Freeman Store center of the community

At this wood-sided building in Freeman one can find pizza, sandwiches, gas, movies, a cup of coffee and most importantly, a place to catch up on the town’s happenings.

The 106-year-old Freeman Store is truly the community center.

“That’s the reason my husband and I bought it,” said Barb Lang, who along with husband, Craig, owns the Freeman Store. “It’s like that old show, ‘Cheers,’ when you come in, everybody knows you by name.”

The Langs bought the store this spring and re-opened it April 1. Since then, they’ve repainted the interior from its old, all-white to a warmer set of browns and greens. They’ve added a sandwich shop as well as an espresso stand and are also adding drive-through espresso.

Barb Lang said she felt the store had to be open so the community would have a place to gather.

“You’re in a whirlwind and you’re in the most exciting part,” she said. “You know exactly what’s going on all the time. If people need help, you can help them.”

That’s just what the store has done. Recently, it raised $2,000 for a woman in the community who had an aneurism. They’ve taken up other charitable causes with similar results in the past, also, said Lang.

The store handles plenty of traffic from the nearby Freeman schools. Teachers often stop in for lunch, and students frequent the store looking for snacks, Lang said.

Things can get hectic in the small store, but Lang credits her hardworking employees for keeping things running smoothly.

“They’re so friendly, and they’re warm. Without them, you wouldn’t have that kind of community feel,” Lang said.