The end of an era

 

It’s not every day that you can walk into a local supermarket and find an African lion attacking a warthog right there by the checkout counters – unless you’re shopping at Hank’s Harvest Foods in Twisp.  The store was actually featured on Atlas Obscura. 

Hank Konrad and his locally owned store were beloved institutions in the Methow Valley since the 1970's. Hank was always in the store with a friendly greeting for everyone, locals and tourists alike, stocking shelves, assisting customers and even bagging groceries. He and his family have been generous benefactors in the community for all sorts of worthy causes.

Happily for him, sadly for us, Hank is retiring and has sold his store to Spokane-based Rosauer’s Supermarkets which owns 20 stores in the Northwest. Hank said he wanted to sell his grocery store to a company that he could trust to continue serving the Methow Valley. As they say, change is the only constant. 

This morning was the big transition day, and as soon as you walked in, it felt different. How weird seeing strange men, obviously city-type managers, bustling around the service desk and walking the store. Supposedly, Hank's employees were invited to stay on, but I only saw one familiar face. 

A new home for those familiar faces looking down from the frozen food? You don't know what you've got till it's gone.