Gray

I worked at Gray's Grocery on 25th and Oak across the street from Roger's and "Pop" Arnolds Esso (Hi, Dave!). Our uncle (Newton Savage) Sandi's (Bateman Chestnut - '65 - of VA) - and mine - owned the store and we where held up on one Saturday night as we were preparing to close the store for the night. My uncle was in the back putting up deposit bottles and I was scrapping the butcher block table which was a weekly thing. Well, the next thing I knew I looked up and a man with a hose pulled down over his face was staring at me with a chrome pearl handled .25 automatic. I'll never forget what he said, "Freeze! I can shoot this thing straight!" so I froze and while he held the gun pointed 6" inches from between my eyes one of them (3 robbers) went to the register and took all the bills and the other was at the front door of the store. A few minutes later my uncle came out of the back room, and the robber that was pointing the gun at me went over to my uncle and held the gun in his side. No one got hurt (thank God) and they took off with $119.00.

THEN:		NOW: