Pat’s Korner Store

I’ve never been able to find anything there worth purchasing because of how messy and nasty looking it is. It honestly makes the town look very trashy. Others may have better luck but I haven’t. She should be made to clean it up and put stuff inside!

I had to stop and take pause before I approached the business. Drive Southbound towards Athens on GA 106 and remember to stop at the 4-​way with GA 98. At that point, you won’t be able to avert your eyes. there it is. Pat’s Korner Store. At the SouthWest corner of this exchange, you won’t be able to look away. If you can — good for you. I tried, but could not. So… — At first, I made a u-​turn and parked in the gas station diagonally across from it and simply marvelled from a distance. But then, I realized that you deserved more — and that you would expect me to experience Pat’s Korner Store firsthand — so that you could live vicariously through this.
I parked just south of Pat’s Korner Store. I recognized immediately that this would deserve my big camera, but wanting to not draw attention, I approached it with my trusty 6+. I started taking shots as I approached and then asked the lady with the fanny pack busily arranging stuff if I could look around and take pictures. Sure!
It turns out that she was THE Pat of Pat’s Korner Store fame. We spoke for a few minutes and I learned much from her. Her father had her working in a Trade store at a young age (when she was 11). Now that she’s a very mature 57, she said that Bric-​a-​Brac was in her blood, and that this was what she was good at.
For 12 years, she’s been at this very corner. Claims to fame?
Every article of clothing is 1 dollar. I learned that cups were 25 cents. In fact, I told Pat that I would buy 8 cups for the privilege of documenting the wonders that made up Pat’s Korner Store and she giggled and said «no way! — you take all the pictures you want!»
I entered the store and realized that navigating inside would be a challenge. In fact, there was a sweet elderly lady inside who said «years ago, I could make my way around in here — but I can’t no more. All I want are a couple of gentlemen’s pants» Pat came to the rescue.
At risk of sounding like I’m snickering or making fun — I promise you I am not. I recognize that there are many different sorts of business owners and that organization takes on many shapes. The shape of organization here is unclear to me but is very clear to Pat. By way of illustration, I’ll share this that she shared with me.
Standing at the corner, looking back at the impressive visage that is the storefront, Pat pointed to a heap (a large heap) of clothing south of us but before where I was parked. I gathered that it must have weighed 150 lbs. A family had bought it in bulk over the weekend and they were shuttling the load back to the house trip-​by-​trip.
What that family was doing with that quantity of clothing was beyond me, but it was clear that Pat was on top of the business.
None of the inventory is brought in after closing. Instead, Pat says that after-​hours patrons take what they want and leave payment under the door.
OK — enough of the write-​up. May the images give you a glimpse of what I enjoyed.