More than 30 years ago, Oliver Turner lost his job at Big Star Grocery, just before the Rockingham location closed its doors — and from that a lifetime of blessings were born.
Armed with a business degree, Oliver hit the pavement looking for another job.
“he looked for work for nine months,” said his wife, Carol. “he was told that he was overqualified, or under-qualified or that companies just weren’t hiring.”
After months of praying about the situation, the couple decided to open their own produce store. They set up shop at 5 Raleigh Street in Hamlet and never left.
“People said we wouldn’t make it, but the Lord has provided,” said Carol.
They started small, buying what they could from a large produce market in Columbia, S.C.
“We went through some really difficult times,” she said. “It was really tight when our daughter was in college, and there was a period of about two years when nobody in the family got any new clothes. My son likes to joke that was the time we froze them — we used a Buck Stove for heat.”
The family persevered, and prayed, and 20 years ago decided to start selling fresh fish.
“That’s when the business really started doing well,” said Carol. “That’s what’s gotten us by.”
The fresh fish assortment from Atlantic Seafood and Blackburn Brothers includes: flounder; shrimp; snapper; mullet; spot; catfish; black bass; white perch; catfish; bream; and crab legs.
“Fresh fish is actually our biggest seller,” she said.
One customer, Ben Murphy, is a regular at the store and said the Olivers have the best fish in town, along with great service.
The family has chosen to support other North Carolina industries through their store. Shelves are stocked with homemade jellies, jams, pickles and preserves from small businesses.
“We used to have small farmers knocking down our doors to sell produce here, but it’s getting tougher to find local farmers these days,” said Carol. “I guess farming isn’t as popular as it used to be.”
Some of the produce comes from the Oliver’s own small farm. Potatoes, cucumbers, peas, squash and okra are a few of the fresh items the family contributes to the store. Even fresh eggs from their chickens are sometimes available.
“We shell peas and beans, for people who want the fresh food but don’t want to spend all that time shelling,” said Carol.
Most, if not all, of the meats in the store are also from dealers in the state.
From 2005-2010, the store was voted as the best place to buy produce in the county.
Oliver thinks that may have something to do with the fact that stepping into the store is like a trip back in time.
“This is a place you can come and get what you want, as much or as little as you want, of unpackaged fresh produce,” he said. “I think people like that it’s a really old-timey feeling place. We have fresh mountain butter, candies that you don’t see a lot these days, we sell Blenheim Ginger Ale in the bottle and Red Rock strawberry soda. This is also one of the few places you can come to have your cheese cut for you — it’s hoop cheese, people really like it.”
Oliver believes people also appreciate small businesses because “when they come in, they’re dealing directly with the owners.”
Adding to the “old world” feel of the store are the bars of lye soap that Oliver makes and sells.
“I like to make my own pork skins,” he said. “I had all this fat left over, and I don’t like to waste things so I learned how to make soap.”
Oliver and Carol, 62 and 63 years old, have different ideas about the idea of retirement.
Carol dreams of having time to cook big meals for those she loves, and learning how to paint.
“I love being here,” said Oliver. “It’s so rewarding. We’ve met some of the best people. Our customers are really special — they’re like family. I look forward to coming to work and seeing them.”
Though the family faced difficulties, and made some sacrifices along the way, they agree that the store has been a great treasure in their lives.
“Oliver loves it so much that if we ever do sell the store, he’ll probably want to be in here every day helping the new owners,” said Carol.
— Staff writer Kelli Easterling can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 18, or by email at .
