The Mom and Pop corporations have been around for many years. They are the start up of almost every major corporation. Essentially, these stores begin as any other business and are usually set in motion by a family or even just two buddies trying to make a little cash. Throughout the years, these particular types of stores have dwindled down because of the change in economy, the rise of larger corporations that stifle out the smaller stores, or other various reasons depending on the individual business like poor management or negative revenues.
To explain further, Mom and Pop stores are stores owned and operated at a single location, unlike national chain stores that could have thousands across the United States. Owners thrive off of the experience that they can give to their customers. For instance, the ones who come in at the same time once or twice a day to get a coke and chat with the clerk. These are the kinds of people that keep these businesses alive and give it that “at home” feeling. Mom and Pop stores are not only a place to get the products they need but most of the time people use them as social gathering spots. I have a gas station in my home town called Hillbilly Quickstop. This little gas station is renowned for its amazing biscuits and gravy for breakfast. During my high school career I would stop in before class get some chocolate milk and a bite to eat. Every morning while I would wait in line to pay for my breakfast I would stare at the five or so tables crowded with middle aged and elderly men who would be sipping their coffee and gossiping like old women in a beauty salon. You could, and still can, count on those very men to be there just about every morning at Hillbilly. Because to them, that little Mom and Pop gas station is more than just a store, it is a place for them to socialize and catch up on the rumors going around town.
The national chains thrive off of the economy, it is not a personal experience for the customer, but these corporations are larger and can sell mass product at a cheaper price. Wal-Mart for example, is a national corporation. It owns and operates 4,227 units including Discount Stores, Sam’s Club, Super Centers, and Neighborhood Markets. When Wal-Mart begin it was not called Wal-Mart. The first store in Bentonville, Arkansas in 1962 was called Walton’s Five and Dime. Sam Walton started out small, but soon realized that he could obtain higher sales volume by passing on the savings to his customers, instead of pocketing them. During that year in Columbus, Georgia he opened the first official Wal-Mart and the corporation has not looked back since. Wal-Mart is now one of the largest corporations in the United States.
These thoughts correlate along with the idea of the western pioneers. During the time when “going west” was not just a dream, but a necessity to make a living at whatever the cost. In the same way, the people who set out to start a business and make a living were the alike. They set out to make a life for themselves with all their hopes, dreams, aspirations, and quite possibly money into one opportunity so that even the smallest chance of them succeeding was a possibility. The western pioneers had similar ideas. They planned to load up their life, basically what they could grab in their arms, with a hope that life would be greener on the other side.
At some point in a stores life there comes a time when it will either falter and eventually die or it will catch fire and expand, and in most cases they will become a chain corporation. Even though many of the Mom and Pop stores have been shut down, there are still a few that live strong. You could be surprised to find that some could even be found in your local neighborhoods. Sometimes these small little Mom and Pop businesses are even better than the large corporations. They can give a one-on-one experience with the customer and they might even be able to beat the price of a large name brand store. Bookstores, drugstores, pizza places, you name it and there is one out there providing service to their community as not only a business, but a notable part of the community.
--Rikkie Cline
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