Lucky the Bear returns to Marine City Corner Grocery

Jackie Owens, owner of Marine City Corner Grocery, expected to see her store up in smoke when the fire department was called out Saturday. Instead, she was met with the familiar face of Lucky the Bear.

"I really thought my store was on fire," Owens said. "This is a big shock."

Lucky the Bear was a staple of the Marine City Corner Grocery for nearly a decade. He sat outside the store and greeted people as they entered. Late last summer, Lucky was vandalized, leaving his front smashed-in.

Lisa Hendrick, a frequent visitor at the store, said the damage was something all of Owens’ supporters felt.

Hendrick credited Jesse White, who owns Marine City Gunsmith across the street from Owens’ store, with spearheading the collection of funds to replace the bear, as well as the neighboring Marine City Grill.

In all, she said they raised $1,400 in three days with most of it going toward the new bear by chainsaw artist Scott Kuefier, of Carvings by Scott. She said it was easy for them to rally behind the cause to support Owens.

“We’ve been keeping this a secret since it happened, and oh my god, it’s hard sometimes because you almost slip,” Hendrick said Friday. “This town pulls itself together, and they always want to do something good when something (like this) happens.”

Owens was speechless after seeing the new Lucky and didn't know how to thank the community. She said she was blown away with the support and love Marine City showed her.

"This is why Marine City is an amazing town," she said. "The people here are incredible."

Members of the Marine City community were just as happy to see Owen's receive a new bear. Mike Hilferink said the community wanted Owens to know how much everyone appreciates her.

"She's been a part of this community for so long," he said. "She deserves to be appreciated."

Owen's sister, Debbie Owens, was one of many people who kept the new bear a secret. She said her sister has always been an active and beloved member of the community.

"Good things come to good people," Debbie Owens said.

A long-time owner of the corner store, Owens first received Lucky the Bear as a gift from her father and stepmother Jim and Marge Owens, of Cottrellville. This November would have marked a decade of his greeting customers — and holding his signature puzzle piece in support of Autism awareness.

Tia Raica, a friend of Owen's, was the person who inspired the creation of Lucky. She has Asperger's Syndrome, which is on the Autism spectrum. Raica knew about the new Lucky for nearly two months. She said she's glad she doesn't have to keep the bear a secret anymore.

"I feel like a free bird now that I see this new, glorious bear," she said. "My friend is happy now."

In a Facebook post on Oct. 7, Owens shared the news that Lucky’s time out front had come to an end with a short obituary.

Hendrick, who’s a city commissioner, said that was the sort of thing — her sense of humor — that helped Owens garner so much community support.

She recalled Owens’ Corner Grocery as a gathering place, where they watch city meetings and catch up with residents and commiserate on the goings-on about town. She called it “the little Cheers of party stores.”

The new bear comes just a couple of weeks since Owens reportedly announced she intended to sell the Corner Grocer. It wasn’t clear if Owens had lined up a new owner.

“Regardless of whether she’s selling or not, I think the point is people want to show their appreciation for her,” Hendrick said. “She can take the bear with her home. … They just wanted to do something good for her.”

Lucky the Bear will now stand inside of the Corner Grocery so that he won't be vandalized again. He stands in front of the check-out to once again greet everyone who enters.

Contact Jackie Smith at (810) 989-6270 or jssmith@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @Jackie20Smith. Contact McKenna Golat at (810) 292-0122 or mgolat@gannett.com