I realize I might be an oddball in this respect, but sometimes, a single individual can really and…read moretruly make my day.
We made an emergency stop on a Monday evening -- not for food or drink, but because Progeny 1 had an urgent request for a bathroom. (Parents, you know the kind: where you have 1 minute lead time before the Apocalypse takes place.) The gas station we'd mapped to nearby did not appear to have one, so grasping at straws, we ran to the very civilized- / clean-looking Midland Fresh Market next door.
The wonderful clerk at the register saw the look upon our faces, interrupted a transaction to hand us a key, and waved us to the bathroom at the back immediately, no questions asked.
Afterwards, we purchased something of course. There's a beautiful, spotlessly clean deli counter to one side offering pristinely fresh salads, either prepackaged or made to order; subs and other sandwiches; wraps; burgers; gyros; wings; quesadillas, etc... all at reasonable prices. Per the store's website (http://www.midlandfreshmarket.com/Midland-Fresh-Market-Menu.html), they open at 5:30 a.m. have breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, French toast, coffee, etc... on the menu then.
There's a neatly organized grocery section, including a fresh produce section, dairy section, plenty of dry goods, and posher packaged bakery items (e.g. black and white cookies, pastries). We picked up drinks and snacks for a bit less than we would've at a gas station.
The cashier was a saint and dealt with some difficult customers ahead of me with patience and unflappable kindness, all while somehow keeping tabs on Progeny 1, who was cold and (with permission) had slipped out the door and back to the car. He mentioned that he had two young children, as well, hence his well developed spidey senses for the whereabouts of minors!
What a great human!
Borrowing my Yelp friend, Hannah's, review system:
+ LOVELY HUMANS WORK HERE (at least one at the registers on July 21, 2025 at 8 p.m.)
+ Very fresh salad ingredients with an option for build-your-own salads
+ Great place to stop for a quick, reasonably priced meal in transit
+ Healthy, reasonably priced snacks and drinks on offer
The Pardner bookmarked the place for a return visit.