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Windham's Grocery sells after 43 years in same family
"We just got burnt out," Tommy Windham said. "There were some things that needed to be changed for the business to continue to grow and I have gotten to the point in my life where the desire is no longer there. It was time for some young blood. Jay and Toni came along and wanted it, so I decided to sell it," he said. Windham's Grocery is a cornerstone in Gainestown. With everything from gas to tools, it has a little of everything you want. Its two employees, Sheila Anderson and Sheila Jackson have been working for the small store for 30 and 15 years, respectively. "We have had some good help. The two girls who are with me now have been here for a long time. Sheila Anderson has been here 30 years and Sheila Jackson has been here about 15 years," Windham said. The stability of the people working at Windham's has been beneficial in building relationships with customers over the years. There is a good chance that when you walk in Windham's, you are going to be welcomed by your first name and helped anyway possible by the ladies that are referred to by the locals as the two Sheilas. Windham talked about the customers that he has grown accustomed to seeing every morning at his store. "One of the things I am going to miss the most is being able to visit with the people. You see the same ones everyday. We will miss them. It is just time for me to move on. It comes a point in every man's life where it is time to move on. After 30 years, now is that time, " Windham said. Windham's Grocery's sign is in the process of coming down and the store will officially be changed to Papis Country Store before too long. While the store has not changed much over the years, Windham thinks a little change is going to be good. "I told Jay and Toni the first thing they need to do is turn the place bottom side upwards, stir up a little controversy to get people in here looking. I used to do that quite regularly. The desire is just not there," Windham said. Jay Papis said even though the store is changing owners, it doesn't mean that complete change is going to happen. For one, the two Sheilas will still be behind the counter welcoming the customers "I don't want much to change. I want it to keep on going like it has been going. I want to try to serve the people of the community and give them a product they can use," Papis said. "I have been here 30 years," Sheila Anderson said. "I am the oldest person here, so hopefully I don't have to put too many more years in. I am looking forward to working for the new owners. It has just been three or four days that Toni and Jay have taken over but I think they are going to be just fine to work for," she said. Tommy, 58, has spent his whole life in the country store. He took over when he was 26 years old and started working there with his dad when he was 11. "I grew up in this store and I raised my kids here. There are a lot of memories. We used to have a meat market here and I always asked my daughter (Carol Jackson) to clean it and she hated it. She is 40 now and if you ask her what she hates about the store she will say that meat market," Windham emotionally said. As for what's next in line for the Windhams, they will try to get out and see the country a little bit after taking some time off. "We are going to take some time off. There are some places in this country my wife and I want to see. I may try to find something to keep me busy after that. I will go stir-crazy if I don't have a little something to do," Windham said.
Tommy's wife, Billie, had this to say about selling the store. "We are going to miss all the people that come in here everyday. We really appreciate them and they will be missed," she said.
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