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satans_scallion t1_iuabibr wrote

We call it the stow-ah

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mtnbikerburittoeater t1_iuc7yu3 wrote

Yeah or they also often have their own names that locals will use, like Mulligan's on 202 in Manchester.

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takeurpantsoff t1_iucv8ip wrote

Which is now owned by nouria like all the j and s'. And subsequently sucks now :/

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mirage74 t1_iuczugc wrote

Mulligans is named after my first husband!

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l1nked1npark t1_iua4cn6 wrote

I’ve always called them variety stores

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david_lo-pan t1_iua9dv1 wrote

I usually even omit “store”

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urlocaldesi t1_iuabie5 wrote

We have ~3 “____’s Variety” stores within about 10 miles of where I live, so they end up being “a quick run to the variety”

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1cooldud t1_iudgb2c wrote

This sounds like the proper political correct term

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yupuhoh t1_iua2ba5 wrote

There is. It's called a convenience store

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RealMainer t1_iua38eg wrote

I believe the term you are looking for is “one of them there fancy pants gas stations, what with the pizza and hot dogs and indoor rest rooms.”

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WorthyTomato t1_iuaqgw0 wrote

Indoor restroom?? Hot damn, what a fine attraction. None of them round here.

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Doc_coletti t1_iuacpbl wrote

Convenience store, variety store, dairy store, general store, country store

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LeoIsRude t1_iubnsh5 wrote

Don't forget "corner store" regardless of whether or not it's on a corner. Corner store pizza is heaven on earth when you've been eating healthy for awhile and you're craving pizza.

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Random-Rambling t1_iubttw5 wrote

Mm, I'm craving it right now. Fold the slice in half and take a big bite, leaving a huge orange puddle on the paper plate!

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LeoIsRude t1_iubvbjc wrote

And the crust is always exactly the same wherever you go. I'm usually a crunchy fan, but damn if that chewy crust doesn't hit the spot.

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Subject_Painter_2082 t1_iubiou1 wrote

Country stores can only be called country stores if they are in buildings that clearly used to be houses. While, original pine board floors are not required, they are highly encouraged.

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OptimusPhillip t1_iuaazyt wrote

Is that not normal for convenience stores?

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redwall_hp t1_iub2v2x wrote

It is. That's exactly what Cumberland Farms, In and Out, or 7/11 is. Maine is just twenty years behind the curve usually, and has more surviving rural ones that haven't been paved over by big chains yet.

I just moved out of state and there's no shortage of gas station convenience stores that sell pizza, chicken and whatever. Hell, konbini are a huge deal in Japan and go all in on the food.

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goPACK17 t1_iubntrr wrote

This is a bit of a rarity throughout New England. Like ya, Cumbies is a thing, and you'll find other spots that do this as well, but it's the minority. I found going out west or south basically every gas station can be assumed to have hot foods.

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Vryimpatnt t1_iucrgby wrote

In and Out? Is that something other than a SW burger chain?

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ewoek2 t1_iufpf8k wrote

One of the best regional burger chains based in the West

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1cooldud t1_iudged5 wrote

The Curve sucks those places have terrible food lol

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ArtemusW57 t1_iucz26g wrote

It is in the South, but throughout most of New England, most gas station convenience stores sell chips, candy bars, and beverages, but most do not have hot food like pizza or sandwiches, though I think it is becoming more common. Even the places that do have hot food are often chains, and so the food isn't as good as the convenience stores in Maine and northern New Hampshire that are locally owned and operated independent shops with pizza and sandwiches comparable to a local pizza joint, often a good local pizza joint.

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Jesus_Was_A_Fungi t1_iuafehu wrote

I just call it the stoah. Unless it’s like Steve’s Market then I say I’m going to Steve’s.

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xrocket21 t1_iub0atp wrote

Farmington?

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Jesus_Was_A_Fungi t1_iub7vv8 wrote

Yeah!

