Other smells that give the shop character include the manure on farmers' boots, the odor of chain saw oil on loggers wearing flannel, wool, Carhart jeans, and dingy ball caps. The self-serve counter also offers up some tantalizing smells, such as hot dogs, pizza, hamburgers, and chili. All these smells combined remind me of the rodeo that comes through town. The aromas in the shop enhance the experience because they unify the entire experience.
The little store is truly a one-stop shop in that you can find almost anything you need. For example, the shelves are lined with the regular products you would expect to see in any shop including pharmaceutical items, such as pink, blue and green thermometers hanging from racks; staple groceries like Wonder bread with its red, blue and yellow packaging; toilet paper; liquor; cigarettes and Skoal; candy bars, ranging from Hershey bars to the healthy fiber bars; snacks; and newspapers like the Bennington Banner, Rutland Herald, New York Times, Boston Globe. On the shelves, you can also...
In addition, the store sells more eclectic, local products. For example, this store sells a variety of Vermont maple syrup, candies, butter, cheese, ham, and bacon. Other items made available by local artisans are hats, mittens, post cards, and local scenery on greeting cards. This variety brightens the isles and counters with splashes of blue, red, yellow, orange, and white wrapping, boxes and bottles.
This shop is just one of hundreds of thousands scattered across the United States. From that perspective, it does not stand out; however, when looked at from a personal experience, it represents the heart of America. From the 25-cent cup of coffee to the unique human interaction, to the vast variety of products, this little store is what everybody needs almost every day of their life. The sights, sounds, and smells that make this place unique are what bring customers back and that is the backbone of what makes this country great.
