A desert oasis

Do read this wonderful article in the Los Angeles Times’ business section about the historic Desert Market in the tiny Route 66 town of Daggett, Calif. It’s owned by Yousuf “Joe” Khawaldeh, yet another non-native who’s helping keep a slice of the old Mother Road alive.

We’ve actually been to this store, and this excerpt in the Times’ article rings true in more ways than one:

Beer, cigarettes, energy drinks and lottery tickets. They’re the lifeblood of this tiny store that has been here for 130 years. It’s managed to survive a fire, a population exodus and the loss of business after Interstate 40 was built and fewer motorists passed by the store on old Route 66.

To the people of Daggett, the store is part of their daily routine. They come to gossip, pay their utility bills or stock up on soda. To Joe, the market is a steppingstone to a better life.

The 43-year-old Jordanian immigrant at times spends 12 hours a day, seven days a week in the Desert Market, which is painted a faded turquoise, trying to earn enough money so that he doesn’t have to come here anymore. He has saved enough to buy an off-road vehicle, take a day or two of vacation once in a while, pay someone else to stand behind the register now and then.

That’s what he loves about Daggett, about the United States.

“If you are determined and you want to do something, you can,” he says. “Trust me.”

Just read the whole thing.

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