The B Mart

It tickles me pink that this place is still in business.
The dilapidated exterior looks very much like it always has, from my grade school days. The interior is a bit different. It now looks like pretty much every other Korean-​owned mini-​mart in the known universe. Lots of ball caps for sale on the wall, many w/​controversial images (marijuana leaf, or the confederate flag), or slogans. Then there’s the super tough-​looking, el cheapo ninja knives, etc, up front. What is it w/​Koreans and the super cheapo cutlery??? Anyhoo.
I was still shaking off the shock of having just been charged $ 7 for a glass of PBR down at the Your Inn, which is only a block down the street from the B Mart, when I noticed the Mart had full racks of PBR selling for about $ 15. Not that I’m a huge fan o’ the Blue Ribbon, it just put my mind to rest that perhaps there were some sort of draconian retro-​fitted taxes on spirits of which I was hitherto completely unawares, in this neighborhood…
Chatted for a spell w/​the affable gentleman at the desk, who was having a difficult time keeping his fully Americanized, teen-​aged son’s attention (ipod and hand-​held video game). Was trying to teach the boy the biz, he was. The kid obviously couldn’t care less. He will a few years later, when he, like most of the rest of us, will be shell-​shocked to learn after finishing HS/​college that a lucrative job isn’t magically awaiting him, after all.
The gentleman said he has owned the place for about 12 years, but that there have been businesses in place there for over 100 years (!!!) this gentleman told me, according to the previous owner. There are pictures of the B Mart in its various permutations over the years, hanging on the wall, which is very cool. I remember when it still had the white railings out front — –wow. I am officially an old fart…
Just a block off of the ever-​busy Lombard thoroughfare, it’s as easy to miss, and forget about the B Mart as it ever was — unless you live in the neighborhood. Thank goodness there’s still mom’n’pop places like B Mart doin’ it Bee Gees style and «Stayin’ Alive»…

I like this convenience store because the owners are friendly and live in the neighborhood. They carry all of your standard convenience store products, and have a couple isles of grocery items as well. I love that I can run over here for a can of tomatoes or some other essential item I’ve realized I’m out of right in the middle of making dinner. Prices on grocery stuff is a litter higher than at Safeway or Freddy’s as you would expect, but not at all unreasonable.
They have a pretty good beer selection that ranges from 40’s of O.E. up to a decent selection of microbrews. Unfortunately the prices on the better beer seem to have gone up lately, especially six packs. I assume they weren’t selling enough of them to get a good discount from the distributor, but it’s nice that they offer some choices anyway. However, when I want to grab a 22oz of Ninkasi or Anchor I’ll definately hit up the B-​Mart rather than wait in line for ages at the Plaid down the street.