Rustic charm rules301169993
Ed Tincher spent nearly 30 years serving the public of Hernando County as a Brooksville Police officer, seven as a patrolman and 22 as the Chief of Police. “I enjoyed it,” he said, as he recounted several impacting incidents as part of the force that helped mold his character.
These days, he spends less time fighting crime and more time joking with customers walking in to the cozy convenience store on the corner of Snow Memorial Highway and Lake Lindsey Road in northern Hernando County.
“This is really my wife’s business,” he said. “She lets me come here and share my charm.” Lake Lindsey Mall & Deli has been the regular stop for customers traveling through northern Brooksville for decades, Tincher said.
The rustic two room convenience store and deli was the home of his wife Melody’s mother, Bessie Higginbotham. It was originally built near the old oak tree across the parking lot. Higginbotham owned a total of 20 acres, Tincher said, which included the structure. It was split into four 5-acre parcels and given to her four children, three boys and one girl, before she passed.
“My wife got the five acres with the house,” Tincher said. The history of the structure, dating back to the late 1920s, is intriguing. Jones raised her three sons inside the home, Tincher explained, which remained across the street until her husband died. Then his brother set the structure atop huge logs and rolled it across the parking lot to its present location.
“He poured the old concrete floor by hand,” Tincher went on. “You can see the roots of the old oak trees. Time has taken its toll.”
The residence was converted into a general grocery store around 1956. Through the next 60 years, Lake Lindsey Mall received a handful of tenants who tried their skill at running a convenience store.
“Some good, some bad,” Tincher said.
Its legacy grew, earning it a badge of honor as an iconic roadside stop for anything from a carton of motor oil to one of the many signature sandwiches prepared behind the deli counter.
In 1994, a fire that damaged a good portion of the interior prompted the remodeling efforts that led to an expansion.
“We incorporated the old pole barn into the side of the original building,” Tincher explained. “If you look at it close, you can still see the old poles.”
He laughed, “I don’t think it has a level spot or square corner in it. But what it lacks architecturally it makes up for in charm.” It certainly has character, with a rustic bench and cozy rocking chairs resting on the front porch, waiting what Tincher referred to as the “resident porch sitters”.
“These guys are professional coffee drinkers,” he said. “They put down a lot of coffee, spin a lot of yarn and express some really violent political views.”
Nor is it uncommon to see a healthy group of motorcycles on the weekend, stopping for a drink and some friendly networking before heading out on their ride.
“These are the guys that run your businesses on Monday through Friday and get out on the weekend to take back a little bit of their youth.”
Cyclists making their journey through the winding hills of Lake Lindsey, local firefighters who stop for sandwiches every shift and local residents who gather to enjoy comfortable conversation are all part of the scene on any given day at Lake Lindsey Mall.
In fact, the store is often referred to as Lake Lindsey City Hall, Tincher said, with the Honorary Mayor, Jody Woodard; Honorary Fire Chief, Steve Guickan; City Manager Jim Cummings (who is the former Brooksville Manager); and Honorary Police Chief, Ed Tincher.
“We also have other honorary positions, all non-paid,” Tincher continued. “Unlike other governments, here you can get the answers to all problems ‘Lake Lindsey Style’, with good food, good conversation, and cold drinks.”
Mike Burton from Brooksville comes in at least once a week for a Philly Cheese Steak. “These people are great,” he said.
Tincher is the front man, residing at the front counter, greeting each customer as they come in and jokingly taking their money. But he readily gives credit to his team, Missy and Tammie, who run the store alongside Tincher and in his absence. In fact, it is Missy’s pressed Cubans that bring customers in from Tampa who insist they are the best in the area.
She also prepares the pulled pork daily, roasting for 7 hours. Customers can phone in their orders and have it ready when they arrive. Or, she’ll make the sandwiches while Tincher entertains them with his unlimited mixture of history and witty takes on everything from political to the weather.
Tammie said the coffee is brewed fresh all day. She often has a cup waiting for regulars as they make their typical visits. Tincher stocks a lot of staple items, like bread, milk and cheese, at prices that might surprise most visitors.
“We try to keep our prices down,” Tincher said. He also sells local honey, some novelty items like canned possum “parts”, and knick knacks and collectibles. There is even a book exchange in the corner of the store.
“Take one and leave one or just take one,” he said.
Its comforting country atmosphere is certainly calming.
But Tincher said not to let the laid back charm fool anyone. “This old store has high tech security alarms and digital video and sound recording that capture every move.”
After all, Ed Tincher was Chief of Police. He tells a few poignant stories from his years on the force, many that impacted him in a variety of life-changing ways.
“I can tell you I enjoy not reading about myself in the newspaper,” he said with a grin. “Most of the people that I deal with today I please.”
He evidently found a nice niche, derived from his love of people and his uncanny ability to bring out their jovial personalities. He engages like there is no past time more intriguing than conversation between friends.
“It’s a really cool place,” he said. “And everything here is for sale, except my integrity.”
Kim Dame is a correspondent for Hernando Today. She can be reached at [email protected].
