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Alley's Grocery changing hands
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| Lamar Alley is selling Alley's Grocery. The Lakemont institution has a closing date set for Dec. 22. |
By Jessi Stone Staff Writer
Alley's Grocery on Old Highway 441 has been a family business for more than 80 years, but that will change this coming week.
The shelves look bare and prices are slashed as Lamar Alley counts down his last days in the store. Lamar's father, Paul Alley, first opened P.A. Alley's General Merchandise in Lakemont in 1925.
Being the eldest son, Lamar took over the business in the 1960s after his father passed away. Lamar said the store used to carry everything from clothing and shoes to fish bait and daily essentials.
The store still has its original cash register, and Lamar sat by an old space heater as he spoke about the store and his family. The store also served as the post office until the mid-1950s. Lamar's mother, Kathleen, served as postmaster.
Lamar and his wife, who goes by Kat, are selling the store to Annie Westermann. It will be called Annie's at Alley's Market and Deli when Westermann reopens in a few months.
"It's just something that has to be done," said Lamar's daughter, Kay Wilkerson.
Wilkerson has a lot of good memories growing up at the store. She will miss seeing the people she has met over the years.
"In a way I feel like we're letting the community down," she said. "I got to know several generations of families in the area."
Lake Rabun resident Dave Cowan has fond memories of Alley's Grocery. "It has been a great place of convenience over the years, and even if I didn't need anything I would stop and talk to the family," he said.
The Alleys lived above the store until four years ago when it became too difficult for Lamar, 82, to climb the stairs every day. Now Lamar and Kat live in a home across the road. Lamar said the store finally had become too much for him after 40 years.
Dan Morse owns a cabin on Miss Lamar's Hill Lane above Alley's Grocery. He is a commercial appraiser but also a local artist who has done several drawings of the store. He remembers general stores fading away when he was a young boy and "wants Lakemont to still have the flavor of old times."
Kat said the children and grandchildren helped out at the store and ran errands when necessary. However, all of them have full-time jobs and were not be able to work 12 hours a day, six days a week.
"It's not hard work, but someone has to be here to keep the store running," she said.
Melessa Alley said her husband, Michael, was sad to see the sale go through because he grew up in the store. Michael is Lamar's grandson.
Kat said she and Lamar had mixed emotions about selling the store to someone outside the family, but it's time for them to retire.
Lamar and Kat recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. They have three children, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Wilkerson hopes her parents will now have more time to spend with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
When asked what he will do with his time once he sells the store, Lamar replied, "Nothing." Lamar assured the new owner would still sell customer favorites like hoop cheese.
The shelves look bare and prices are slashed as Lamar Alley counts down his last days in the store. Lamar's father, Paul Alley, first opened P.A. Alley's General Merchandise in Lakemont in 1925.
Being the eldest son, Lamar took over the business in the 1960s after his father passed away. Lamar said the store used to carry everything from clothing and shoes to fish bait and daily essentials.
The store still has its original cash register, and Lamar sat by an old space heater as he spoke about the store and his family. The store also served as the post office until the mid-1950s. Lamar's mother, Kathleen, served as postmaster.
Lamar and his wife, who goes by Kat, are selling the store to Annie Westermann. It will be called Annie's at Alley's Market and Deli when Westermann reopens in a few months.
"It's just something that has to be done," said Lamar's daughter, Kay Wilkerson.
Wilkerson has a lot of good memories growing up at the store. She will miss seeing the people she has met over the years.
"In a way I feel like we're letting the community down," she said. "I got to know several generations of families in the area."
Lake Rabun resident Dave Cowan has fond memories of Alley's Grocery. "It has been a great place of convenience over the years, and even if I didn't need anything I would stop and talk to the family," he said.
The Alleys lived above the store until four years ago when it became too difficult for Lamar, 82, to climb the stairs every day. Now Lamar and Kat live in a home across the road. Lamar said the store finally had become too much for him after 40 years.
Dan Morse owns a cabin on Miss Lamar's Hill Lane above Alley's Grocery. He is a commercial appraiser but also a local artist who has done several drawings of the store. He remembers general stores fading away when he was a young boy and "wants Lakemont to still have the flavor of old times."
Kat said the children and grandchildren helped out at the store and ran errands when necessary. However, all of them have full-time jobs and were not be able to work 12 hours a day, six days a week.
"It's not hard work, but someone has to be here to keep the store running," she said.
Melessa Alley said her husband, Michael, was sad to see the sale go through because he grew up in the store. Michael is Lamar's grandson.
Kat said she and Lamar had mixed emotions about selling the store to someone outside the family, but it's time for them to retire.
Lamar and Kat recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. They have three children, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Wilkerson hopes her parents will now have more time to spend with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
When asked what he will do with his time once he sells the store, Lamar replied, "Nothing." Lamar assured the new owner would still sell customer favorites like hoop cheese.
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PJ Scott wrote on Dec 20, 2008 11:02 AM: