Fresh Mart is Stealing My Childhood!

When I was but 6 years old, my oldest sister Kim was babysitting me. We needed to go to the store, so we guessed how many (Kim-sized) steps it would take to walk to Albertson's. Knowing Albertson's to be farther away than I had probably ever walked, I guessed a really big number: 100. 265 steps or so later, Kim and I walked into the store. I still remember getting an ice-cream cone with her, where she taught me to sing I Saw the Sign by Ace of Base.

Upon receiving my one-dollar weekly allowance in elementary school (tons of money), my cousin Dave and I would always walk down to Albertson's and spend hours deliberating whether to buy Fun Dips, a pastry, Neccos, Spree, or Nerds. Then we'd go to aisle 4 and freeze to death while we picked out a soda for a quarter.

In high school, Jordan, Matt, Marshall, Chris, Isaac, Andrew, Steve and I would all cram onto the trampoline in our sleeping bags and talk about girls. Jordan and I would argue about who gets to date Rachel and Isaac would go home early, then we would all walk down to Albertson's, look for the obligatory HCAA (hot chick at Albertson's), then buy energy drinks. Once we got hyper enough, we'd start prank calling the girls we liked. Matt would swear if he drank enough Red Bulls then life would move in slow motion.

Naturally, when hanging out with my friends last week, Albertson's was the first place that came to mind when we needed ice cream to make shakes. As the cashier was ringing us up, I got the surprise of my life.

Cashier: "How y'all doing tonight?

Me: "Good good. Just gonna make some shakes!"

Cashier: "Sounds like fun. You guys from around here?"

Me: "I live just around the corner. I've been coming to this Albertson's for my whole life. I've had some good times here.

Cashier: "It's not Albertson's."

All of us: "..."

Me: "I don't get it. There's a giant neon Albertson's sign on the front of the building."

Cashier: [pointing to the logo on his shirt] "It's Fresh Mart now."

I was speechless. I felt like my wife of 20 years was leaving me. How could this happen? This place where so many treasured memories have happened?

Probably, nobody else cares all that much, but to me, I feel a little sad inside. Thanks for the good times, Albertson's. I'll miss you!