17/07/2025
Three months ago, I stood at the front doors watching something roll up that we’d been working toward for a long time. Those new beautiful gas pumps. I felt a rush of excitement, a little bit of nerves, and a whole lot of responsibility. That moment meant things were about to change.
New pumps meant new registers.
New registers meant a bigger counter.
A bigger counter meant tearing things down, building things up, rewiring, replumbing, reworking space. And doing it all while trying to keep our doors open.
It wasn’t just a project, it was a push. Some days were smooth, and others were straight up chaos. But through all of it, something special happened:
This community showed up.
Y’all showed up with your lending hands, your work, your expertise, your flexibility and patience, your words of encouragement, or just by coming in to grab a drink while we figured it all out around you. That meant the world to me.
We’ve made a lot of changes around here. Some big, some small. Some were an instant hit, others took a little time to get used to. And truthfully, a few still don’t sit right with everybody. I get that. Not every decision has been easy, and not every decision has been popular. And I believe folks have every right to feel how they feel and to speak up about it. I hear you. I really do.
Every choice we’ve made has come from the same place: a hope to make this store more welcoming to more people. And these days, we’ve seen more families stopping in, more kids walking the aisles, and folks who might’ve stayed away before, now making Diamond Stop part of their routine. That tells me we’re moving in the right direction. Toward something that serves the whole community, not just a piece of it.
No matter what’s changed or what’s still to come, I want to be clear about one thing: everyone is welcome here.
This store isn’t just mine, it belongs to this town. To the people who’ve been here long before us and to the ones just finding us.
I know we’re not perfect, and I know change is not easy. But I believe in this little store. I believe in what it can be for this community. And I believe in the people who’ve stood by us while we try to figure it out.
Thank you for your patience.
Thank you for your honesty.
Thank you for your support.
We’re still building. And we’re doing it together.
– Alex
