The "Hey, Mr. Spice Man" Story

It was an ordinary day.  That is for most of us.  Then there is Jim Zink who tends a stand at Lancaster County's Central Market.  The market is United States' oldest, continuously operated farmer's market which stands in the heart of Amish country in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  It was voted the 8th best fresh food market in the world by CNN Go.  I guess I kind of take it for granted, since I can visit whenever I wish as well as am able to sell my altered Polaroids at a small store right next to the market. 

Jim is waiting on a customer while the TV technician is
filming the transaction.  You can see the many jars
of spices on the wall behind Jim.

Well, today I stopped by to say goodbye to Jim who has owned and operated The Herb Shop for the last 20 years.  Stand #8 is a stand that literally is the"spice of life" at market.  Over 250 jars of many sizes are filled with an assortment of loose leaf teas as well every imaginable spice, herb, seasoning, and rub you can dream of; many of them in multiple forms like course sea salt and fine sea salt.

Here Jim is weighing one of his spices for a customer.

Whether you're searching for a strong shellfish boil, mild paprika or anything in between, you'll surely find it at the Herb Shop.  Took that last sentence from The Herb Shop's page on the Market's website.  Jim was extremely busy with customers when I arrived.  Even had a TV crew from our local NBC Channel 8 affiliate taping him and talking with him.  

A gift from a friend.

I walked to the far end of the stand and there sat a bouquet or flowers with a card simply marked "Jim".   One of many farewell wishes I'm sure Jim got in the last few days.  Helping Jim today is his granddaughter Corrie who will be taking over the stand from Jim.  She has worked there with him for a few years and said in a newspaper story about Jim's retirement that she is both terrified and excited about taking over the stand.  I'm sure she will carry on supplying Lancaster residents with the best choice of spices and teas as did her grandfather.  

Here his granddaughter Corrie helps her granddad.

As for Jim, his plans are still up in the air.  He would like to get back into antiques which he did ages ago with his wife, but I'm sure he will be making the couple of blocks walk to the market every now and again to see how his granddaughter is doing.  Gonna be tough to stay away from something he loved doing for many years.  Today I have posted a 1958 Lancaster Newspaper file photo of Central Market which was taken about this time of year.  I have also taken a new one while visiting with Jim so that you can compare the market as it was 55 years ago to today's version.  Best wishes for Jim Zink in his retirement, but I suspect he'll remain active doing something that will keep him involved with the public.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

This is the 1958 photo of Central Market.  Check out the white scales lined up on the countertops to the left.    Shoppers tended to dress more formally to go to market.  Notice the men in topcoats and the women in scarves.  Busy day at market.

My photo from today taken from an overhead area that held shoppers eating their recent purchases.  No topcoats or scarves are seen in this shot, but the stands are brightly lit and the market is a busy place.