How about a happy story to start off 2007: After the only grocery store in Truman Minnesota closed, 17-year-old Nick Graham bought and re-opened it to help save his struggling community. People are even volunteering to help him stock the shelves. What a wonderful story. The kid’s got a great James Stewart-like voice too.
About Jason Fried
Jason co-founded 37signals back in 1999. He also co-authored REWORK, the New York Times bestselling book on running a "right-sized" business. Co-founded, co-authored... Can he do anything on his own?Read all of Jason Fried’s posts, and follow Jason Fried on Twitter.
Jason Fried wrote this on Jan 02 2007 There are 16 comments.
J Christiansen 02 Jan 07
Good for him!
My family comes from that part of Minnesota, and my grandparents and an aunt/uncle still live there. The area is struggling, but really great people. They’re the kind of towns that really do stick together.
Thanks for the link!
Drew Pickard 02 Jan 07
His voice is amazing . . .
Carl 02 Jan 07
Reminds me of the grocery store in Republic, Michigan. It closed last year and now everyone in the town has to drive at least 30 minutes for a decent grocery store. If anyone wants to do what this kid did, go to Republic!
Anita @ Say No to Crack 03 Jan 07
I miss Midwest hospitality and friendliness. Lived in Chicago for 5 years, worked in Minneapolis for a year, and everyday have a part of me that wishes I was back there. This certainly adds to that longing.
4point44 03 Jan 07
that’s fantastic. even by movie standards.
Anonymous Coward 03 Jan 07
He sounds like a 50 yr old
Steven Andrew Miller 03 Jan 07
Nice sentimental story, but I wonder how long it will last. He may not be “here to make a profit,” but if he has to have people volunteer (i.e. work for free) is he even breaking even? At some point people are going to stop volunteering and go back to the “heresy” of shopping out of town for what ever reason caused them to do so in the first place.
Sorry to rain on the parade, but surely there is a reason why the previous owners closed shop.
Pelle 03 Jan 07
Great guy – more people should be like him and not be affraid to take a risk. In a capitalism we are relying on people like him to get what we want where it isn’t necessarily the best climat for profits – like tthat village he bought the shop in.
He certainly sends out some much needed inspiration :)
War-N 03 Jan 07
What a great story. He’s attitude and voice are way ahead of his years! :)
Martin Crockett 03 Jan 07
What a hero! Too bad something like this would never happen here in the UK: ‘only in America’.
Joe 03 Jan 07
Sorry to rain on the parade, but surely there is a reason why the previous owners closed shop.
Rain all you want, but maybe the reason was the previous owners didn’t keep the store clean or well-stocked. Maybe they didn’t treat their customers with respect, maybe they just didn’t put forth enough effort to make it work. Who knows? Sometimes failing business do well under new ownership.
Darrel 03 Jan 07
“Rain all you want, but maybe the reason was the previous owners didn’t keep the store clean or well-stocked. Maybe they didn’t treat their customers with respect, maybe they just didn’t put forth enough effort to make it work. Who knows?”
Or, more than likely, it’s damn hard to survive as an independant these days.
Good for this kid. I wish him luck. Hopefully Wal-Mart will stay out of the area. ;o)
Don Schenck 03 Jan 07
Today’s Trivia:
Under $2 million annual sales = Grocery Store. $2 million and up = Supermarket.
lurkabee 03 Jan 07
Wish he would step in and resurrect Webvan… miss that service. On a serious note, what an inspiration…. enough to get this 33 year old hand to click a mouse… one… more…. time….
Brian Timpone 05 Jan 07
Steve Hartman—the CBS reporter— is one of the best feature guys around. He’s an amazing storyteller, a true rarity in TV journalism.
Alas, these pieces don’t produce themselves, something worth noting as the algorithm-worshippers among us ring the death knell of “old media.”
Christopher Johnston 07 Jan 07
Great story about the good things happening in small town America. I even added a link to it on my blog.
This discussion is closed.