Familiar Chains?

Have you ever said you build your business from the "ground up" or started in your basement or garage?  This Humble Beginnings store is the local Office Depot and there is always a huge line!  You are not welcome to step inside these stores, you just tell them what you need and they hand it to you (if they have it).

This is what we call the Maverick.  Elder Asay has developed quite a taste for Orange Fan Ice.  It is like Sunny Delight, frozen in a bag.  Since Mt. Dew is not found on this continent, Coke satisfies his other addiction.

This "Old Navy" is one of my favorite stores because of their creativity in displays.

Gucci anyone?  This is a VERY upscale store - in the morning before they open the metal doors of this steel container, it has 9 padalocks on the door.

I'd say this is the local Payless Shoes.  Locals call flip flops "slippers".  You also see them displayed side by side on the street in long rows.  I'm just glad I get to wear them!

Nearly all clothing is custom made by the thousands of seamstresses everywhere.  They use old pedal sewing machines powered by the artist's foot.  When their day is done, you see them walking home down the street with the machine on their head.

Elder Asay LOVES Les Scwab.  This is one of the best tire shops we've seen.  What is Vulcanizing?  I'm afraid of turning into Spock if I get too close :)

Most of the tire shops look like this "Commercial Tire".  We have a slow leak in the front left tire and have to stop here every week to pay 50 peswas to fill it up. 

Elder Asay is admiring the wares of this local Ace Hardware.

The thickest mattress around is found here at the Serta store...a whopping 6"  Many people still sleep on a 1/4" mat or rug.

You can find fresh Cocoa, wild honey, or coconut at this Mrs. Beesley Health Food Store.  I guess in this case it is Mr. Beesley.  

 You probably can't see the meaty (I mean moldy) goat head in the right corner of this Deli.  Yikes!

I'm sorry to say that this Big Mac doesn't look very similar to the swiped McDonalds sign hanging on the gate.  But Elder Asay was in Heaven!

OK this is FOR REALS - a brand new KFC in Accra!  It is a beautiful, well built establishment in a cRaZy busy part of town so getting there is an excursion but well worth the effort.  I must say that with all the chicken and rice I've eaten here I've become somewhat of an expert and have to admit the Colonel has the BEST!

I laugh every time I think about this - Elder Asay was dying for Listerine and was thrilled to find the local brand even if it was lime flavored (nearly everything is lemon or lime flavored), sitting right there on the shelf next to the tooth past and brushes - finally halelujah!  That night he came drooling in the bedroom sputtering something about not putting it in my mouth...his was numb for over an hour.  This was antiseptic for "bathing cuts or wounds".  You just never know WHAT you're really going to get here!