OK, you’re sitting there, rooting for the Seahawks with Jason or Kim, drinking one of those BOSS coffees Sam or Barbra just made you, and if you have a hankering for a pulled pork sandwich just go see Carla. So, why did you come? Because Foss’ Market is a close by store with all those little “oh I forgot” things you need!

I don’t know how many times Mom or Dad has forgotten the onion, or cheese, or milk, something! This store is the hippity hop of town from after school until closing time. You may notice Foss as the little store by Kentwood High with all the amazing art decorating the sides of the store! These were hand painted by Jim Malana. You might think Foss was new to Covington in like, 2000. No, you’re way off. The market has been in business since 1927. That’s four generations down with Sonia Foss running it now.

In 1919 Frank D. Van Kirk built his house and what you know now as Foss, was Meridian Heights Grocery. He bought the land from Andrew Brown who purchased the land in 1892. That was  like what, 121 years ago? In 1920 Van Kirk sold Meridian Heights to the McCormick’s. Then, finally  after the McCormick’s sold the property to J.W. Richardson, Aage Foss — Sonia’s grandfather — bought Meridian Heights. Aage and his wife already had experience running a Mercantile in Norway, so the store was under control.

One of the first changes were running water, and electricity. I can’t even stand the power going out — now think how they felt.

But anyway, by the end of 1930, two poultry barns, two warehouses, and a family dwelling was built. That’s two or so years of laborious, hard work. Refrigeration was installed in the ‘30s also, that changed so many things for the business.

Some stores shut down during these years, but Foss fought through and survived the Great Depression. You may not have known this — I sure didn’t — that the Foss here now is not the original. In 1950, the original store had to be torn down because Southeast 256th was going to be paved. The original store stood right where the round about is. The market we have now was completely finished in 1952. It cost $20,000 to build and load that baby up. In the ‘60s, Foss was passed onto Sonia’s father, Arthur Foss.

Sonia and her five other siblings started working in grade school! Small things like sorting comic books and soda cans. Or putting eggs in a carton. In the early ‘60s, the poultry barns were torn down — poor chickens.

Also in the ‘60s, they installed gas pumps! So many pieces of history about Foss probably a lot of people didn’t know! Then, in the ‘90s, Sonia Foss bought the store from her dad. It’s funny because, Sonia said her Dad always told her —no espresso machine, nobody’s going to pay $2 for a cup of coffee! — anyway, in 2007 the feed barns were taken down. Then, in 2008, one of my favorite changes was made. The pizzeria! I love their cheese pizza on the way home from school. My dad will turn his head, and when he looks back, the pizza is gone. This is my hint for you to try it.

Another fave was in 2012, Beauty and the Beans. Awesome milkshakes! You know, there are only a few changes Sonia wants to make in the future. One is to do some exterior decorating. Some bright brick, a fresh coat of paint, some splash of color from newly planted flowers and beauty bark. Just little cosmetic changes for the future.

“Current changes is to get healthier foods. More produce. Especially for young kids, to get them to eat healthier,” Sonia Foss said.

Sonia even mentioned expanding the deli, with more seating, with maybe a salad bar. That reminds me of the movie “Big,” with Tom Hanks, where he’s eating the baby corn like an actual corn on the cob. I love that movie. I would also love to stop by on a hot summer day and have a cool salad, so yeah, a salad bar would be great.

So, Foss’ Grocery and Deli is a hit. It’s got good people, a huge variety of stuff, and it’s close by and not SUPER crowded with traffic like some stores. It’s not a chain, they’re one of a kind. That’s what makes it special.

OK, this is totally off subject but, I just want to give credit where credit is due. Here’s a shout out to Kris Hill (my editor) . She is the one who gave me this amazing experience to write in the paper. So thank you. You are INCREDIBLE!

Editor’s Note: Thank you, Annie. No, you are incredible. We love having your perspective in the paper. Annie needs ideas for other topics to tackle, so, please send them to editor@covingtonreporter.com.