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xrocket21 t1_iub88gx wrote

Knew it! Gimme a chicken burger out of the warmer and toss some lettuce tomato and mayo on it please!

1

GalxyHuntr t1_iub5o1j wrote

Steve's does sell gas, so it doesn't quite fit in this category.

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Jesus_Was_A_Fungi t1_iub80hl wrote

Not my Steve’s. Gould’s across the street does though.

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GalxyHuntr t1_iucjyze wrote

That's true, and the big apple down the road! Steve's breakfast pizza is pretty darn good though.

1

3490goat t1_iub6jwn wrote

Oh man. Cambells in SoPo sounds like the same kinda place. Sadly Ms Campbell passed and they don’t do food anymore

1

TraditionalPiccolo28 t1_iua1tfj wrote

Country store is one that used to be used all the time before corporations bought them out and turned them into harrys, mikes and so on.

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SummerBirdsong t1_iub17cb wrote

There's a corporate chain called Harry's? 40+ years ago I lived across the street from a place called Harry's but it was actually owned by a guy named Harry; my parents knew him.

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DidDunMegasploded t1_iuajsmd wrote

I've seen them called "varieties" or "variety stores".

"Corner store" is close, but when I think of that, I think of a store that sells more than just food. Like little toys and knick-knacks.

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acister t1_iua5imw wrote

Every gas station / convenience store in Maine.. Literally everywhere has the same menu, whether it be a pizza spot, gas station, or diner/restaurant. Haddock / lobster roll / pizza / burgers / sandwiches

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acister t1_iuaun92 wrote

I love haddock and will never get sick of it but damn would love some more variety.

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dedoubt t1_iubgkbp wrote

>would love some more variety.

Have you considered getting it with a slice of tomato?

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light_lotus t1_iub80kj wrote

Don’t forget the needhams and whoopie pies on the counter!

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Moritani t1_iubtiux wrote

Clearly you’ve never been to Ouellette’s.

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priceless37 t1_iua7zgp wrote

Don’t forget the liquor. A lot of those little stores with food also have liquor.

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blutigetranen t1_iuazne0 wrote

"Gonna go pick up food at the store, you need anything?"

Unless it's a place that's real popular in the area, like Lakeside Market... Then it's just "going to Lakeside, you want anything?"

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baxterstate t1_iuatra9 wrote

I call them rural shopping centers. You can get gas, food groceries, liquor, even t shirts and sweatshirts with the stores name on it.

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Dudeinairport t1_iubxutq wrote

I live in CA now and people think I’m crazy when I tell them most grocery stores or lager gas stations also made pizza.

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LJR07 t1_iub31pt wrote

Mom and pop corner store.

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MathematicianGlum880 t1_iua3lbz wrote

Well, one is called Cumbys (Cumberland Farms), 7/11 downtown, Lil Mart at the rotary. Big Apple by the mall.

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Tumbleweed-53 t1_iuannmw wrote

No love for Irving? I prefer it just for the back story. A chain of stores in Texas was going out of business. A group from a single town bought them and have made good run of it. I was shocked when I saw them here in Maine, even. The town's name? IRVING. It's in North Central Texas, bless their heart.

1

Solar_Saves t1_iuap1lc wrote

Huh, always heard that Irving’s started in Canada…

“A forever commitment to our customers. Irving Oil's founder K.C. Irving, opened his first garage and service station in his hometown of Bouctouche, New Brunswick, in 1924.”

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likes_sawz t1_iuark85 wrote

The Irving gas stations in New England are associated with the Irving headquartered in I think New Brunswick, the same parent company is a huge landowner in northern Maine.

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MrsMurphysChowder t1_iub3izc wrote

Used to love the big Irving in Farmington. They had a real good diner there. Covid killed em.

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TrichomeTourmaline t1_iubzep7 wrote

Irving’s has the kind bathrooms!…used to work on the road a lot

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eljefino t1_iud86md wrote

Their ads used to say "Irving's restrooms are clean! clean! clean!"

