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Bep's in Newton delivers service
with a smile
THE JUICE IN NEWTON:
Bep's patronage rises and falls with the weather and
the level of Newton Dam. / Photo by Rachel Christensen
By Rachel Christensen
September 19, 2008 | NEWTON -- Come to Bep's Country
Store on the corner of Center and Main streets in Newton
and you'll leave with more than a few groceries. You'll
also have acquired a smile and a new friend.
Owners Cleon Griffin and his wife Beckie live in Clarkston
and commute to the store. They carry food items such
as popcorn and spices as well as household items such
as sewing thread and soap.
"It's hard trying to get what everyone wants," Griffin
said. Since the store isn't very big he said it's hard
to try to keep all the items and brands on hand that
each customer prefers.
Griffin said the store's business hasn't been affected
much by the downturn of the economy.
"We've done pretty good still," he said. "When Newton
Dam had no water, about two to three years ago, that
affected (business)."
Griffin said although they generally get 100 to 150
customers a day in the summer months, winter can be
difficult because they don't get much business in the
bad weather.
The couple has owned the country store since Dec.
11, 2001. Griffin bought the store from his mother-in-law
when Parkinson's disease made it difficult for her to
work.
"People didn't like her selling it," Griffin said,
while leaning over the store's counter. "She's a people
person."
Griffin said he is hard of hearing and that sometimes
frustrates the customers and makes it hard to communicate
with them as much as he'd like to.
"Generally speaking, they're nice people," Griffin
said. "I've gotten to know a lot of faces in Newton,
but don't ask me their names," he added with a chuckle.
Despite being hard of hearing, Griffin is still able
to connect with his customers. When a little girl dressed
in shorts and leather cowgirl boots struggled to find
something to buy with her dollar bill, Griffin used
a few pennies from a cup on the counter pay for the
tax. The little girl gave a shy thanks and literally
skipped out the door.
"If I hadn't had these pennies, I wouldn't have done
that," he said with a grin. "Kids got to learn."
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