Weekends are for exploring and there is plenty to explore around Greensboro! Today, we take you to 1916 Huffine Mill Road, north of Wendover, where it splits with Rankin Mill Road. Right at the Y is this little cinder block building that used to be a convenience store. Above the door, the signage says, "DISCOUNT GROCERIES AND MORE: A Bent Can Store." How curious! What on earth is a bent can store? We purposely took the photo through one of the the mimosa trees on the property, because it evokes yesteryear and is an example of how there can be beauty even in neglect. The mimosa tree, while beautiful, can be considered an invasive pest. It was first brought to Charleston, S.C. in 1745 and over the past 275 years has established roots from California to the South and extending up to New York. Their allure is the beautiful pink plumes, they are fast growing, and the leaves fold up at night.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if this tiny store, a mere 864 square ft and built in 1951, would be restored to its original splendor. Now, it seems as if we all want to stop at convenience stores that sell gas, make sandwiches to order, and have every flavoring to put in coffee, and every bag of chips imaginable. But how fun it was back in the day, when you stopped at a store, maybe even put your purchase on your bill, and the owner and customer gave updates about their lives. It appears the current owners have had it for almost forty years. We'll bet they have some great stories to tell and lots of memories of this part of the county way out past the east side of Greensboro.
Dented cans and unclaimed freight can be bought cheap and resold for less than supermarket average prices. "Bent Can" means salvage like the late great Salvage Discount store in Kernersville.
Posted by: T.D. | Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at 11:50 AM
I like how you've framed it.
Posted by: William Kendall | Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at 02:29 PM