By: Taylor Dunn
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| At an intersection across from Georgia Southern Campus, one of the only BP's in town is popular among students. |
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Apart from just getting gas, this BP hosts a family-owned convenience store. The store boasts affordable products ranging from food to toiletries.
 | | Inside, Rick Varadkar waits behind the counter for customers, usually some he recognizes. "I'm here every day so I see some of the same people. It's like having a bunch of friends visit you at work." |
 | Rick checks out a customer after offering help searching for a product. "We sell a lot of things in here, have a lot of stuff, so I have to know where everything is in order to help my customers."
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In one aisle, some of the products include everything from cleaning to gas canisters. This includes paper products and windshield wiper fluid, everything you would need at a gas station.
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| Rick gets ready to sell some lottery tickets to a familiar customer. "The lottery is very popular here, I see a lot of older customers come in just for the tickets." |
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Lottery machines sit in the back corner of the store. Along with paper lottery tickets, Sunny Food Mart gives customers more options with their automated machines.
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Next to the lottery machines is where they keep the wine. Being close to a few apartment complexes and selling wine provides extra income for Sunny Food Mart.
Along with cigarettes and tobacco, Sunny Food Mart is popular for its electronic cigarettes. "A lot of the college students come to us for their vapes. We carry some of the best 2-for-1 deals in Statesboro, I think."
A case sits in between two registers, showing off their collection of e-cigarettes. "It's not just the deals though, we only carry name brands like the Kang Vape which is very popular."
While it's slow, Rick begins to restock the fridges and ice machines. "There's never really a shortage of something to do, which is why I love to work here."
Next to the ice machine sits a cooler of more beverages, including energy drinks and protein drinks. The Sunny Food Mart likes to maintain a friendly and welcoming environment, even though it's a small business.
Rick's father, Anik Varadkar, comes to give Rick a back from watching the store. As the Sunny Food Mart is family-owned, both his parents are often on the clock with him.
Anik checks some inventory as he clocks in. "I am here every day with my son, and I like to help the neighbors with anything they need. I pride myself on being a business the people can trust."
Anik checks out some customers while answering questions regarding the jewelry. "I am usually asked why I sell a little bit of everything and the answer is simple: everybody needs one of everything."
The jewelry sits atop a case by the register, calling to the customers as a last-minute purchase.
Along with inventory, Anik has to check the registers every few hours and record the numbers. "You look back at these charts at the end of every week and it's easier to see how much we have made or lost in comparison to other weeks."
After carding a customer, Anik reaches behind him for the product asked for. "I card every person who comes to the counter looking for tobacco. I also have a reputation here and I don't want to place any mistrust in my customers."
In the back of the Sunny Food Mart, there lays a fenced-in garden. Hand-grown and family-owned, the garden makes the mart feel more like home.
Rows of hand-planted herbs and plants sit fenced in behind the Sunny Food Mart. The Varadkar's value the open, sunny space and found it a perfect spot to start their own garden.
