Community Chat

[cheriere]

Long before QVC was ever imagined, out in the country may have been it's predecessors called ROLLING STORES.

Ive heard my Granny and my Mother speak about these many times.  In fact, before writing this post today, I spoke with my Mother again just to make sure I got some of the details correct.

Since many folks who lived in the country may have only went to town once a month, local stores would send out vehicles stocked full of all sorts of items they figured people might want or need.  I was told that these existed even before my Mother's time, but the one she remembered was an old school bus that had been painted bright red.. He came by every Saturday and everyone looked forward to his visit.

The store would drive slowly down the road, as many of them were still dirt lol.  Families would usually have the kids sit on the porch waiting until they could see it coming, as to throw your hand up for it to stop.

Each person got their own turn to go on the store.  Many items were on board, some included: All manner of dry goods, household items, hardware, farm supplies such as bags of feed and salt blocks, drugs, Many groceries including canned goods, fresh pies, cakes and breads, and all the Pop and Candy you could imagine.  

My mom fondly recalls how good the Rolling Store smelled once you got inside.  She and her sisters and brother would always get change from her parents or grandparents to buy candy and a pop.  Since she was raised in the city in Ohio, this was one of her best memories when spending the summers down home with her grandparents.

However, even when her family moved back here when she was in high school, the Rolling Store still ran and that was in the 60s.  She wishes she'd have taken a picture of that old store so many times.  She tried to find one among her Facebook friends, but was unable to.  I've included some other pics I found online of other Rolling Stores.  

[haddon9]

Interesting and it makes sense.  Both of my parents grew up in NYC and I spent my early childhood there.  No rolling stores for us!

[SportyShorty07]

@cheriere  This is wonderful, Cheriere! Thank you so much for sharing thelovely storis your family has about the Rolling Stores :heart! I think its os great that these Rolling Stores existed and provided shopping opportunities to people in small towns!  It must've been really exciting for your Mom and Grandma to see those stores approaching their neighborhoods- and I bet it was a lot of fun to walk into the Rolling Stores and look at all of the merchandise . I like the photos- all of the people waiting in line are probably really excited to buy their favorite things or discover new things they haven't purchased before.  Thank you for sharing! 

[cheriere]

@SportyShorty07  @haddon9 

Thanks 😊💝. Mom smiled and said she can still recall how great it smelled to climb aboard...and ALL that candy lol.

[persiflage]

I'm thinking of Mr. Haney on Green Acres!

[SportyShorty07]

@cheriere  Ooh I bet the Rolling Stores smelled great ! And I love candy- I eat candy everyday! Not a full bar, but a few pieces of fun sized mini candy.  Yesterday I went to Walgreens and I bought Charms Blow Pops and Tootsie Roll pops .  Do you, your Mom and Granny have favorite candies?

[cheriere]

@SportyShorty07 

Mom's definitely a cotton candy, circus peanuts kinda gal.  I prefer Jolly Ranchers and Sour Patch Kids lol.❤️

[SportyShorty07]

@cheriere  Ooh you and your Mommy have great taste in candy! I love cotton candy, circus peanuts, Jolly Rachers and Sour Patch kids .  I'll eat any type of candy- some weeks I crave Mr. Goodbar or Hershey's, other times I want Jolly Ranchers or Haribo gunmmy bears.  I like Mallowcups and Rollos.  I had some M & M's the other day and they were delicious. I'll never outgrow my love for candy.   

[cheriere]

@SportyShorty07 

Ooh, mallowcups!  We love those too and I totally forgot about those!  I love chocolate as well.  In fact, I hogged out and ate count them, 5 Reeces Easter Eggs last night!😃❤️

[Mombo1]

@cheriere    Great story and pictures.  We did not have a Rolling Store, but we did have what we called the "Bread Man".   He drove his small van by almost every night....usually late afternoon.  He mainly carried breads, cookies, pies and cakes.  When we heard the bells on his truck, we knew he was coming.  Occasionally we were allowed to meet him at the curb....and he would always give us a free cookie.   My mom always got the bread.  Sometimes my mom would get mad at the timing. It was always close to dinner,  and she didn't want us to eat anything to ruin our appetites.  Eventually she gave in, and everyone was happy.  Those were also the days when milk was delivered to the house.  We had a little metal box on the porch.  When you heard the lid slam shut, we knew it was there.   Free cookies and a glass of milk hit the spot.  🤗