The Corner Store..

I like supporting local business. Even though a Home Depot is less than 2 miles from my house, I prefer to get all of my hardware needs from a local chain that still has about 6 stores. Each store probably employs 10 - 15 people, and many are of high school age. You know that store. When you walk in the place the first thing you notice is the wood floors. There is always a smiling young face wearing a nail apron willing to take you to your asked for item. And although you may pay pennies more, you are in and out in no time.
Every time I go to Home Depot, I end up wandering around up and down the aisles looking for some help. When you finally do flag down an orange vested worker carrying a can of paint around, he very politely says" I'm sorry sir, this is not my department, but I'll send someone over right away." A 1/2 hr later your still seeking help.
I feel nearly the same about pizza. My 17 year old son eats at Little Caesars 5 days out of 7, because it's on his way home after school. But our pizza of preference is still in the same location it has been at since 1957. It's an authentic little Ma and Pa place called Sicilys. The place doe's mostly take-out, but it can seat up to 20 people at a time. Their pizza hasn't changed at all in the last 50 years.
Unlike their mega-chain counterparts, the crust is limp but strong and chewy. The sauce is thick and garlicky, the cheese is hand grated, and they slice the pepperoni by hand still. They know me and my son by name, and they always give us the same table. We never finish the whole thing, and my son eats the rest the next day. It was a great childhood tradition for me, and now I have passed it down to my boy.
It's something that just him and I do together, because the women in the household don't like the location of the place.
It's not in the best part of town, but thats where it is.
Are you lucky enough to have part of your youth still doing business? Or do you have a local business that you always frequent? G-Man wants to know.....Peace