ATLANTA - The Atlanta Country Market is a throw-back to an old way of life. The store has four aisles and two cash registers - and with only one open, customers still can check out in five minutes, said customer Bill Thomas of Atlanta.

The shop boasts a meat counter where you can get just two slices of bacon if you don't want a whole pound. Owner Liz Hunter even advertises on the storefront windows with old butcher paper, "like back in the day," she said.

"You can't describe any other grocery store like that," Thomas said.

But the shop with the nostalgic feel has some modern-day problems.

Hunter has struggled to move product and keep the shelves stocked at the small store this year. Declining sales coupled with delivery fuel surcharge increases and rising operation costs have left Hunter stressed and wondering how much longer she can stay open.

"It's on my mind 24/7," Hunter said. "It's not like I clock out and go home and it's somebody else's problem."

But a group of dedicated shoppers and community members also have taken on the dilemma, vowing to keep the store, 107 S.E. Vine St., open in the location that has housed a community grocery for more than a century.

"We're not going to let it go down," said Anne Newcomb of rural Atlanta.

Community supporters have rallied around the business. People have distributed flyers that urge residents to spend $20 to $30 a week; a church bought gift certificates for give-a-ways; a local mechanic shop offered a special for customers with grocery store receipts. Most recently, organizers came up with the idea to create the Atlanta Betterment Fund to provide grants to Atlanta's businesses, with the grocery store as the first project.

"It's heartwarming," Hunter said. "These are things that are going to help keep our store intact."

The goal of the fund is to maintain the Logan County community's quality of life, Thomas said. The first thing that needs to be done to ensure that Atlanta doesn't move backward is to make sure the town keeps its grocery store, he said.

The town of 1,649 residents lost its pharmacy this year and community members don't want to see another business close, said Mayor Bill Martin.

"If you lose your grocery store, you've lost a great deal of community," said longtime resident Billie Cheek.

Hunter agrees, but it's been difficult to balance income and expenses these days, she said.

She has struggled with upkeep and repairs on the 112-year-old building since she took over the store four years ago, but really started to feel the pain of slow business about a year ago.

"Sales just dropped off," Hunter said. "We were pitching meat, produce, expired food. Sometimes it was $500 a month."

Without sales, Hunter couldn't afford to buy more groceries. On top of that, many delivery companies have raised their minimum order amounts because of fuel prices, she said. Plus, she has increased expenses for bills and repairs.

Hunter understands families also struggle to make ends meet in today's slowing economy and with $4-a-gallon gasoline.

Hunter doesn't mind if shoppers buy items at big box stores to save money, but she also sends out a plea to residents of Atlanta, McLean and Waynesville to do some shopping at her shop.

"All we're asking for is them to support their local grocery store. It's not mine. They just need to support this town," Hunter said. "The way they do that is buy a little, consistently."

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Community service

What: Public meeting about the Atlanta Betterment Fund

When: 7 p.m. July 10

Where: Atlanta Public Library, 100 S.E. Race St.

Why: New initiative wants to raise money to support Atlanta's businesses and services to maintain the town's quality of life. The first project will be to help the Atlanta Country Market.

Details: Specifics about the fund and the amount of money leaders hope to raise for the town's grocery store will be announced at the meeting, but the short-term goal is to raise funds for a grant that will be used to repair the store's roof, repair or replace the cooler and freezer generators and condensers, and fully stock the shelves with groceries.