Case’s Sundries

OK, I’ve got a million fault finds for this place – but it is what it is and at the end of the road the neon glows for all the lost and hard scrabble souls. Plus, they got into giving dogs treats if they came in. I dig that. Throwing a bone to Case’s. Bob Case just passed and the place is up for sale. I will miss it, for one.

Martinez (at least North of the railroad trestle at Highway 4) still has a good number of small «mom and pop» corner stores and markets. I drive by most of them without a second thought, unless I’m looking for single items and a store just happens to be there when I’m thinking about it. Case’s Sundries just happens to be across the street from Cinco de Mayo and is convenient for a newspaper, a lottery ticket, a soft drink, or an ice cream bar while I’m in the neighbourhood. Unfortunately, I’m usually around here at lunch, so buying from their surprisingly excellent selection of beer and taking it back into work is not a career enhancing move.
Like Ivy R., I’m not sure what to make of this place, but I like her proposed «naughty neighbour drinking good coffee on the way to post bail with a microbrew 6-​pack in the trunk» business model! Starting with the faux stone exterior and the old «Cameras, Sundries, etc» letters on the store front, walking into Case’s Sundries is like a short trip back to small town Iowa. It reminds me of the lone convenience store that rents videos and sells variety items and miscellaneous «stuff», in addition to a sizable hard liquor and porn selection behind the counter. After all, during Midwest winter months, what else is there to do? The only thing missing is a center of the community vibe and maybe a promise of better days ahead.

I really want to give this place two stars. The layout of the store really sucks. I have the entrepreneurial spirit and have always wanted to start my own business. I feel that this space is just wasted.
As you walk in there is an area where you can peruse sun bleached greeting cards. A small clothes rack with the splendid collection of biker chick wear and biker dude wear. Outside, for the rest of Martinez to view, there is a big window with shelving where you can have your pick of wolf paintings and statues. Along with eagle statues, eagle paintings, and small toy car models. Each with a nice layer of dust and some sun bleach.
This place could do so much better. I just want to get my hands on this place and make it the best coffee stop before you have to go down town for your possession charge hearing, or to get a quick snack before you get that restraining order on your baby’s daddy.
I heard the owner say once, «Just wait until I sell the place to Arab’s. The neighborhood will really love that.» Yes we would! At least then I can hope that the new owners have some better business sense than to just letting real estate waist away like that. Its such a waist.
Now getting back to the 3 stars. The redeeming quality is the beer selection. For some reason the owner must know that really good beer sells. And I apparently buy it. Oh, also most of the food items in here are out of date so don’t eat anything from here. Just drinks. Don’t for get the porn selection too. If I’m feeling frisky with my beer purchase Ill get a Cheri, or my new favorite Naughty Neighbors.
I can wish to remodel & redecorate in one hand and read porn & drink a beer in the other and see how far I get I guess.