The Surly Farmer

You know how people joke about there being a Starbucks on every corner? Well, our only Starbucks is co-located with the nearest grocery store some 16 miles away. So what does one do when the milk suddenly runs out mid-week? You go to the Marathon gas station in downtown (heh) Albany (pop. 828), which serves as gas station, provisioner, cafe, child custody handover spot, bus stop, and game check station. For anything else, say frozen entrees, light bulbs, seasonal clothing, housewares, and so forth, you’d need to cross the highway and fill your cart at the Family Dollar.

But there’s a new kid in town. We’ve been watching the construction of a commercial building not a quarter mile away from the the trusty Family Dollar, and believed it to be a compounding pharmacy that we’d heard something about on the radio over the summer. Then about a week ago, construction wrapped up and it was revealed to be no kinda pharmacy whatsoever, brother. It is a Dollar General store! Here’s a map to assist in demonstrating just how bold their choice of location is:

In addition to being right up in Family Dollar’s bidness, the Dollar General is located immediately across the highway from Lake Snowden, a popular recreation area (and home to the Ohio Pawpaw Festival). Who’s going to trudge all the way to Family Dollar for their bait, corn chip and amusing trucker cap needs when Dollar General beckons from so much nearer?

This is going to be—as the kids say—lit. I’ll keep you posted.