Man, I tell you, there is something nice about being a regular and engaging like that.

You do have to make sure the staff are cool with it, but being able to roll in for your transaction and be happy to see the staff, and have them happy to see you because you're happy to see them and everyone is nice to each other, it fucking rocks.

My corner store of choice, I used to go there for cigarettes almost daily in part because it was such a good time. I could have gone less often and bought more, but it was cool as fuck.

They knew me by name, would ask my dad or wife how I was doing if they went, and they'd send messages back to me.

There were times when things were really busy, and regulars would start bullshitting with staff and each other, and the less familiar customers would be smiling and laughing too because happy is contagious.

How fucking rad is that?

I stopped smoking, but I still find reasons to stop in here and there, and it's still that same friendly, relaxed vibe. It feels like a community in there. That's mostly because the staff are all people that make that vibe possible by being willing to do that social dance. Yeah, the people in the area have to play their part too, but you gotta respect and admire the folks putting themselves out there like that.

Back during COVID, the crew at our stop n rob managed to maintain that community feeling, even behind masks and the plastic shields, while wearing gloves. That's fucking beast mode right there.

You find a store like that, where people can be people instead of machines exchanging goods for cash, that's the place to be.