Evening activities at Fred's

At one time, Fred's News also rented videos.  Basically like a Blockbuster, but so much smaller.  The brainchild of our youngest son Mark, he was in charge of ordering, inventory, resales and patron information.  Mark's memory is what helped the video business.  He could tell patrons everything about past, present and futures releases.  Perhaps someone would just remember the plot but not the title, Mark to the rescue.  However, rather than a money maker, it served more as a convenience to our Guests.  The thought process behind this convenience was that they would also take out food to consume at a home "family movie night."  We also had, for the pleasure of our patrons to enjoy, a first run movie showing, as they dined during the evening hours.  Every few weeks, usually on a Saturday evening, we would hold a kids movie night.  Usually starting around eight in the evening, young people would come in, be treated to popcorn and a first run movie, appropriate for their age group.  At the end of the counter, we had a great popcorn machine, that filled the place with the aroma of that freshly popped corn.  That was free, anything else they wanted to eat had to be purchased.  Just a few rules and regulations were put in place.  No popcorn throwing, no loud talking and no horseplay.  Basically, everyone enjoyed.

Many customers would come in during the evening for coffee and dessert, just to chit-chat and discuss the events of the day.  Just as Fred's News had a regular early morning crowd, the evening group was much the same.  Some were regulars at both times, many were those that found the morning too hectic, but enjoyed winding down after a long exhausting day.  Much like a local pub, only no alcohol, Fred's served as a meeting place for the masses.  At times,  informal get togethers were held at Fred's.  During election years, it was not uncommon for the Democratic party to hold their caucus at Fred's.  As I was active participant in Town politics, it was also much easier if the group came to Fred's.  However, if it was a structured formal meeting, with a quorum of the group in attendence, all meetings had to be held in a public place.  Town politics was extremely interesting and rewarding for me.  Of course, as a business person, it helped to keep me in tune to what was happening locally, but it also allowed Bill and I with our efforts to make the Town a better place for it's citizens and businessess.  We also encouraged municipal and state officials to visit Fred's News regularly, enabling them to hear the voices of the citizens.  A few were regulars, however, many thought only election years were important.  Silly fools! The regulars were sure to set the record straight!