Four Decades Behind the Counter: The Enduring Legacy of Skinner's Grocery

CHIPLEY, FL – On the corner of Main and 5th, Skinner's Grocery stands as a quiet testament to a different era. For over 45 years, the small, family-owned store has been a fixture in Chipley, serving generations of residents with a friendly smile, a well-stocked shelf of essentials, and what many claim is the best hand-sliced deli meat in the Panhandle.

The store is owned and operated by David and Mary Skinner, who took over from David's parents in the late 1980s. The bell above the door still jingles when customers enter, and David can still be found behind the original wooden counter, greeting most patrons by name.

"Not much has changed, and that's how people seem to like it," David says with a chuckle, arranging a display of locally grown tomatoes. "We've seen the big box stores come in, and we've weathered economic downturns. I think people keep coming back because this place feels like home. It's predictable, in a good way."

Skinner's has become an unofficial community hub. It's where you hear the latest news, catch up with old friends, and where your kids can still buy a cold bottle of soda and a candy bar for a couple of dollars. Longtime customer Earlene Johnson remembers coming in as a little girl with her grandfather. "Mr. Skinner's dad used to give me a piece of bubblegum every time we came," she recalls. "Now I bring my own grandkids here. There's a history in these walls you just can't find anywhere else."

While they have made small concessions to modernity—they now accept credit cards and have a small social media presence run by their daughter—the Skinners are committed to preserving the store's core identity. "We're not just selling groceries," Mary adds. "We're part of the fabric of this town. As long as Chipley will have us, we'll be here."