City Personals

Holly Springs will soon be without one of her most treasured landmarks, at least as far as I am concerned. Sports Corral is closing its doors after decades of serving our area. I have no doubt it was a hard decision for owners, Linda and Donald Parker, who opened in April of 1980. Gah 43 years. How does that happen? It seems like it has only been the blink of an eye.

When we would visit here in the summers, I would beg Nonnie to take me fishing. Cane poles only, albeit I did try a rod and reel a time or two and it just did not work out for me. We always stopped at Sports Corral for the biggest, chirpiest, juiciest crickets ever seen. Nonnie always wanted to get half a tube, I wanted the whole tube. I expected us to fish through every last cricket in that cricket getter.

I would follow Mr. Donald over to the big ol cricket farm, watch him scoop them up and put them in our cricket getter. I always asked Nonnie if I could get a new bobber. Throughout the years, I did get a few of the bobbers as subsequently, my line would sometimes get stuck on sunken trees.

It did not matter if we were going to Percy Clayton’s, the Knight farm (eeek snakes galore when we went) or Spring Lake, we were stopping at Sports Corral. There never was a question about it.

I have not fished in probably a decade, maybe longer. I never fretted, though, as I knew I would always be able to get the best crickets ever, along with the coolest bobbers, right out there at the top of the hill. I took it for granted they would be open forever.

I was so teary eyed when I saw they were closing the store and for good reason ~ retirement! What a beautiful time for Miss Linda and Mr. Donald! After literally serving every person ever known in this area for 43 years, I have no doubt they are tired. They were more than just shop keepers, they were friends to hunters of all sorts of critters and those of us who loved fishing. Folks would congregate out there just for the conversation. It is a true testament to the Parkers’ character and what fine people they are inside and out. They did far more than just offer sporting goods to our community ~ they touched lives in ways they may never know.

All amazing things must come to an end. I hate Sports Corral is closing its doors but I am proud to say I grew up going there every chance I had. I hope retirement is everything the Parkers ever dreamt it would and more! Thank y’all so very much for the incredible memories.