Ben Franklin

The penny store in my childhood neighborhood is closing. My family has lots of fond memories at that store. We would walk or ride our bikes the five blocks down, spend our coins on candy, and then eat it on the way home. If we spent a whole dollar on candy we had to eat some before getting home so Mom wouldn't know we'd eaten so much candy! It was so fun. 

We would take our cousins there too when they would visit. Here's the photo you requested, Michelle!

My family gave me their orders and I found all but Chewy Runts...sorry Rachel! I'm pretty sure I got Beth 300 Tootie Fruitys. I even bought the basket right off the candy shelf. 

I was not prepared for the insanity...no parking spots left (I parked illegally like tons of others), shoulder-to-shoulder  people in the aisles (but everyone was having so much fun that no one was rude), and hour-long check out lines. After 10min of waiting in line my mommy instincts kicked in...Elias was at my Mom's house and I knew he would be hungry soon. So I asked the 30-some people in front of me if I could cut because I had an 11 day old baby at home who would need to nurse soon. Only one lady (see her in the photo in the red shirt still glaring at me?!) was irritated with me. Everyone else was very understanding. I was one block from  my Mom's when she called to say Elias needed to eat...thank goodness for mommy intuition. 

I'd still like to get a photo outside of the store, but otherwise I think I have closure. :) It's been a good 35 years, Ben Franklin. Thanks for the memories!