If you have never been to the Achilles Shopping Center just across the highway from Achilles Elementary School on Guinea Road in Gloucester, you are missing a very special treat.

The business is owned by the Marvin Crane family and is operated by a lady known as Miss Lou or just Lou (Betty Lou Sammons). She has been with the center for the past 15 years and also worked there 30 years ago. Her days begin at 4 a.m. and by 6 a.m. or even earlier, she opens the market. By 2 p.m. she likes to call it a day. The center is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Lou is also the main chef who prepares and even serves or packages food for take-out breakfast, lunch and dinner choices. “I love to cook,” she says as a bright smile crosses her face. “We are all family and care about each other so I try to keep available what my customers and community like to have or have requested,” while keeping some old standards.

Writing down a recipe is not easy for Lou. She doesn’t need one and is always creatin...