Page 26 - Senior Link Magazine Winter 2020- Lubbock Online Magazine

HONORING
SMALL BUSINESSES

A Cheeseburger“to Die For”

4 CORNERS MART

by Donna Carter

e’ve all seen them – every very few
spring, the limousines years, had
Wchauffeuring beautifully- Neal reaching
clad guys and gals to prom. Do extremes – in
you know where some limos often the depths
park as a meeting place for students of the Earth
from Shallowater and Frenship? At and rising
4 Corners Mart, intersection of West to heights of nearly 16 miles
19th and FM 179! As a matter of fact, above Earth.
many folks know this is an excellent
meeting ground for those heading After the military, Neal
west and perhaps even leaving relocated to San Angelo,
vehicles there in order to carpool. Texas, to attend Southwest
They can “gas up” for their trip and Bible Institute where he
grab snacks inside the convenience and Laura first met. Laura,
store as well. a native Shallowater girl,
graduated from LCC (later
Neal and Laura Hendrix have owned LCU) with a Bachelor of
and operated two locations of 4 Arts in music, focusing on
Corners Mart for many years – the piano performance. She was
convenience store and a grocery store an accompanist for many
by the same name in Shallowater. events, such as school choirs
Originally, the convenience location and weddings, and she gave
was home to a feed store and has private lessons for years.
been regarded as a historical place in Diners at Furr’s Cafeteria, as
Lubbock County. well as many lucky nursing
home residents, enjoyed her
It all started when Neal began talents. Besides her musical
working at a 7-11 at age 14. Soon after ability, she homeschooled her
graduation, he worked in an Arizona four children – Josh, Sarah,
copper mine 2200 feet underground. Jacob, and Caleb – from
After two years of sweltering heat kindergarten through high
and dangerous, hard physical labor, school.
he joined the Air Force. Stationed in
Okinawa, Japan, he trained to refuel In San Angelo, Neal rejoined
the SR-71 (Strategic Reconnaissance) the world of groceries at Town Supermarket, a small-town grocery
“Blackbird” during flight! This and Country Food Stores. In 1982, store which he renamed to match the
aircraft, born in the 1950s and used the couple married and eventually convenience store. After acquiring
during the Cold War, remains the moved to Lubbock where Neal both stores, Neal opened Mr. Z’s Pizza
record holder as the world’s fastest continued with Town and Country for next door, featuring a pizza buffet,
airplane. Undetected by the enemy, another 19 years. Then he ventured salads, sandwiches, and desserts.
it reached nearly 2200 mph and a out on his own and purchased the 4 However, road construction from
sustained altitude of 85,000 feet. These Corners Mart on West 19th. Two years 2003-2005 forced them to close it.
two perilous occupations, within a later, he purchased the Shallowater

26 Lubbock Senior Link