𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗣𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗚𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗦 𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗘-𝗥𝗨𝗡 𝗗𝗨𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗠𝗔𝗡'𝗦 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗘

 

"I wonder if they have a Dutchman's Store in other cities," Ana said as we were driving back from a happy shopping experience in Catril, Iowa.

My theory has always been the key is to know the lay of the land, that is, the way locals in any given area make ends meet.

Brownsvillians take advantage of what's offered at the 77 Flea Market in the way of fresh vegetables and other items, then supplement that with H.E.B.

Dutchman's Store, along with a huge warehouse fronted by Dutchman's tractor trailers, represents nearly 100% of business in Catril.

The store is totally run by Mennonite women, stocking, cashiering and ordering.  The women are seriously helpful and gracious to customers, but, when they restock the shelves, elbows fly.

Obviously, the company is buying in bulk and getting huge deals on certain items.

How else can you sell Jimmy Dean Sausage for $1.49 lb., 2 lb Velveeta for $4.49, Organic ground beef 85% lean at $2.27 per lb.?

This store brings in customers from miles around and pushing a shopping cart around reminds me of my Bumper Car experience at Playland in Seattle, but without the aggression. 

I'm subscribing to Ana's theory that the store's customers are all Iowa farmers, gracious to a fault, shopping like they're buying supplies for winter, overfilling their carts.

On the highway back home a man with a long beard, riding a horse-pulled buggy, waves at us like he knows us.