By JAMIE BUSEN

Herald-Whig Staff Writer

The stream of people is constant in the small white market at the corner of Fourth and Maiden Lane.

Every time the door opens on this Tuesday morning, a chime announces the patron's arrival. They are coming to Winking's Market, and their purchases vary vastly: oranges, a pocket comb, bologna, tobacco, ham salad, liver cheese, penny candy.

But the one thing 99 percent of these people have in common is that Frank Winking or his mother, June, knows their first names.

"We have lots of regulars -- lots," said Frank Winking, who took over sole ownership in late 2005.

It could be one of the reasons behind the store's longevity. Today, the family celebrates 60 years in business.

The other major reason could be because Winking's Market hasn't really changed much over the years. It doesn't accept credit cards. The signs are mostly handwritten. Prices have risen over the years, but you can still get a turkey and cheese sandwich for $1.83.

Delivery service faded out about 10 years ago, but otherwise the Winkings haven't tried to reinvent themselves -- and it seems to work.

The store opened at 416 S. Fourth on July 2, 1948. Dick Winking and his aunt, Elsie Feld, started the business for $400. The 1882 building had been some sort of a grocery market as far back as anyone can recall, though the original owner was a "shoemaker by trade."

In 1956, there were 108 corner market-type stores in Quincy. Today there are just two -- Winking's and G & amp;H Shortstop.

Frank Winking said when the Oakley-Lindsay Civic Center opened just a few blocks away in 1993 and it wasn't really a residential neighborhood anymore, he thought "that was the end."

Quite the opposite -- it opened up the view, and workers from all around started frequenting the place more often. More than half of Winking's business is his lunch food.

He employs two people -- his niece and nephew, Lindsey and Jonathon Schmidt. His mom volunteers her time during the lunch hour, along with her sister, Jean. And his father, 83, makes it a daily point to come into the business he began so long ago.

"He does what he can," Winking said.

He said his father is one reason the business has been around for so long.

"He devoted his entire life to the store, and without him, I would have had nothing to take over," he said. "All the glory should be in his honor, really."

Winking said he's going to keep the store open as long as he can. The only downside of running the business he loves is that he's there about 70 hours a week.

He has no intention of relocating -- it just wouldn't be the same to open a place like that brand-new, he said. The market would lose all the nostalgia, he said, and it would "likely cost a lot more than $400," he added with a laugh.

He's content now and very busy, and things are going well.

Winking said one more reason for the store's success is the loyal customers. The market has a good relationship with all of them, and in turn, the customers appreciate the friendliness.

"You know, we are for the working man," June Winking said as she rang up a customer's order. "They appreciate that about us, because we understand what that is."

-- jbusen@whig.com/221-3385