I remember those little mom and pop stores, as a matter of fact, my own mom and pop had one. My dad was always complaining about how the big chain stores were putting him out of business. Eventually he did close the store and joined with four other guys to operate a pop, grandpa, two uncles, and another guy store. They kept it going long enough for everybody to retire, but I understand they were losing money by the end.
There are still lots of small and medium sized stores around, only now they are called "convenience stores". Their prices are higher than at the supermarkets, but people still shop there because they are so convenient. Sometimes you only need a few items and you don't want to walk across a 40 acre parking lot and stand in the checkout line for 20 minutes while the clerk waits for a supervisor to come over ride the computer because it refuses to accept somebody's credit card even though there's nothing wrong with it. Some of the convenience stores in Cheboygan even sell live bait, which is nice because they are open early in the morning and are right on the way to the boat launch. There is one that also fills propane tanks. Many places will exchange a full tank for an empty one, but they don't fill them up full and who knows where that tank has been. The South End Party Mart has a big tank out back and they will fill your own tank up for you. They actually charge less than the gas station down the road, which is the only other place in town where you can get you own propane tank filled.
Speaking of gas stations, do you remember when they used to do auto repairs and oil changes at gas stations? Nowadays most gas stations are also convenience stores, but they don't do mechanical work anymore and you have to pump your own gas, check your own oil, and wash your own windshield. If you're a quart low, they will sell you a quart of oil in the store, but you have to pour it in yourself. They might have a funnel that they will let you borrow, but that's about it. There are places that will change your oil for you in a matter of minutes, but that's all they do there. There might be a car wash associated with the Jiffy Lube, but you have to feed it quarters and wash the car yourself.
We have one family business in Cheboygan that only sells and repairs tires. Other places sell tires, but these guys charge less and they won't tell you that you need a new tire when all you really need is a new valve core. They used to have a beer cooler in the back room and would offer you a free beer while you waited for your tire work, but I'm not sure if they still do that. I don't think it was legal because they would ask you not to stand by the window while you drank your beer.
We used to have a Midas Muffler shop, but they closed down some years ago. I don't know why because they were relatively cheap and quick and they had lots of business. Walmart has an auto repair section, but I have never used it. I understand that they do everything that gas stations used to do except sell gas. We also have several small shops that do that stuff, but they don't sell gas either. One of them also has an auto parts store in the same building, which is nice because they don't tell you they have to order a part and it should be here in a few days, they just go into the other room and get it.
One thing that we don't have in Cheboygan is a farm tractor dealership. You can buy those little garden tractors all over, and there is one small shop that repairs them but, if you want a regular farm tractor, the kind with the big rear wheels, you have to go to either Gaylord or Alanson. I got mine at Alanson because my hypothetical wife used to be friends with one of their kids. Now that's a mom and pop store if there ever was one. Mom and Pop are retired now, but they have 11 kids and numerous grand children, many of whom still work in the family business. They even opened another branch in Williamsburg to accommodate all their progeny.
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