It含羞草研究社檚 not snappy, shiny or modern. The green linoleum tiles on the floor look worn, the stencilled ivy on the wallpaper dates itself, and you won含羞草研究社檛 find any quinoa or kale listed on the menu board adorning the wall above the sink.

But the tall stools that line the counter of the little restaurant inside the Matchbox Smoke & Newsstand have been, over the years, a second home for many people.

That is changing.

The Matchbox on Hudson Avenue is on the move to Centenoka Mall to the former home of Lucky含羞草研究社檚, where owner Wes Piggott is continuing to sell lottery tickets, greeting cards, tobacco supplies and e-cigarettes.

Piggott doesn含羞草研究社檛 want to talk publicly about the move, but confirms it should be complete in the next week or so.

While 23-year-old Frances Biggs has been the chef, server and right-hand woman at the Matchbox for the past four years, the history of the store is interwoven with that of her family. Both her mom Donna and her great-aunt Pat worked for Tom Hale, the previous owner, when magazines were in their heyday and e-cigarettes were just a glimmer in an inventor含羞草研究社檚 eye. Her older sister Tiffany worked there too.

含羞草研究社淎 lot of these people have known me since birth,含羞草研究社� Frances said of her customers last week, before taking up her duties in the store含羞草研究社檚 new location. 含羞草研究社淢y mom had me when she was working here.含羞草研究社�

Every morning before Frances would start work, she would stop by Askew含羞草研究社檚 Foods to pick up the fresh produce she含羞草研究社檇 need for the day含羞草研究社檚 cooking.

She becomes particularly animated when she speaks about the soup.

含羞草研究社淚 make the soups from scratch each day,含羞草研究社� she said, explaining customers have been asking for her recipes since learning the store is moving.

Frances says she含羞草研究社檚 both saddened and excited by the move.

On this Friday, as most Fridays, the soups were clam chowder or tomato.

含羞草研究社淔riday, people order grilled cheese and tomato soup. It含羞草研究社檚 an old-school combination.含羞草研究社�

The Matchbox would see different crowds of people depending on the time of day.

Some old-school, some not.

People from surrounding businesses regularly come for lunch, while the morning crowd is a decidedly different gang. Ken Tapp, who is sitting on his usual stool facing the Keno screen, explains he含羞草研究社檚 been coming to the Matchbox since 1990, more regularly since 1997.

含羞草研究社淚 think I含羞草研究社檝e survived at least four people who含羞草研究社檝e passed away, and they含羞草研究社檝e all been regulars here. I含羞草研究社檝e ended up visiting them at Bastion, or taking them papers at home.含羞草研究社�

Frances describes the morning crowd, of which Tapp is a part, as 含羞草研究社渞ambunctious.含羞草研究社�

Former owner Tom Hale, Tapp recounts, had his own view of the spot where Tapp and friends sit.

含羞草研究社淗e used to say that the total IQ at the table had never exceeded 142 in all the years he含羞草研究社檇 operated the place.含羞草研究社�

Michael Ellis sits down next to Tapp. Asked why he comes to the Matchbox, Ellis quips, 含羞草研究社淪ex.含羞草研究社� He quickly follows that up with: 含羞草研究社淲ell, to look at Frances.含羞草研究社� Then, 含羞草研究社淲e come here for the good soup. Especially the soup. And we get regularly abused by the owner, Wes. Sometimes he gets brutal and Frances steps in.含羞草研究社�

Frances, meanwhile, holding her hands over her ears by way of demonstration, says she has become very skilled at not listening to what the morning crowd has to say.

Joking aside for the moment, Tapp says a lot of people come to the restaurant at the Matchbox for the ambiance.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 an old-time prairie restaurant. If someone is looking for me, they will come in at nine o含羞草研究社檆lock and be very surprised if I含羞草研究社檓 not here.含羞草研究社�

And what will he do now?

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檒l have to go along (to the new location). I含羞草研究社檓 writing a book and staff figure prominently in it,含羞草研究社� he says, glancing with a grin at Frances.

含羞草研究社淥h, that look from Frances will kill a hamster at 30 paces,含羞草研究社� he says. 含羞草研究社淭hose are dark looks.含羞草研究社