Up to four or five years ago, most cross-country centers were mom-and-pop operations, dependent on the weather for survival.

Most of them are mom-and-pop operations, which makes buying grits a hit-or miss proposition in many cases.

Not only are mom-and-pop operations accused of misspending.

They are mom-and-pop operations, for the most part, stamped with the personalities of their owners.

They tend to be mom-and-pop operations with little venture capital or corporate backing.

Older businesses, like the Autoservicio grocery store, are mom-and-pop operations whose ways have seemed as solidly set as stone.

"Many of them are mom-and-pop operations," he said.

While many large insurers believe that the worst risks are mom-and-pop operations in poor areas, Crusader made money with such customers.

"Many are mom-and-pop operations, and some have gone under," she said.

Most things were chains or franchises except for the ethnic take-out food stores and the town car services, which still seemed to be mom-and-pop operations.