If you travel up and down highway thirteen, you may have noticed a lot of construction along the west side of the road at Lowry City. This place has been the object of several rumors. We've heard that it was going to be everything from a simple gas station to a full sized truck stop. As sticklers for the truth, however, we decided to go to the source and ask the visionary and owner of Alexander Farms- who is making the store.
Last winter Chuck's Auto Sales- just south of Lowry city on Highway thirteen, had a fire. It was pretty bad, and they lost the house that they ran the car lot from. For the most part, they lost everything but their cars- records, computers- everything.
The people around here seem to have a do or die attitude though. Instead of cutting their losses, they stuck it out. They bought an RV and ran the operation from it. Now, as of last Friday, they've started rebuilding. Setting the foundation for the new building, it runs the same purpose, but has a key difference from their old building.
“It has a room in the center of it that's fireproof. We'll take everything there at the end of the day and deposit it.” Says Chuck. “It's also tornado proof.” This is an extra added bonus, but a good one to have.
Good luck, guys- your spirit will keep things going.
Joe’s country market in Osceola is giving itself a facelift- well, a floor lift. They’re putting in new tile.
“The last time the tiles were changed was 27 years ago.” Said Joe, the owner. “There’s been miles of shopping carts going over there. They’re showing signs of age.”
And they are. White patches can be seen here and there around the store where the old tiles have fallen apart. Is there anything special about the new tile?
“The new tiles are a warmer color instead of just the plain white. We wanted to give a homeier atmosphere.” After all, this is Joe’s- actually owned by a guy named Joe instead of some big mega conglomerate head-quartered in Grand Rapids or something. A com pany that actually cares about customer satisfaction since the owner has to look his customers in the eye.
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Some patching on the old tiles. |
Cindy Clark, Store manager, shows off a new tile. |
Old Tile meets new tile.
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Just West of Tightwad on Highway 7 between Clinton and Warsaw is a rather large red barn. Named after the owner’s mother, who was an avid antiquer- as big as it seems on the outside, it’s even bigger on the inside, and its crammed full of antiques. From Coca Cola stuff to full sized wardrobes and hutches, there’s just a ton of stuff here. But it’s the actual Building itself that’s one of the neater features of the is particular antique store. It is, in fact, a barn- not just a building meant to look like one.
“We were looking for a good location, and this was for sale.” Says owner Kathy Charles ”It was the old Morton building, but it was unfinished and we’d run out of cash, but my husband suggested tearing down this old barn, so its a barn inside and out.” To learn more about the store, watch the video below
On the main drag in Appleton City is a little store with a hand painted sign that says The Wood Shop. Inside of it you’ll find a really neat guy named Donald Paur.
While he does the basic things you’d expect from a wood shop, such as fixing tables and doors, he also has some items them he makes just for sale. “We do a lot of birdhouses. They were a big seller at Christmas. We couldn't keep up with them! We also do quiltframes and planters out of landscape timbers. We do all kinds of stuff.”
One of the nice things about this is that it’s handmade.
“It gives you a nice feeling knowing that you made something, not some machine. I get a lot of newer furniture in here that shouldn’t need to be worked on.”
When you ask for a place that sells Cappuccino, REAL Cappuccino (as opposed to the powdered stuff at various gas stations)- in Clinton you’ll end up at Ben Franklins, on the east side of the Square. Started by a couple that sold it 6 months after opening, it was given a greatly expanded menu and room size by it’s current owners.
Inside of the old Ben Franklin store it has an eclectic decor of fine antiques, and a unique menu- (no fried foods at all) Ben Franklins is as interesting just to be in as it is to eat in. In August of 2007, Ben’s Express was opened in the basement of the new GVMH, with coffee directly from the actual Ben Franklin. To see the restaurant and an interview, go here.
When the Warsaw Cafe moved, and there was an empty restaurant on the main drag in Warsaw, Debbie Attebury decided to take over the location and start a restaurant of her own. “My son David is a great cook, and I figured we could start a restaurant to show what he can do.”
And he does it well- Smoked Pork Chops and hand breaded tenderloins- it’s pretty good. He put’s it together in their new ‘down home’ lunch buffet.
“We also follow peoples religious beliefs” says Debbie. They have a fish buffet on Fridays and pan fried chicken on Sundays after church.
The building itself has some real history as well. They kept the murals of the Warsaw history by M. E. Norman.
Looking for a way to make your next board meeting more productive – relieve tension in the group, build a sense of teamwork, and enhance the group’s creativity? Try playing a game! I, like many people, cringe when the leader of a group says “We’re going to do a little activity to get us started.” But I also know that when that activity is over I usually feel more relaxed, in a better mood, and more ready to get to work with the other members in the group. So don’t fear the initial groans you may get when you introduce the idea of play to your organization – stick it out and reap the benefits!
Read StoryStarted in November of 1999 in Lowry City, Steve Webb’s Auto repair shop has about one of the best reputations that a mechanics shop can get. While there, a young lady in a late model Mustang drove up with a problem with one wheel. ”Actually, this is the first time I’ve been here. He’s been recommended by several different people as being really nice and honest.”
Honestly and fairness seems to be his biggest selling point. “That’s how we get our customers to return so frequently. We do the best job possible and we’re honest with our customers. If they come back we won’t charge extra to fix it unless there’s another part that needs to be ordered.”