In small towns everywhere, summer weekend nights are meant for cruising. Whether converging on the town’s only remaining drive-in burger joint or congregating in the parking lot of an abandoned shopping center property, classic car enthusiasts are always looking for a place to gather, show off their rides, and discuss their latest projects.
In Columbia this summer, these car guys and gals have had to look no further than the new Maury Farmers Co-op store located at 975 Riverview Lane.
As part of the promotion for the new facility that opened this past spring, a Cruise In Co-op event was conceived to help showcase the cooperative’s improvements at their new location.
It’s not exactly the crowd you might expect at a Co-op, but it’s another way of introducing the new store to the community and showing off the sprawling new complex to a new segment of customers, says the Co-op’s Automotive Center Manager Bruce Odom and the self-proclaimed mastermind behind the cruise in idea. Bruce enjoys the hobby along with his brother, Justin (Frog), who works alongside him at the Co-op, and both were bitten by the old car bug when they were “messing around with cars” with their dad.
“We’ve always loved hot rods,” says Bruce, who owns a 1946 Ford sedan hot rod and a 1939 Ford Delivery Van with “81 years of patina” once used to deliver dairy supplies. The vehicle now boasts “81 years of patina.” Frog is the proud owner of a 1949 Chevy pickup.
The first Cruise In event took place on Friday, June 3, and the goal was to host the gathering on the first weekend of each month throughout the summer. They advertised the event on Facebook and posted flyers around the store. Word of mouth and local car clubs did the rest of the promotion.
“We were surprised by the attendance at the first one,” Bruce said. The Co-op stayed open late to welcome car enthusiasts who came from all over southern Middle Tennessee to show off their classic rides.
By the time the Co-op hosted its second Cruise In on July 3, word had gotten out about the new location, and some 250 cars were at the event. The spacious parking lot allowed visitors to enjoy the cars and fellowship while keeping a safe distant from one another, says Bruce.
“We had a good selection of vehicles from a New Dodge Demon to some Model A Fords, too,” he says.
While this was the first time for some of the enthusiasts to visit the Co-op, many are regular customers.
“We do alignments on many vintage vehicles, and several of these folks trust us to work on their classic cars,” says Bruce.
The Co-op’s main showroom stayed open until 8 p.m. to provide visitors a chance to shop at the new store. A food truck was available on site, and entertainment was provided.
Another Cruise In was held August 28, and the final event for 2020 is planned for Oct. 2. Hours will be from 5 to 9 p.m. No Cruise In was held in September due to the Labor Day holiday.
“We’re pleased by the response of the car owners and the community,” says Bruce. “We hope to continue it next year.”
Check with Bruce Odom at Maury Farmers Co-op Automotive Center for additional details.