DIXIE DANDY

Growing by the day

Dixie Dandy remains one of Bainbridge’s dynastic businesses, handed down from one generation to the next. Originally started 45 years ago by Tom Harrell, last year, Carla Chastain was simply managing her grandfather’s business. Now she’s the owner. Th ough she might consider it just a title, saying, “Th ere was really no change. My mom still helps me, she’s still part of it. It’s still just a family business, not much has changed in that respect.”

As a smaller grocery outlet, Dixie Dandy has been spared some of the turmoil larger box stores have experienced.

“We do have other small suppliers; we have had to go to diff erent suppliers for certain things. But overall, we haven’t had any major supply issues,” Chastain said. “It may be that, we don’t have cream cheese right now, and we heard two months ago there was going to be a shortage of cream cheese. We just experienced that in the last two weeks, so we’ve been very fortunate, and it’s probably that we’re a small town, that the supply issues I know a lot of the larger companies have had, we have not experienced it.”

While, according to Chastain, not much has changed in the intervening year since their last interview, there have been some new additions, most notably a website and online ordering. When the pandemic hit, the store initially off ered curbside pick-up, which led to the online ordering. Th ough the same small-town size that spared Dixie Dandy from supply issues, Chastain feels, may contribute to online ordering not quite catching on.

“I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that we are really small. It’s not hard to hop out of your car and run in and get what you want, and I’ve found that a lot of people want to pick out their own groceries, especially fresh meats and produce.”

Despite this, Dixie Dandy has experienced growth in their seafood department, with sales growing and the store expanding its off erings. Th e store as a whole saw 30-40% growth in sales, not accounting for current infl ation.

“Other than having to hear a lot from our customers about the cost of groceries, it hasn’t stopped people from buying groceries right now,” Chastain said of infl ation, “I do worry that eventually that will become a problem.” Chastain thanked the community for their continued support, “I wouldn’t be here without the support of the community, and obviously our staff has just been very dependable, and I couldn’t do it without them.”

Lauren Minor PROVIDING PRODUCE AND MORE: Carla Chastain and her team of grocers at Dixie Dandy smile. They offer curbside service and meats cut to the customer’s liking.

14 BAINBRIDGE LIVING / Winter 2022

Winter 2022 / BAINBRIDGE LIVING 17