Clerk finds meaning selling laxatives and ice scrapers

By Jamie Schey

For the Daily

From beer to batteries, the Village Corner provides students with the essentials of off-campus living. Located on the corner of South Forest and South University, the store's wide selection and upbeat atmosphere make it a popular place to shop and be seen. The Michigan Daily interviewed Village Corner employee, Spencer Bryant Jr., in order to get the lowdown on what it's like to work in the store.

The Michigan Daily: How long have you worked at the Village Corner?

Spencer Bryant: I've worked here for about five or six months.

TMD: So, how much does the job resemble the movie "Clerks?"

SB: Only vaguely. There are certain employees who will occasionally quote the movie, but that's about as far as it goes.

TMD: What is the craziest item that you sell at the store?

SB: Gloves with ice scrapers on them. We actually only have one pair left. They were pretty hot sellers this year.

TMD: Gloves with ice scrapers, huh? On that note, what is the strangest combination of items that you have seen customers buy?

SB: Definitely laxatives and single fruit items. For example, these young college girls will come in and buy a banana and a pack of laxatives. It really makes you wonder...

TMD: What is the most irritating question that customers ask you?

SB: Do you see those batteries ?-(points to a display of batteries). People will look right at it, then walk up to the counter and ask where the batteries are. But they are right in front of their faces!

TMD: Do you get a lot of students trying to buy alcohol with fake Ids?

SB: Yeah, we used to have a collection of them behind the counter, actually. But our boss made us take them down.

TMD: What is the deal with those talking coolers that you have here?

SB: Oh, that's actually part of a ritual we have. It involves stripping someone and leaving them in the coolers to see if they can take it. It can get pretty cold in there.

TMD: You guys always have interesting music playing in here, too. Which music do you choose?

SB: I like old-school heavy metal or classic country music-(laughs) ...yeah.

TMD: Okay, if you were stranded on a desert island with any celebrity, who would it be?

SB: Biance from Destiny's Child. She has a really cool hairdo. On the cover of "Vibe," though, her hair isn't as exciting as it usually is. But I still like it.

TMD: And if you could be any superhero, which would you choose?

SB: I would be Mad Max. He's part hero, part anti-hero. There is definitely a bad guy inside of him!

TMD: Finally, if you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

SB: Really, really bored.