by Shelley Bennett
I have so many feelings about the closure of Rite Aid! As I think about it, it gets more complicated.
First, it’s just sad that we are losing a bustling business on Main Street. It’s a convenient place to pick up prescriptions and other necessities, including a scoop of delicious Thrifty ice cream.
Second, Rite Aid plays an important part in my life because the building of Payless in Susanville brought Leo and his family here, which led to me seeing the new boy in Burger King at lunch which led to finding his name on my highly scientific Data Match. But that’s a story for another time.
Back to the ice cream. Thrifty ice cream was originally only available at Thrifty, one of the first businesses built in the Susanville Shopping Center in the early 80s. I remember being in total awe as our new shopping center filled with brand new businesses that held everything imaginable.
There was Thrifty, of course, with its ice cream counter, photo lab, and cosmetics testers. It was always a treat to walk up and down the aisles because they were filled with everything under the sun. School supplies, holiday decorations, fishing gear. You could find it all.
One of favorite memories is of my grandpa Templeton picking up my brother and I in his Model T and taking us to Thrifty for a scoop. I think it was 25 cents at the time, 35 for a double.
Then there was Holiday Market with a Deli, I think the first of its kind in town. Beno’s had fashions for the whole family. Remember that giant pair of Levi’s on the wall? There was also a Ben Franklin, fabric store, Hallmark, a health food store with frozen yogurt, a pet store, Carl’s shoes, and Colony Kitchen. It was a wonder to see all the storefronts filled with products and services.
Through the years, those stores have gone through many remodels and re-imagined business plans. Now, you can renew your drivers license, visit my friends Danny and Kathy at Lassen Nail Spa, and search for treasures at the Goodwill. I think only Round Table remains the same.
And now the building where Rite Aid stands will be empty.
I usually see my hometown with optimism in my heart. A cozy, small town where we have everything we need. But sometimes I look at Main Street as a visitor driving through town might and the empty buildings stick out like the missing teeth from a Jack O’Lantern’s smile and it hurts.
Remember when news was ‘newsy’? When you read about weddings, family events and engagement announcements in the newspaper? If you have something that might be newsworthy, please submit it to [email protected] and I’ll do my best to include it here in “The Good Stuff.”
