like.  Walk through the door with me.  

I stood on the sidewalk under the shade of the building talking to a friend.  The sun moved and we moved under the shade of the outdoor awning.  I could hear the sound of the air-conditioner just above the door.  The early afternoon sun was getting hotter.  I'm going inside this store I said as we parted.  It was so cool inside.  The rows of clothing was very neat.  I could see what I was looking at without looking up.  It was easy to read the size rings all along the waist high cloths racks.  A friendly clerk walked over and said.  "If I can help you, let me know."  It was a pleasant greeting.  I am just looking today.  The doll mannequin was dressed in the newest arrivals.  I would like to see all the colors.  The walls had down lights and the wall covering was striped and happy flowers.  I would look for the large tags that were always easy to find tied or pinned onto the sleeve or button or tag.  I heard the cash register ring.  The clerk was talking to someone.  The lady walked by me and her paper bag rustled.  Near the office I heard a radio on low.  I asked the lady what the weather report was for today.  She told me.  She also told me what the sales were, and that they had moved the clearance racks.  "Thank you," I said.  Half of the store was tile floor and half the store had wall-to-wall carpet.  The bell rang on the door as I walked out. 

The old stores had wood boxed waist high displays.  Socks and underwear, nylons and many items that size were in the box.  Below was a sliding door cubboard for storage.  Not all items were in a plastic bag, but more things came with boxes.  Some older buildings had hard wood floors.  I remember a coin operated scale near the door in one place.  Candy could be bought by the pound and the clerk gathered it up for you in a white paper bag.  Eventually items were hung on hardware.  Many things in the store were a display and you asked the storekeeper for like a plastic doll with red hair and she would look for it under her counter.  Jewelry, perfume, watches, lighters were almost always in a glass topped counter.  I learned to point with confidence and shake my head.  Your senses changed as you walked through the store.  Most stores had tight sqeezes and narrow aisles. A sign near the door would say "Not responsible for accidents or injury."  Another sign read "Thank You Come Again."  

I never was run out of a store.  My mother taught me that I didn't touch until I was old enough to handle being in a store without supervision.  I think that is called becoming responsible.  I remember someone asking me when I walked through the door if I had money to buy something.  My friends and I would proudly annouce.  "We have money to buy."  If we didn't buy we would say.  "I didn't find what I was looking for, or you don't have what I need."  Response- "Come again."

There is a lesson in this.  I found it years ago.  The same principles apply today.  We just use new words from the dictionary and our stores have new hardware, less wood and new lighting and floors.  The big mirrors have been replaced by security.  I want a neon sign that is red when lit in handwriting style 2 foot by 2 foot that reads open.  OPEN 9 to 5.