re: Thoughts on Old men coffee clubs

quote:

---

I don't understand the appeal of gas stations for these old man meet ups. Or chain restaurants for that matter. Most towns have a locally owned diner/breakfast spot.

---

Some small towns are actually proud of their chain fast food places. The town my parents grew up in had local places, but none were ever open for breakfast. They'd open up from 11-2 for lunch, then 5-9 for dinner. My grandpa went to the Hardee's every morning. When I was a kid, and when I was a teenager, if we were ever staying with them, I'd get up and go with them. Just a bunch of 65+ guys sipping coffee and eating biscuits, and shooting the breeze for an hour. They'd talk about yard work, the church functions coming up, projects they had going on, etc. I figure by the time I'm that age, I'll probably want an excuse to get out of the house for an hour every morning and see friends.

This town has maybe 2,500 people. It was a big deal a few years ago when they got a McDonald's. All the family from there that are on Facebook were posting selfies in the parking lot the day it opened. I still remember the first time I took my wife down there to visit. I was in college, and she was a Sr in high school. We'd been dating about a year and I was going to visit and took her with me. She was asking me all about the town, and I told her it was pretty small. But that they now had a Subway. She thought I meant public transit, not a sandwich shop. They have a Hardee's, Subway, and now the McDonald's. The only grocery stores are Piggly Wiggly and IGA. The only hardware store is Ace. Couple of gas stations, and that is about it.