The Station Store

This week in Pole: the station store. For the most part, everything here is provided for. The few extra necessities / perks can be obtained from the station store. 

Cash only

The station store is the one place cash is needed on station. It is open three days a week for an hour in the evening and 15 minutes in the morning (for the night shift workers), and run by someone who takes it on as an extra job assignment. The only necessity provided by the store is toiletries, although this year, because of some mixup during the summer, the store ran out of floss a couple months into the winter. I guess, every year the station runs out of something, and this year, it is floss. In addition to toiletries, you can also purchase souvenirs, and a few food items not available in the galley (like candy and soda), but by far the most popular offering provided by the store is alcohol. 

The leading cause of frostbite

To prevent alcoholism, store patrons are limited to two beer/wine purchases per day that the store is open, and one bottle of liquor per week (liquor is only available for purchase on Saturdays). The selection is quite reasonable, and you can purchase a $6 six-pack of Fat Tire, a $12-15 bottle of wine, or $25-40 bottle of whiskey. The best deal is the handle of Skyy Vodka for $8. 

Happy Customer

Other observations:

• One of the few remaining places where a can of soda still costs 50 cents
• Most people on station now wear some form of south pole swag on a regular basis
• During the summer, the store doubles as the post office
• Yes, that is Avery and Dale's Pale Ale in that photo - we have a good beer selection

Next week in pole: What to do when a penguin wanders onto station.