GRAMLING’S, INC.: TALLAHASSEAN’S COME OUT TO SAY FAREWELL
By Deborah DeSilets
The closing party was last weekend, and from the looks of it Gramling’s, Inc. is all but sold out. Stock counters, some 100 years old, now show the love and care that made them last that long. And the old desk in the office cleared of paper wears its dust from 1915 and holds it true: this was a family institution. With one-hundred and four years in operation in Tallahassee, Gramling’s, Inc; yes affectionately known as a “feed and seed store”, was the second oldest customer of Capitol City Bank only after Trinity Methodist Church, located still at the corner of Park and Duval. Why close now? In 2018, Stan says he was “paying to stay”; adding “we are a retail store and sales have been steadily declining for years”. I recall in 2014 dropping in one day to discuss the Gaines Street construction and its effect on his retail business. At that time we were collaborating on the Chandler Tourist Camp Marker and we noted all roads were not leading to his shop at South Adams as in 1925. So it goes with the way of progress— the improvements were at the other end of Gaines and now Gramling’s, Inc. was to close after 104 years in operation. I overheard Stan say to a loyal customer of 53 years; “It’s not by choice, by George; if there’d been more customers like you—not by choice.” I caught up with Stan before the last day of closing and below is our paraphrased conversation.
It was in 1915 that O.I. Gramling, Sr began his business, having relocated from Centerville to Tallahassee. He opened O.I. Gramling and Co. in the “uptown” area of the Capitol City in the old Union Bank Building—this is the very same blue bank building on the Apalachee Parkway today—and soon the store would be affectionately known as Gramling’s “Feed and Seed” Store. By 1925 O.I Sr. built his warehouse at 1010 South Adams because the access to the railway was there and rail cars could easily be unloaded of goods—goods which then were mostly the same as now—that would be sold at the very same wooden counter. Soon all them tourist folks staying at the Chandler’s Tourist, a.k.a. Auto Camp, added to their feed and seed business. In this way years passed and by the 1940’s, O.I. Sr. ran the business with his sons and they prospered. By the late 1950’s the two sons took over the business from the father. O.I Jr. and Cay Gramling, Stan’s father took their turn at the counter. It was in this store that Stan Gramling recalls his youth and early teenage years. By 1965 Stan, then a sophomore at Leon high School, began to work beside his uncle and father in the store after school. In 1968, after graduation Stan went into the Coast Guard. Coming home from the service in the 1970’s meant one thing to Stan—a chance to play his music. As fortune would have it, it was at that time that Cecil Davis, who managed White’s Grocery on Tennessee Street across from Leon High School, came to work at Gramling’s on account that White’s was going out of business. Cecil had a good reputation as a man who Stan says, “was never late, never missed a day and was as honest as they came”. At that time, Cecil became the manager of O.I. Gramling & Co. and Stan went on to become an accomplished bass guitarist in his newly formed band Labamba where he would play original funky, jazz-fusion music.
Changes in life come unexpectedly—and by spring of 1980 Stan’s dad asked him to leave the music business and take a more active role in the family business. So by fall of 1980, Stan took his place at the counter next to his father and uncle along with Cecil Davis. Years rolled by and both O.I. Sr and Cay Gramling would pass leaving Stan and Cecil to run the business. Now the two partners renamed the store Gramling’s, Inc. and for four more years they worked the counter and saw the business prosper; then Cecil would pass. By 1997 Stan—for the first time—owned the entire business. And this was how it came to be that Stan’s life would be lived everyday since: Stan was up at 3:30 in the morning every day, preparing breakfast for himself and his daughter Terry Cay, who he was now driving to school, before his 35 mile ride into the city and his 12 hour day at Gramling’s, Inc. The years rolled by, in the way of the feed store and the plow—the perennial pursuit of the best crop; the best soil, the treacherous arrest of insects and the constant ever incessant tending of the crops. Well let’s just say Stan’s last vacation to speak of was in 1996; and that was a family retreat on St. Theresa Beach. Otherwise, Gramling’s, Inc. is where you would find Stan, year in and year out; season after season; as in farming there is a time and a season for everything. The best thing that could have happened from all this hard work did: Terry Cay, his only daughter with Cindy Terry Gramling, learned a strong work ethic. And Stan, learned how to continue what was to be continued of the old ways of O.I., Cay, and Cecil—shaking hands, greeting people; trading planting and seed stories in the manner and way that only true “feed store people” can: endurance is the art of the yeoman.
He will keep the old desk from the 1905 J.D. Cay Livery stable, sell the WWI type-writer safe like the one he had padlocked next to his bed in his room locking his valuables from sight of Kathrine Gramling; and maybe keep the old tape dispenser and invoice clip files. I ask; how do you feel? Stan’s says, “About July 1st? “It will feel kinda weird.” July 1st will be Stan’s first day off to tend to his own 35 acre farm and all the countless projects that a farm has. What will he do? He says, “I will write my list like I do every day; and I will keep to that list. I won’t be a list-less man!”
Well I for one hope that music is on that list. I do hope that Stan will finally play his heart’s music to his heart’s content. For Stan is one of the greatest unsung heroes of the bass guitar. Now I know why: he works the bass like only a yeoman’s son, and yeoman’s grandson, and yeoman’s great-great grandson could: As a field of plenty full of all the notes for all seasons with enduring sounds.
