March 22, 2018
This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.
Today’s
story comes from an article in the Junction
City Union newspaper in 1985. The
author wrote: “Memories of penny candy, fifteen cent soda and Saturday matinee
shows come flooding back when one walks into the Peter Pan Food Store, owned
and operated by John Leonard. In his
small store there were creaking wooden floors, a ceiling fan, an old fashioned cash
register, a single check-out stand and freshly cut meat displayed behind
glass. Leonard has captured the spirit
of the last of the small grocers – “mom and pop” stores.”
At the end
of May, 1985, Leonard will hang the “closed” sign on his door for the last time
after more than 45 years in the meat cutting and grocery business. He stated:
“I hate to close it up. It’s been a good
store.” Leonard was a strong believer in being available to customers, which
was evident by the rapport he had with everyone who came into the store. He stated: “You’ve got to be out where the
people are. They want to see the boss.
Success in any business is 90 percent hard work. If you’re not physically working at your job,
you’re gonna go out of business.”
When Leonard
came to Junction City in 1939, there were 39 grocery stores, many of which were
on the 100 block of Seventh Street where Peter Pan was located. Among others in business were Kientz IGA and
A&P.
We are
always interested in hearing your stories about former grocery stores and other
businesses in Junction City. Stop by the
Museum at the corner of Sixth and Adams Street between 1 and 4 Tuesdays through
Saturdays.
And… thanks
for reading “Our Past is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.
No comments:
Post a Comment