Lately, I have been realizing that I am gaining a passion about shopping local. I don’t mean the local Walmart or K-mart. I mean truly local business. It makes me happy to shop locally. When I go to a chain restaurant or retail store it is rare that they will remember me from a previous visit or make an effort to get to know me.
When I shop locally I feel like a superstar. People greet me with a smile, they let me bring my dog in, they take interest in what I do and who I am. It is nice to see owners in the trenches with their employees working to make a better product for their customers.
This week I’d like to spot light two businesses in Corpus: Town and Country Diner and Threads.
Town and Country is everything you look for in a diner. From the food to the service and ambiance. The only thing Town and Country is missing is an old woman named Norma who has been smoking for 42 years and calls you “honey” and “sweetheart.”
The few times I have eaten at Town and Country I am always greeted with a smile; despite being busy I have been sat immediately. The waitresses have always rushed over and greeted me with the hospitality of an old friend. Drinks are quick to come out, the coffee is bottomless, and they are ready for your order when ever. The American style cafe offers 24-hour breakfast so don’t ask me about their lunch or dinner menu, although I am sure it is delicious, I stick to the morning meal.
The food is always hot and made to order. I can eat quite a bit– I have always been a big guy and an athlete so read quite a bit as too much– but their short stack of 3 blueberry pancakes made it a challenge for me to eat my corn-beef hash. Of course, I managed to devour the delicious meal.
Each morning I have gone the owner, Henry, has taken time to come and talk to my table. It wasn’t a simple hello he took interest in who I was and how everything was going. He stayed to talk for the better part of a half hour one morning. You could tell through his voice he loved his job and loved his Diner. What impressed me more is that between talking to us and coordinating between the front and back of the house you could see Henry busing tables, refilling drinks, and helping where ever he could.
After a wonderful breakfast and conversation there is never a rush out the door to open the table for the next people, they will continue to fill your coffee happily as long as you’d like to sit there. When you’re ready you are able to take your reasonably priced check to the front to pay.
How ever you want to rank a business: 5 stars, Phantom Perfection, 10 out of 10– Town and Country Diner is the tops. Head over when you get a chance, say hi to Henry and enjoy your meal. Just don’t go when you’re on a diet.
Town and Country Diner is located at 4228 South Alameda Street Corpus Christi, TX 78412 and is open Mon-Fri: 6a-3:30p, Sat: 6a-4p, and Sun: 6a-3p.
Threads is my first Corpus Christi thrift store experience. The store has a redone warehouse feel to it. Mostly, because it is a remodeled warehouse but it is done well. It balances thrifty and fashionable throughout and no matter where you look it embodies cool. The best example are the fitting rooms. The fitting rooms are separated are old painted chicken wire windows. The Hangers are old skateboard trucks and clearly second hand hooks. The Mirror reads, “‘What goes around comes around’ -Karma Don’t steal!” in a hand painted yellow.
Of course no one shops at a thrift store for the dressing rooms; it is about getting quality second-hand items at a discount. Not only will you get quality second-hand discount clothes there are some majorly discounted clothes which are brand new.
Yesterday, I bout a pair of lucky jeans that would normally cost me over $100 for under $50. I also walked out with three pairs of shoes, including a new pair of Aldos and a new pair of Elements, for the price of one at a normal price. Not to mention the $12 Brooks Brothers shirt which was exactly my size. This is all from their male selection which is more limited than their female selection. It’s a good thing for me too; I easily could have spent too much money had there been more to pick from.
Threads not only is a thrift store it has a back room which holds concerts, parties, and weekly donation based Yoga Sessions from Yougo Yoga (6pm on Wednesdays), a local studio.
So matter your style or what you find cool stop in to Threads, located at 423 William Street Corpus Christi, TX 78401. They open at noon and close at 7 every day but Sunday when they close at 5.
