By Mary Magdalena

Redstone Review

HYGIENE – Sam Clark, owner of Clark’s Food Store, will hand over the grocery store at 75^th and Hygiene Road to new proprietors by May 1. The store will be managed and operated by me (Mary Magdalena) along with Tim Combs. The new grocery will be called Boulder County General Store.

Sam and his wife Cindy and two daughters have all been involved with the day-to-day operations of the store for many years. Sam’s parents Malcolm and Phoebe Clark bought the store in 1944. A store had been at the same location for decades before that. Sam grew up in the store along with his brother Mike and later they bought out their parents in 1976, co-running the store until 2003, when Mike retired.

Cindy met Sam while cruising on Main Street in Longmont while she was still in high school; soon they married and she worked at other jobs while Sam ran the store. She wanted to further

her education and got a bachelors degree from University of Colorado, Boulder in economics and later completed a law degree. She was always fascinated with constitutional law. Now with a law degree from CU she went to work in a law office in Longmont for one year and then their daughter Annie arrived, and three and a half years later Laura was born. Cindy’s time was spent raising the girls and helping with the store.

“Everyone I have ever cared about has walked through this door,” said Cindy. “I have made so many good friends here.  It’s the people.” She feels that this change is a positive one and is pleased that Sam is letting go. She says the strangest part is that Sam has always been here, and now it will be different. In 2007 Cindy went to work at CU in the graduate school, happy to be back at her Alma Mater.  She came to work at the store after work everyday to help out. She would gather up the items for making dinner, but now she will be planning differently. She is glad that Sam will lighten his load, yet she knows that he will probably fill up his time in other ways. “Sam’s the hardest working man that I know in my life, he is steadfast,” said Cindy.

It’s a family affair: their daughters Annie and Laura are the cute girls at the front counter who have greeted everyone over the years and have helped to keep the store running smoothly.

Annie, the older daughter, grew up in the store. She always helped out and in 2001 she officially came to work. Getting to know the customers, especially the regulars, has been her favorite part of her years working at the store. She graduated from the University of Northern Colorado last year and is now seeking employment as an accountant. She feels that the change at the store will be good.

Laura, now 20 years old, started working in the store when she was 15. Next month she will marry John Brennan and will become a stepmother to Brennan’s daughter Melody. She loved working with her family and will miss seeing her sister all of the time. Her parents were the best bosses anyone could have and she will miss them.

Sam Clark will be busy selling propane and hay from the back yard of the store, along with running the storage business. He will be focused out back but he will continue to cut meat in the store most mornings, for he is known for his fabulous cut of meats. It will be a change and yet he will still be present in a different way. He is happy to let go of running the store, which he has done consistently for 42 years, yet thrilled that he will be keeping his customers and friends. He will be in the back Monday through Saturday, mostly in the mornings. He is happy with this change, feeling that this arrangement suits him very well.

Each month this column will feature stories about people, businesses and happenings in Hygiene. If you want to contribute information about Hygiene please contact Mary Magdalena, at 303-652-4004 or go to mary@marymagdalena.com.

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