Jul 12, 2009

Pelham market is an extended familyBy Ali LaFayEagleTribune.com

Pelham — While other stores are jacking up prices to keep pace with the sluggish economy, the owners of Hillside Country Store on Mammoth Road are doing everything they can to keep prices low for their customers.

“We certainly have felt the wrath of the economy, but we try to keep our prices not off the wall,” owner Mary Kay Tanner said.

Tanner, who lives across the street and bought the store with her husband five years ago, said she tries to negotiate with vendors who threaten to raise their prices. If that doesn’t work, she makes other arrangements.

“When our cigarette vendor increased their prices, I decided it was just going to be too much for our customers,” Tanner said. “Now I go down to Sam’s (Club) every week and buy them in bulk because it’s less expensive that way.”

The fact that Tanner consistently goes the extra mile doesn’t go unnoticed by customers. Patty LeClair of Windham said that’s one of the reasons she shops at the local store.

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