I’m OK with my Food Lion. They have some things my other many choices don’t have, and for cheaper. It also is just a decent store with nice people. Despite being trailer-park oriented. Same can be said for our other similar low-end local chain, Mars.
What I really like about these stores is that they are like the old grocery stores before megastores came in. They are small. I don’t have to walk much, but there is still planets there. Mars is in 1 of our oldest grocery buildings in the whole region, but the FL was deliberately built small a decade ago. Nice not to have to run 2 mi for some apples.
You are right about the trailer park look, but also correct about the people being genuinely nice and decent, as I found most of the locals in the Shenandoah Valley.
All things considered, they are probably a good fit with the area they serve. And while the laid-back friendliness can be charming to us "southern" Yankees, it can also be a bit aggravating when you are in a hurry.