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Nimisha Patel (background, center) and Gloria Howard help customers at the busy checkout area Powell's Friendly Market may take on a new look (below) if it moves into a proposed shopping center. |
By DAN TELVOCK
The wood floors are scuffed bare from decades of foot traffic and the building's foundation is cracked and crumbling.
It's hard to believe the "World's Best" hot dogs are made in this place called Powell's Friendly Market at the corner of Lafayette Boulevard and Harrison Road in Spotsylvania County.
"This building was old when I came here 49 years ago," said 82-year-old David Osborne, who lives behind the store.
The store, which many people call an eyesore, will change in appearance if the Patel family gets approval to redevelop the site.
But rest assured, the hot dogs are staying put.
For right now, though, if you look past the dilapidated building and walk inside, you'll find yourself in the middle of a localized "Cheers," where everybody knows your name.
The din of cash registers echo inside, with the smell of chili and onions permeating the aisles.
The store's large, white metal sign with a cartoon hot dog proclaiming they are the best is an icon in Spotsylvania. A customer can spend as little as 99 cents or up to $1.59 for a chili-cheese dog. The store is also tops in the region and 22nd in the state for lottery ticket sales.
The strong base of customers comes for the family atmosphere and swears by the food. Whether you have home-cooked chili--which employee Gloria Howard says is "the real stuff, not that canned soybean stuff"--splattered on your dog or a juicy half-smoke, it's all good.
"I don't know what it is, but these hot dogs don't taste like anything else," said Elaine Waller, a customer of 20 years. She had two of her sons with her on a recent day, and bought seven hot dogs.
David Hughey, who has been buying hot dogs with mustard, relish and onions here for 20 years, said the atmosphere resembles a local barber shop.
"The people are special here," he said. "These are the friendliest owners. They know just about everyone by name."
Dharmhendra "Danny" Patel and his brother, Hasmukhlal, bought the store from Milton Powell in 1993. Powell had owned it since 1977 and started the hot dog craze. The property also used to be a gas station, a butcher shop and a fish shop.
The Patels said they realize new residents may not stop in because of the building's appearance, which is why they want to spend $2.4 million to redevelop the site.
Earlier this month, Spotsylvania planning commissioners raved about the project, chiefly because of the sidewalks and buffers. They unanimously recommended approval to the supervisors.
Danny Patel said he would like to have a mini-franchise for the hot dogs. The money to rebuild the store is well spent, he said, because of the customers.
"I don't have any customers who say they don't like the hot dogs," he said. "Once they come inside and taste the food, they love it. They keep coming back."
Dan Telvock: 540/374-5438
Email: dtelvock@freelancestar.com
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The Spotsylvania Planning Commission gave the Patel family's rezoning request glowing reviews at a meeting this month. Supervisors and planning commissioners have long talked about redeveloping the blighted U.S. 1/Lafayette Boulevard corridor.
The Patel family is asking The Patels plan a new buffer between the few homes that line Harrison Road before the Wawa station. They also will improve ingress/egress, improve stormwater facilities, install sidewalks and a bike rack to make the intersection walkable and use dark-sky lighting technology. Two homes adjacent to the store will be razed for the expansion and a new parking lot. Supervisors haven't yet considered the rezoning and may not have a public hearing until February. If they do approve it, the Patels hope This would be the second property on Lafayette Boulevard that the Patels have redeveloped. They razed |
