Derek Paul started going to Sandy Cross Grocery, Hardware and Cafe as a child.
“When I grew up, my daddy would take me to the store and there would be four or five old guys sitting around drinking coffee or playing checkers,” Paul said. “And from the time I was a child, I hoped that one day I would get to do that.”
Paul said just a few months ago, he found himself making memories through food, fellowship and worship songs at the store.
“And it just hit me … what I longed for as a child now has come true,” he said.
Sandy Cross Grocery, Hardware and Cafe, in operation since the 1970s, has been a community staple.
What once began as a small service station on Lexington-Carlton Road eventually grew into a one-stop shop for nearby residents to grab what they need, but also a place where neighbors could meet up, share stories and build relationships.
The cafe serves as a gathering place for group events such as the Sandy Cross Circle, a men’s Bible study group, and the Little Ole Bitties women’s group, which uses the cafe and its cooking for their meetings.
Head cafe operator Mary Partin said even though the cafe has these frequent visitors, some don’t even know that the cafe serves breakfast and lunch every day except Sundays.
“Would we like to see more people? Absolutely,” Partin said. “But I think the problem is how many people I’ve talked to that know the store is here but don’t know that they can eat here.”
Partin and the rest of the staff said their regulars are what make the store special, and that their ability to build relationships with people in Sandy Cross keeps them invested in the store and cafe.
“There’s been lots of times when I’m like, ‘I’m leaving. I’m quitting. I’m done,’ ” staff member Jody Wray said. “But then I’m like, ‘Wow, I can’t leave my customers.’ It's such a close community, and it keeps me coming back.”
Partin encourages residents to stop by the store and see what the cafe has to offer.
“Come on down and eat with us,” Partin said.