By Maddie Kunkle

Staff Writer

    Inviting, inclusive, and intergenerational. Located just off Buena Vista Road on Avalon Road North, Buie’s is a market that is open to all and inspires a sense of community within the neighborhood. Whether or not you’ve heard of it, Buies is a landmark in the Winston-Salem community. But how did Buie’s come to be the place it is as of now, and what makes it so special?

    Before Buie’s became the market we know and love today, it used to be a pharmacy where kids in the neighborhood would ride up to get candy and a soda from. The owners of Buie’s today wanted the market to represent the same image that the pharmacy once stood for, a neighborhood store that was welcome to all. So, when the owners were attempting to come up with a name for the neighborhood market, it only seemed fitting to name the place after the pharmacist who had worked in the pharmacy originally, Wayne Buie.

    Now, Buie’s stands as a reminder of the pharmacy it once used to be and the person who made it so special, while also creating new memories for people of all ages. 

    A unique hallmark of the store is its ability to stay open throughout heavy snowstorms, power outages, and national holidays. 

    “This store is unusual because most of our customers walk here and some of our staff live close as well,” Matt Lunneman, the Buie’s General Manager, said. “We think it’s important to be a place where people can go. That’s why we try to stay open whenever we can. People can come and gather here, especially if they have nowhere else to go, no power, or anything like that.”

    In addition to Buie’s unique days and hours of operation, it also emphasizes the connection between others in the community. At Buie’s, the staff knows a lot about the customers; likewise, the customers know a lot about the staff. 

    “I know a lot of people’s kids’ names, and know what they like to eat and their favorite candy,” Lunneman said. “I know what their dogs are like and the tricks their dogs can do. It’s very personal.”

    Another aspect of Buie’s that separates it from other markets and grocery stores is the items it caters to. 

    “If there’s one product made by a massive company and there’s one made by someone here in Winston, then we’ll tend to go for the person in Winston,” Lunnemon said. “We’re a small business, so we try to support other small businesses.” 

    From selling items unique to small businesses to its flexible hours, Buie’s is not your average neighborhood market. Whether it’s midday, afternoon, or the evening, Buie’s has something for everyone. Children come to Buie’s to hang out and get candy. Adults come to Buie’s for half-priced wine and beer night, as well as for their morning coffee.  Buie’s is one of a kind, with a fascinating history to go along with its equally fascinating nature. Buie’s has been and will continue to be a home to all.