Here is a look at two Country/General Stores that are still doing it – Buchanan’s and Todd’s General Stores in North Carolina. Todd’s has its own website (click here.) Note their sign next to the steps leading to the store’s porch advertising “Story Telling Tuesdays 6 P.M.” Hell, Buzzy’s has that everyday.
In case you miss it in the Buchanan Store video, I’ve shown it here to the right: over its front door, they have posted what seems to have been the motto of all general stores “If we ain’t got it, you don’t need it.”
Also, note at the very beginning of the video below how Lucy Buchanan talks about the store as being a part of her heritage and
legacy and says “My blood runs though this store.” She then talks about her Grandfather owning the store.
I can appreciate those sentiments as my Grandfather Harry Raley ran Buzzy’s from 1945 until he sold it to my Dad in 1953. Harry then went to work on Base in the Supply Department.
In 2007, I left employment on the Base to buy the Store from my Dad. Now, as I roll into my 8th year of owning and operating Buzzy’s, I realize that I will have matched the tenure of my Grandfather Harry owning the Store. Since I’d have to live to be 108 years old to match Buzzy’s run, I’ll hold off for now on any plans to celebrate equaling his 54 years of operations.