In the tiny confines of her downtown market, Imogene Austin spends ten-hour workdays doing every chore from cashier to stock boy.
Austin’s Market, which Imogene and her husband opened 22 years ago, is a friendly place in Liberty for people to stop in for a sandwich or to pick up a few groceries. Most people who drop in are regulars who know her by name and often spend a few minutes chatting with their “grandmother.”
“I couldn’t imagine not working here every day,” Austin said. The friendly atmosphere of Austin’s Market may be due to its size.
“I don’t even try to compete with the big groceries, I just couldn’t,” Austin said. “People stop here because it’s handy and they can get good prices on sandwiches.”
Meanwhile, Austin continues her work, from the time her husband drops her off in the morning until he returns in the late afternoon to help her close.
“I hate to think of the day that I quit working, but I know that day is coming,” she said. Austin, however, does not plan to quit until she has to.
“I think it’s better to work a little than not to work at all.”
