Tombstone Market — Local services in Gladstone

Once nothing more than a hole-in-the-wall shop to buy guitars from long haired, bearded fellows, the Tombstone name in these parts has seemingly widened its market scope and its property holdings, yet has lost none of the dignified charm I have known it by since my teenage years in the late 80's and 90's. The other day I stopped into Tombstone market because, quite frankly, I needed a grocery sack. The Fred Meyer up the street only has paper bags, and in the wet weather months here in the Great Northwest, paper bags don't last long. By the time I'd gotten just two bus stops down my bag's bottom was falling apart and my groceries were trying to escape. I was flat broke; not even pocket change to make a deal with. I had no course of action to take besides dropping into the Tombstone Market and making a mercy appeal. Well, needless to say, the shopkeeper did not make me grovel or beg or even force me to do labor to pay off the cost of the bag. You may think I'm joking, but I'm telling you that some places take these matters extremely seriously. I've more than once been treated like a second class citizen with parasites because I asked for a free plastic bag or cup of water. Tombstone Market, in short, saved the day for me. If they had been as stingy with me as some places I know, there's no telling how I'd have gotten home with my stuff that day. It's a charming little market nestled in the quiet neighborhood of historic Old 82nd Avenue in Clackamas by Happy Valley. The plot is quaint and cozy with a uniquely distinctive western style. The store is neat, orderly, and well stocked. The people are friendly and helpful; almost neighborly without being nosy. Overall it's just a very fine place, and I recommend everyone should visit at least once. In a world that's going increasingly cookie-cutter, Tombstone keeps itself a strong...

Worst customer service experience of my life. I asked the lady behind the counter how her day was going and she talked over me and told me “don’t talk to me right now.” Are you so delusional that you thought I actually wanted to talk to you? Do you think that maybe you should reconsider what it means to work around people and find another job if you can’t handle public interactions? Do you think that is good for business to work extra slow, and be rude, and create a large line of customers waiting to pay all the way down the aisle? Are you under the influence of some substance that prevents you from thinking clearly and rationally or are you just absolutely depressed and pathetic? If you are the manager take all your money and sell the store and give it up. I’ve worked customer service for 5 years and I’ve never had someone be so rude and then say they were joking...

This is what you want in a local c_store. Here lies an example of a business trifecta: Great assortment of product, with wide ranging genres. A friendly, capable staff. And owners who truly understand how to conduct business. Genuinely looking you in the eyes and listening.

I'm interested in how these owners regard and compensate their employees. I bet they are great...