2018Q4SpiritedVA - 11

ripen

SPOTLIGHT ON SERVICE

DWIGHT ELEY

your
cocktail

Curlee Overton, Sales Associate, Store 256, Virginia Beach

C

urlee Overton has seen a lot of changes
at Virginia ABC-he's celebrating his 50th
anniversary this year. Despite the changes,
two things remain the same: Curlee Overton's
positive outlook and his commitment to
his job.
"You can always count on Curlee," says
David Warren, Overton's manager at store
256, the Virginia Beach Premier Store. "He's a
joy to work with." Warren should know-he's
worked with Overton for more than 20 years.
"I worked 41 years as a full-time clerk,"
Overton recalls. "I retired, took off about two
months and David Warren called me back.
I've been working part-time for nine years."
When did you begin working for Virginia ABC?
I started when I was 21 years old. I worked as
a porter-keeping the store clean, stocking
shelves. We had to wear white shirts and
bow ties every day. Eventually, I [became]
a full-time clerk.
What changes have you seen over the years?
I know so many, I can't think of them! When I
first worked at the store, the customer came

to the counter, and we picked the liquor up
and brought it to them.
How did customers know what the products
were without browsing the shelves?
They didn't! If something new came in,
we'd bring it up to the customer. Most of
the customers you knew because the same
people used to come in all the time.
What have you enjoyed about working for
Virginia ABC?
I'm an easy-going guy. I like to laugh and
joke-I get along with everybody. I've
been working with David Warren for 20
years, and you know, we have never had a
misunderstanding. We get the work done.
He's a super manager.
At the end of a day at the store, what makes
you feel good?
That it's time to go home!
I've enjoyed the job, and I think I'd go back
and do it again. The people I worked with, we
just acted like a big happy family. We didn't
mind doing anything for each other.

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SPIRITED VIRGINIA | OCTOBER | NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2018 11
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2018Q4SpiritedVA

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