Feature Story

Don's Midway- The Best Stop On The Way To Greatness

The most convenient of convenience stores is Don’s Midway Grocery on Maiden Lane. Whether you forgot something at the supermarket or you just do not want to make the trip to the store, Don’s is the answer for people who live to the west of campus.
The store was opened in 1938 by Don Lee, who was rumored to have sold cigarettes and dirty magazines to boys still in their Boy Scout uniforms, one of the employees regaled of the man whose picture still adorns the wall of the little shop.
The store does pretty well for such a small space in a residential area. Football season is the best time of year, and as most Pullman businesses know the summer and holiday breaks are really slow. Of their three top selling items, Annie Wynkoop, employee, said, “Busch Light, imagine that in Pullman. Camel lights and Red Bull.”
From the mini sausage sticks at the front counter, to candy, chips and dip, to the beer and wine, Don’s has quite an eclectic array of items for sale. “We get requests for special items and then we carry it, that’s why the store is so cluttered,” Wynkoop said.
Don’s has free coffee and popcorn everyday, which helps lure people in. That’s not the only reason people like to come to Don’s, the store always has a supply of ping pong balls and keg cups, for those late night beer pong games. They know what the customer wants.
Ten employees work at the store, all students who work between 15 to 30 hours a week. Don’s has really great employees, who love to work there and are pretty much all friends. Just recently the Daily Evergreen voted Don’s as having “the least judgmental clerks in Pullman.”
“The best part about working at Don’s is the interaction with all the random, funny people who come in wearing pajamas or crazy outfits,” Wyncoop said. “Once a drunk girl tried to sign a receipt with a blunt,” Smitty, another employee walking past, said.
Employees at Don’s can get kind of bored toward the end of the night when business has slowed, and sometimes they play games. They told me of a game they play of which you try to sell the most of a certain item. One particular night they choose marshmallows. When a customer came in trying to buy ping pong balls they suggested marshmallows instead. “We said they are cheap, they bounce the same and they taste good. It worked, he bought a whole bag,” Smitty told me.
Claire Hardesty, WSU student and a faithful Don’s customer said, “I love being able to walk down to Don’s from my apartment, it’s so close. The people who work there are always really friendly and funny. I guess I shop there because it’s convenient.”
Don’s location, although unusual, makes it the best little place to pick up anything you need. If they do not have it, ask them and they will carry it soon. Don’s is open Monday through Sunday, and they are open late on Friday and Saturday nights.

Annie Wynkoop: Don’s Employee
aluce@wsu.edu

Claire Hardesty: Don’s Customer
Claire.hardesty@gmail.com

“Smitty” : Don’s Employee
No contact information would be provided!