Chris and Jody Carter, owners of their Shout & Sack convenience store along Route 66 in Vinita, Oklahoma, since 1978, said they’re going to retire at the end of January.
Chris Carter, 72, told the Cherokee Phoenix they recently sold the property at 305 S. Wilson St. (aka Route 66)
“We’ve seen a lot of changes. It’s been fun, it’s been sad, it’s been sweet, and it’s been sour at times, you know. My wife always says, ‘it has not been fun all of the time.’ We’re moving on. We’ve got our place sold,” he said.
Jody, 73, added they lost their son, Park, two years ago. She said he was their only hope of keeping the business in the family because he had helped his parents operate the store nearly his whole life. The Carters said they wouldn’t be selling the store if Park were still living.
“That kind of put us in a tailspin, but we worked our way out of it. It’s time; it’s time to move on,” Chris said. “People ask, ‘what are you going to do?’ We have 80 acres. I tell everybody I’m going to edge the whole 80 acres with a pair of scissors because I’m going to have a lot of time on my hands.”
Shout & Sack’s website said the station, which touts its Route 66 heritage prominently in its signage, serves about 3,000 customers a day.
What brings so many customers through Shout & Sack’s doors? Above all else, cleanliness! Chris Carter, former U.S. Navy serviceman, has made having a clean store his top priority! From the kitchen to the restrooms, it will be clean!!!!
Customer Service is a very close second. The minute you walk in you are met with a friendly hello. A family owned and operated convenience store with several members of the Carter family pitching in at various times.
Shout & Sack is a huge supporter of the Vinita Public Schools, area churches, community activities and youth groups.
Carter also sells his own brand of gasoline… “Get It! Gas.”
If you are driving down historic Route 66 through Vinita Oklahoma stop in and enjoy a Big Dawg Lunch. Great Hamburgers and sandwiches plus tasty smoked meats. Try one of our Chubby Smoked Chicken Breasts for lunch we are sure you’ll love it!
Don’t forget Fridays are lunch special is Catfish! A Vinita lunchtime favorite.
The Shout & Sack is a dying breed — an independently owned convenience store. The market now is dominated by national and regional chains, including Tulsa-based QuikTrip and the rapidly growing, Texas-based Buc-ee’s.
(Image of the Shout & Sack convenience store in Vinita, Oklahoma, via Facebook)