I grew up in a small rural Oklahoma town of around 2,000 people. That's if you counted the dogs and cats. In the small town where I grew up, we had a United grocery store. I never realized, one, that Texas also had United stores; and two, that they would have all of the stuff that they do.

This video of that small town store is a blast from the past.

Not All United Supermarkets Are Created Equal

I've got a long history with United Supermarkets. The small towns I grew up in all had them. They weren't very big. The pharmacy looked like it was just slightly bigger than a closet. The floors were multi-colored checker patterned tile.

It would be where I got my first job. I walked in and asked to speak to the manager, who happened to be the father of a girl in my class I grew up with, and asked for a job. We went into his office, had a quick interview, and then shook hands.

I started the next week at that small rural United.

Imagine my shock when I walked into a United in Amarillo, Texas almost ten years ago for the first time. It was like stepping into a food-based shopping mall.

There's sushi! Never in my wildest dreams did I think there would be a sushi counter, yet here we are.

Small Town United A Blast From The Past

What's great about this video is how familiar I am with the store. In all reality, this person pretty much walked almost down one whole side of the store.

It's really nothing like what we have here.

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Notice the short distance from the freezer section to the opposite end marked "assorted cheeses."

There's a big contrast between this store and the stores we know and love. There's no sushi counter. No Starbucks. Just an old fashioned grocery store locked in time.

Look at How Amarillo's Old Route 66 Motels Looked Then & Now

The heyday of the Mother Road may be long gone, but would you believe that there's still plenty of the old motels where many a weary American family rested their heads during their interstate travels?

You won't believe some of these are still standing, much less still alive and (wait for it..) kickin'!

The Drive-In: Amarillo's Classic Drive-In Theaters, Past and Present

Any resident of Amarillo worth their salt knows about the Tascosa Drive-In movie theater.

But did you know about the other drive-in theaters?