They're tried branding the store as Mainway, Blue Canoe, Rusty Lantern-- nothing's stuck! Some are co-branded as Circle K but that's an established chain.

1

Doc_coletti t1_iuankke wrote

Kind of like a bodega. But it’s a cheeseburger sub, not a chopped cheese.

And it’s a bulkie roll, not a round roll, not a hard roll.

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penfrizzle t1_iuda4nz wrote

I would like to use this spot to thank the Harry's store chain for the following:
Buying the local convenience store
Replacing the employees with worse ones
Replacing all the custom made sandwiches with pre-packaged shitty ones
Replacing all the custom pizza with shitty pizza
They literally bought the store, and changed everything that made it desirable

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riefpirate t1_iua6m06 wrote

General stores sell food .

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sage4wt t1_iualcry wrote

Shit ‘n git.

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Doc_coletti t1_iuanc9m wrote

A lot of these places started as little stands where dairy farms would sell their excess goods that weren’t sold to mass producers. They added more stuff, upgraded, got popular, branched put, snd some were purchased by gas companies. But the tradition remains regardless

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3490goat t1_iub5srb wrote

I call it the lick her store

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kw66 t1_iubog3m wrote

Cumbies

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jpGrind t1_iuc4ddl wrote

> and the food is usually decent

truth. it's almost always a guarantee that a pizza from a rural gas station & deli is going to hit hard. they typically use fresh(er) dough and it makes all the difference.

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WangnanJahad t1_iugj7qn wrote

That's....a convenience store. That is their name.

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sexquipoop69 t1_iuav1ui wrote

Well you've described the Buckfield Mall so maybe malls?

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kitnmlla t1_iub19gd wrote

Side Store, Corner Store, Convince Store

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soulc t1_iub4bcl wrote

(Town name) Mall

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okay4x t1_iub79x2 wrote

"Yum!"

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Larabic t1_iub9a34 wrote

Corner store

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kittehs4eva t1_iuba6xl wrote

Pickin up some beeyah uptha store

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DoggieWalkerRed t1_iube32m wrote

The stoah in Jackman used to make wicked good sandwiches. I haven’t been through in about six years though.

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Grope-Zero t1_iubfk3e wrote

one of the best ham n cheese sandwiches ive had was from a store like that

used to get really good burgers from another one in portland too

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Baymavision t1_iubiwtu wrote

Something I dearly miss in DC.

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daymuub t1_iubn2g2 wrote

Stop shops

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Ackman1988 t1_iubu94q wrote

There's a cool one in Rumford

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yashuone t1_iud10fw wrote

AJ’s Everything

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hcrichton6969 t1_iudi7d0 wrote

I call it a general store or the gennie

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ewoek2 t1_iufpiza wrote

It's a Convince store. Midwest has them, and Casey's is a wonderful thing

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figment1979 t1_iucqnft wrote

A lot of times I’ve seen it called a “deli”

0

macktheknife112 t1_iubh9o0 wrote

If they got beah, it’s called the packy!

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eljefino t1_iud8e1l wrote

I've never heard this outside of Mass. Their booze laws are different and attempt to boost the small businessman running a "packy." Maine's are looser and anyone with a pulse can get in on it.

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TheF-ingLizardKing1 t1_iua42sc wrote

I moved to Philly a few years ago, they call them papi stores here

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Saltycook OP t1_iua4jc4 wrote

It's interesting Maine doesn't have a particular name like that besides "convenience store", which is what I was wondering.

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Alternative_Sort_404 t1_iucxzdo wrote

I think that’s the beauty of it - it all depends on the locale and ownership, so each one is distinctly different. ‘Cen-ah Sto-ah’ in Phippsburg has 2 old analog gas pumps and the best pizza, sandwiches and sweets around, made by the staff every day. Wouldn’t trade it for the manufactured grub from a 7-11, CircleK, RustyLantern, WaWa, or any of the others… Clippa Maht seems to do ok here on Rt1 in the Midcoast, too. (Locally owned… )

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