How about a happy story to start off 2007: After the only grocery store in Truman Minnesota closed, 17-year-old Nick Graham bought and re-opened it to help save his struggling community. People are even volunteering to help him stock the shelves. What a wonderful story. The kid’s got a great James Stewart-like voice too.
J Christiansen
on 02 Jan 07Good for him!
My family comes from that part of Minnesota, and my grandparents and an aunt/uncle still live there. The area is struggling, but really great people. They’re the kind of towns that really do stick together.
Thanks for the link!
Drew Pickard
on 02 Jan 07His voice is amazing . . .
Carl
on 02 Jan 07Reminds me of the grocery store in Republic, Michigan. It closed last year and now everyone in the town has to drive at least 30 minutes for a decent grocery store. If anyone wants to do what this kid did, go to Republic!
Anita @ Say No to Crack
on 03 Jan 07I miss Midwest hospitality and friendliness. Lived in Chicago for 5 years, worked in Minneapolis for a year, and everyday have a part of me that wishes I was back there. This certainly adds to that longing.
4point44
on 03 Jan 07that’s fantastic. even by movie standards.
Anonymous Coward
on 03 Jan 07He sounds like a 50 yr old
Steven Andrew Miller
on 03 Jan 07Nice sentimental story, but I wonder how long it will last. He may not be “here to make a profit,” but if he has to have people volunteer (i.e. work for free) is he even breaking even? At some point people are going to stop volunteering and go back to the “heresy” of shopping out of town for what ever reason caused them to do so in the first place.
Sorry to rain on the parade, but surely there is a reason why the previous owners closed shop.
Pelle
on 03 Jan 07Great guy – more people should be like him and not be affraid to take a risk. In a capitalism we are relying on people like him to get what we want where it isn’t necessarily the best climat for profits – like tthat village he bought the shop in.
He certainly sends out some much needed inspiration :)
War-N
on 03 Jan 07What a great story. He’s attitude and voice are way ahead of his years! :)
Martin Crockett
on 03 Jan 07What a hero! Too bad something like this would never happen here in the UK: ‘only in America’.
Joe
on 03 Jan 07Sorry to rain on the parade, but surely there is a reason why the previous owners closed shop.
Rain all you want, but maybe the reason was the previous owners didn’t keep the store clean or well-stocked. Maybe they didn’t treat their customers with respect, maybe they just didn’t put forth enough effort to make it work. Who knows? Sometimes failing business do well under new ownership.
Darrel
on 03 Jan 07“Rain all you want, but maybe the reason was the previous owners didn’t keep the store clean or well-stocked. Maybe they didn’t treat their customers with respect, maybe they just didn’t put forth enough effort to make it work. Who knows?”
Or, more than likely, it’s damn hard to survive as an independant these days.
Good for this kid. I wish him luck. Hopefully Wal-Mart will stay out of the area. ;o)
Don Schenck
on 03 Jan 07Today’s Trivia:
Under $2 million annual sales = Grocery Store. $2 million and up = Supermarket.
lurkabee
on 03 Jan 07Wish he would step in and resurrect Webvan… miss that service. On a serious note, what an inspiration…. enough to get this 33 year old hand to click a mouse… one… more…. time….
Brian Timpone
on 05 Jan 07Steve Hartman—the CBS reporter— is one of the best feature guys around. He’s an amazing storyteller, a true rarity in TV journalism.
Alas, these pieces don’t produce themselves, something worth noting as the algorithm-worshippers among us ring the death knell of “old media.”
Christopher Johnston
on 07 Jan 07Great story about the good things happening in small town America. I even added a link to it on my blog.
This discussion is closed.