|
It’s easy to believe Mary Riggs when she
says that thanks to her new business -- Hog Town General Store --
she’s living her dream. As she describes the process of going into
business -- from having the building built to painting the sign
herself and stocking the store -- her sentences are laced with
laughter and you know she’s really enjoying herself.
 |
|
HOGTOWN GENERAL STORE. Mary Riggs in front of Desdemona’s
newest business -- Hogtown General Store. |
The small store, located at the
crossroads of Hwy 16 North, and Hwy. 8 in Desdemona, is filled with
decorative items (including hand-made crosses), cards, salsa, Watkins
products, books, Mexican pottery, CDs, t-shirts, knives, Dreamer’s
Candles, purses and lots of jewelry that Mary describes as “bling.”
She points out that she often orders “one of a kind” items, especially
where the jewelry is concerned.
“I hope I have something for everyone,”
Riggs said, noting that she even stocks a few canned-goods, sodas and
snack foods, which are popular with workers on the nearby windmill
farm.
“And the ‘Texas, Texas’ salsa is very
popular with a lot of people,” Riggs said. “And so are the Watkins
products. They don’t peddle those products door-to-door anymore so I’m
glad to be able offer them.”
Mike Riggs, Mary’s husband, makes some of
the wooden inventory items, including hand-crafted crosses.
“And we have farm fresh eggs for sale
here,” Mary said, “and we offer free coffee.”
Both Mike and Mary Riggs, also owners of
Riggs Cemetery Service, cover shifts at the Hog Town General Store, as
do other employees of the cemetery service including David Moore, Jim
Woods (Mary’s brother) and Kerry Travis. Having all the available help
has made it easy for them to offer extended hours throughout the
holiday season, staying open many days from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m.
“And our 14-year-old daughter, Jordan
Riggs, also helps us,” Mary Riggs said. Jordan is a student at Perkins
Middle School. The Riggs’ enjoy being member of the DeLeon Athletic
Booster Club, with Mary working the concession stand at many
basketball games.
Mike and Mary also have two other
children -- Mica Riggs and Callie Ahuja -- both of Corpus Christi.
The Riggs’, who opened their store the
day after Thanksgiving, are also members of the Desdemona Volunteer
Fire Department.
Mary Riggs, who worked for the Comanche
County Telephone Company for 10 years, said that she’s sold jewelry
and purses through home parties for years.
“I enjoyed working at the phone company,”
Mary said, “but my heart is really here. To be able to open my own
store, well I’m just living my dream,” Riggs said, “Before my mom
passed away, she wanted a Christian book store, or a card store or
something like this.” Mary went on to add that her mother loved shops
and shopping so much that she often referred to shopping “retail
therapy.”
“I hope people will enjoy this store,”
Mary said, “we have a fun, friendly atmosphere. That’s what we’re all
about -- fun and affordable. Even if people just want to drink a cup
of coffee and chat for awhile, they’re welcome.”
For more information on the Hog Town
General Store, call 254-734-6802. |
