Greig's West Main Grocery
Greig's little store was a gatekeeper of the growing city of New Iberia for nearly 50 years.
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Raymond August Greig was born in St. Martinville, Louisiana, on November 28, 1914. Raymond was a bright boy but never received more than an 8th-grade education. Ray met Carrie Leigh Broussard at a county fair. They wed on November 30, 1935, before moving to Texas, where Raymond worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad. They moved all over Texas following the growth of the railroad. Raymond was indispensable to the railroad: he was unafraid of heights and skilled at his job; this allowed him to escape the draft into World War 2. The family returned to Louisiana in 1941 and eventually made their home in New Iberia, on 1200 West Main Street. Raymond built the property and store in the 1940s. There, they raised their three kids; their grandkids would also spend much of their childhood at the store and home.
Attached to their private residence, Greig's Grocery was a hotspot for cola, cigarettes, and cold beer. The front door opened to a small space; on either side of the door were two large windows. The store was small, boasting 1-2 isles in the middle and a long counter holding a large old-time cash register with a satisfying cha-ching when he pulled the lever. Below the register, Raymond kept track of purchases in a flip book, even opening tabs for regular customers.
Behind the long counter on the right side of the store was a wall of candy boasting all the latest brands: Snickers, Milky Way, M&M's, etc. Cigarettes and toothpaste were also waiting on the shelves for the desiring customer. The long counter held a deli with fresh meat and cheese to be sliced in the grocery's deli slicer. Raymond had chickens in the backyard; he pickled the eggs and sold them in the store. At the end of the counter were shelves holding packages of baked goods, not only bread but packaged Little Debbie treats. Various dried goods were on the far wall across from the long checkout counter. A big Coca-Cola icebox stood by the front door.
Greig's West Main Grocery served customers for nearly 50 years. Carrie Leigh passed away in 1995. Shortly after her death, the store was robbed. The offenders attacked Raymond and sprayed him with pepper spray. The store was closed and put up for sale by 1997. The property was sold and became May's Oriental Grocery. Raymond August's middle son had a small wooden cabin built for his father to live in for the remainder of his life, where Raymond resided until his passing on February 27, 2000. Raymond is buried beside his wife at the Nativity Mausoleum in New Iberia.
