Meaning of company store | Babel Free

Definitions

A retailer of provisions and general merchandise, owned by a firm which operates a mine or other industry nearby, and at which the firm's employees are required to shop, to pay high prices, and to make payments through payroll deductions or a truck system, typically resulting in the accumulation of considerable employee indebtedness.

Examples

“Skeelty, who thought he knew how to manage⟳ these people, allowed every man, at the close⟳ of work⟳ on Saturday, to purchase⟳ a pint of whiskey from the company store, charging an exorbitant price that netted a huge profit.”

“In the year and more that he had worked, faithfully and persistently, to get⟳ out coal for Peter Harrigan, he had never once been able to get⟳ ahead of his bill for the necessities of life at Old Peter's store. . . . [I]n any case, the best he could hope⟳ for in life was to work⟳ for some other Harrigan, and run⟳ into debt at some other company-store.”

“You load⟳ sixteen tons what do you get⟳— Another day older and deeper in debt. Saint Peter don't you call⟳ me 'cause I can't go; I owe⟳ my soul to the company store.”

CEFR level