Local cashier “Dee” becomes Georgia State icon

Dee's market can be located on Edgewood Avenue, across from the University Lofts.

On Edgewood Avenue, 50 feet down from Greek Housing, a woman in Dee’s Market teases and plays with Georgia State students. Her comments like “the purpose of college is to get drunk and high!” and “Girl, you are too cute! I see why he’s buyin’ these rubbers now!” make her a memorable figure in the Georgia State community.

This woman is Dee, the face of the convenience market Dee’s Market, who students describe as crazy, sweet, hilarious, and sometimes insane.

“Crazy! That’s the one word I would use to describe her,” said Brenda, a resident of The Lofts. “She’s hilarious. I remember this one time I walked into the store with my friend to buy some feminine products. Then, out of nowhere, she walked up behind us and started rambling on about yeast infections!”

Beverly Cheong, a resident of Greek Housing, also had an interesting encounter with the effervescent cashier.

“I remember this one night, my sorority sisters and I walked into her shop all dressed up for chapter. When she saw us, her reaction was priceless. She said something like: ‘Ohhh girls I see you!! Marry up! Marry the rich! And have a good time tonight!'” Cheong said.

Dee's market can be located on Edgewood Avenue, across from the University Lofts.
Dee’s market can be located on Edgewood Avenue, across from the University Lofts.

But not everything that comes out of Dee’s mouth is so off the wall. Her kindness has made an impact on her customers. She greets shoppers with a hug whenever they enter the store, and she knows many students by their first names.

“If you don’t give her a hug when you walk in her shop, she’ll call you out on it, Cheong said. “She brings that homey feeling to living on campus. She’s like the official on-campus mom, and she loves to give advice in a comical way.”

It is not just the students at Georgia State who enjoy talking to her and spending time in her shop. Levi, a regular customer and a student at the Barber School next door to Dee’s Market, also described her as sweet person who cares about her community.

“She’s just a genuinely sweet lady with some funny qwirks,” Levi said.

Many students at Georgia State know or has heard of “that lady who owns Dee’s Market.” Though Dee does not own the market herself, she has become an important figure for the market and the Georgia State community.

Dee’s Market is open Monday to Saturday 8 a.m. until 10 p.m., and Sunday from noon until 6 p.m. The market’s facebook page announces changes in store hours and new products in stock.