I’ve managed to accumulate several tales from the workers and managers at several local chain stores. And not all are grocery stores, in fact one is from a huge drugstore chain. Let’s start there…
Drugstore Mayhem
Recently, I was at our local drugstore chain. While talking to the shift lead, a stuffed toy simply fell off of the shelf. (This happens a lot when I’m near, and knowing the signs – I asked…) I motioned to the toy and asked “Is this place haunted?” Carrie, the shift lead said: “You know – it is! Many times we’ll come into the store in the mornings – and several things will be on the floor. And we know it wasn’t like that when we left.” She went on to tell me her personal experiences several years earlier as a bar chain manager. “I ran a small chain of 5 bars out west for over 12 years. The owner and his wife swear that two of them are haunted by former customers. During closing late at night, He would hear male voices near a cluster of tables, never quite able to make them out. On more than one occasion he heard ‘Hey!'” There’s more “We had a lot of regulars, retirees who would come in early and wait for their other friends to stroll in. One older woman had her own mug, which we kept frosted for her. She would usually come in first, always with her deck of cards in case anyone wanted to play. She sat at the far end of the bar on her favorite stool. Well, after several years she passed away. Several weeks later, I took out her frosted mug and returned it to the dishwasher. Wouldn’t you know it, late night during closing I thought I seen a shadow out of my peripheral vision. But, I dismissed it and started counting down drawers.” In about an hour the owner came out and helped me with wiping down and moving chairs. He joined me behind the bar and then we heard the sound of cards shuffling. It was loud and clear. Cards shuffling at the end of the bar, where she sat. I looked at him, he looked at me. He said ‘I heard it.’ I put her mug back in the cooler and there it stayed.”
Carrie Has More Encounters
She went onto tell me about her only son. Many times after closing the bar, her son would jump into the bed of her pick-up truck to hitch a ride home with her after bar hopping on the weekends. So she wouldn’t be alarmed, he would bang on the sides of the bed so she would know he was there. This is important later… Tragically, her son was murdered. The wake was held at her home. In the family room was a table shrine, with flowers, photos and cards from the over 200 mourners who came to share in her loss. After everyone had left, Carrie went up to the table. She caught a glimpse in the corner of her eye, of his lanky shadow. She recognized him instantly because of his shaved head, it was a perfect silhouette. Several days later she was cooking, something her son loved doing with her and she was overwhelmed by his “scent.” She explained that mothers know that each child has a “scent.” She smelled his and called out to he husband “He’s here.” Her husband nodded in agreement. Several weeks later, Carrie leaving the bar late at night in her truck, heard loud banging. “This was clanking and pounding and banging from the back of my truck. I thought ‘He’s hitching a ride.’ Then I remembered he’s gone. This banging sounded like canned goods were smacking the sides of my truck. Since it was late, I waited until I pulled into a well lit parking lot. I carefully got out and peered into the bed. There was nothing. I think he wanted me to know ‘I’m here with you Mom.'”
Dollar Store Shenanigans
Becky
Once again, this time in a dollar store chain, a random paper towel pack literally flew off the shelf in front of me. So I asked Sherry the store manager. “Oh, yeah. Once I watched a framed picture wiggle up and over the shelf rail and fall to the floor! Two of us seen it. I would find dolls misplaced after hours on the floor. So I call her ‘Becky.’ If the girls clothes are tossed around in the morning I yell ‘Becky behave!’ ”
About two years ago, Sherry’s husband died unexpectedly. He had been ill, but Sherry and family were not prepared for his death. Months later while trying to lie down to sleep, she felt his depression on the bed next to her. She wasn’t afraid, she felt his hand touch hers. It comforted her. She drifted asleep. She went onto to tell about when her father died years prior. Her mom called and asked if she wanted any mementos. At the time, they lived out of state. So Sherry asked about her Dad’s class ring, and a few photos. A week later, she opened the envelope her mom had sent. It had several photos, a belt buckle, but the ring was missing. Sherry didn’t mind. When her mom called to ask if she received it, Sherry said she had to photos and buckle. After they hung up. Her mom called back ‘Did you get the ring?’ No ring. A year later, doing some spring cleaning, Sherry got the step ladder to clean the top of the curio cabinet. There was the ring. “No way could it have gotten up there. I needed a step ladder, not a stool to reach that. No one would ever get that high to put it there. I think Dad found a way to get it to me.”
More Chaos
At yet another dollar store location, I was behind the counter speaking to the manager. Above my head on a high shelf, dryer beads fell right in front of me, just missing my head. Before I could ask he shouted to anyone: “Did you see that! That just flew off the shelf!” He went on “I told her (district manager) this place is haunted! I was on speaker with her after closing when I heard all of these thuds from the back of the store. She (district manager) was watching the monitors (remotely viewing the CCTV) and said ‘I see it!’ She seen all of these cereal boxes just flying off of the shelves.” He went on “So many times items just in the aisles after I went and picked them up, crazy.”
Dollar Store Storm
One of my first encounters with flying products was at yet another dollar store location. This time, for no reason I could think of, a can of tuna fell at my feet. The first time this happened, it scared me and I ran up to the manager (who I was acquainted with) and said : “Oh hey is this store haunted?” Both her and her worker said : “Hell yes! We have it on camera!” She went onto say that each morning they would come in to open, it would be a huge strewn mess, even after putting out all products from truck day. Even if all U boats of products, nothing left in the backroom, all aisles were tidy the night before, it would be disarray. When the store finally installed security monitoring, which would tape for several hours and loop over – they caught it. ”When we came in to the wreck one morning, we went to the cameras. It took a while to find it, but we did. We all watched it, even our district manager. In the early morning hours all of the sudden, things just started flying off the shelves, like someone to a broom and swept them. I will not work here by myself at night, period. No one will!”
I hear you!
Rich and Strange! 