Today, I'm taking an early afternoon walk in the Nations Capital (with Ang-Tastic) and I end up in the near NE section of town. Kind of hungry, we decide to stop in the Subway which is located guess where? Inside National Wholesale Liquidators(NWL). Ang tells me she hasn't been there before, so I take her on a rapid tour of the store; electronics, food, home products, health care, and lastly for us, furniture (leather sofas for $400?!?! What?!?!). As we sit and begin eating at Subway, it hits me!!! NWL provides a GREAT service for the community. No, they don't have the newest flavors of Nutri-Grain bars, but they do have 3 of the old ones. No, they don't have the newest Sony 70 inch TV, but they do have a range of no name and name brand televisions sized from 13 to 45 inches. No they don't have USDA certified organic dried cilantro, but they do have cilantro. I look around and I see people shopping of all ages, sizes, colors, and socio-economic backgrounds. This really is "The People's Store." They've done it since 1984 and operate in about 12 states, with little to no fanfare...they just keep DOING. It's not perfect, it's not super glossy and slickly marketed, and it's not focused on being in a newly gentrified neighborhood where they can charge newly gentrified prices for "luxuries and premium products" for what most of us would call "necessities." . It's a good company, ran by seemingly good people, selling good products, at well discounted prices. Is that not enough? YES. I do shop at the new Target in Columbia Heights, the Whole Foods in Logan Circle, etc. NO. It does not make me who I am. It felt really good to be in a place,with people and common basic needs; even if it was an unglorified warehouse crammed with a few cool things, and a lot of necessary ones.Thank you NWL for BEING, and thanks for the super soft toilet paper.
Give Thanks :-)
1 comment:
yep. i like the place too.
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