Monday, November 16, 2009

Hazel's Store

I just wanted to post quickly, on a busy morning, about an upcoming "Absolute" auction of Hazel's store in Mintonville [Hwy 837 North, just over the Casey County line]. I have often written about Hazel and her store as she was one of the first to welcome us here and we often stop for "pop," The Casey County News or to get the local "news." We live only a few miles away as the crow flies, just over the next county line, or about 8 miles if you take the better tended country roads and highways.

For a brief time last winter, I thought of buying Hazel's when she said she wanted to retire. But my calling is elsewhere. [And besides, I'd probably watched too many episodes of The Waltons and have more of a sentimental attachment to such places–like Ike Godsey's on Walton's Mountain–but Hazel's store is like stepping into another era, without deliberately trying to do so.] However, it would be the perfect business opportunity for a young couple or retirees and would only require a bit of cash–and some Murphy's Oil Soap–to fix it up: as it is an "absolute" auction, the place will go to the highest bidder (and it has been for sale for over a year so who knows what the bidding might bring?).

There are two gas pumps, an eclectic inventory, even a lunch counter. The original details are all there, such as the matchboard walls, shelving and the tin ceiling. There is even a front porch and an old tin roof. The structure is built like many country stores in Kentucky: with a sloping roof and shed-style construction and a side room that housed the local post office branch or served as a store owner's apartment. It is an original Cracker Barrel®! You can try but you just can't manufacture what stores like this offer to a small country community.



The store is in Mintonville and at the edge of Casey County's prosperous Mennonite community (Turkey Creek Road, which runs out of the South Fork Creek area, comes right into Mintonville at Highway 837). With the right marketing, it could likely be better traveled than it has been in recent years. But sadly, these old country stores are a dying breed. Casey County is fortunate to still have several of them, including historic Penn's Store in Gravel Switch, the oldest continuously operated store by the same family in the United States. My son Eli and I also discovered Peggy Tarter's store in Dunnville during the Highway 127 Yard Sale last August.

We plan to attend Hazel's auction and I am hoping the right bidder will be there: someone to tend the place as Hazel has, putting their own mark on the little store and maybe some muffins on the counter or a few pies...in fact, I might know just the person and need to go call her right now. [And don't worry, Rosemary, it's not you...as much as I might like it to be!]

So here's to Hazel Wesley and Peggy Tarter and Jeanne Penn Lane and all of the country storekeepers of Kentucky who have kept this tradition alive in an era of over-lit gas station megaplexes and corporate American strip shopping. Thank you. PHOTO: My husband and our two boys get Cokes while chatting with Hazel on one of our first visits to the region a few years ago.


NOTE: Godby Realty & Auction is handling the sale of the Mintonville Store on Friday, November 20, 2009 at 10am. You can find out more about the auction, and download a PDF of the flyer, at this address. [Go to "Auctions" page and look for "Absolute Auction-Grocery Store"]

9 comments:

DarcyLee said...

How nostalgic and reminiscent of places like Ike Godsey's of the Waltons (one of my favorite shows growing up). If I lived anywhere near there I would definitely want to bid for it at the auction. I hope just the right person buys it.

a Cupcake near you! said...

As tempting as it is, my husband already thinks I'm a little crazy. I did enjoy getting "the tour" last spring, although I must admit that package of melted butterscotch chips from the 70's still gives me nightmares!

How much do you suppose it would cost to move the building up to New Hampshire?

Best of luck to Hazel. As my Grandmother would say, "She's a real doll!"

xoxo
Rosemary

a Cupcake near you! said...

Rosemary,

We know men with rollbacks down here. I have NO idea what they'd charge!

And then there's Chucky up your way. If you bake him some chocolate Whoopie pies, it might not cost much (that was the only food I offered that he ever ate at our house--ok, that and spaghetti and meatballs).

I would love to see the little store in your back yard...

Love, Della

PS I swear I saw a pointed red cap sticking up over the fence the other day...

a Cupcake near you! said...

Della, Peaches, Rosemary, the whole crazy lot of you!

KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY WHOOPIE PIES!!!!!!!

Charlotte

Anonymous said...

Hope Hazel's Store survives and prospers. Please post the outcome for me. I love old stores and back roads. If I weren't old and poor I would come bid. Love your blog. Deanna

tipper said...

Love the store-I hope the right person is at the auciton.

Jeanette said...

We had a Hazel store in our community, I miss it so. I hope someone that truely appreciates it buys it. Thank you so much for that trip down memory lane.

Catherine said...

I will post soon on the auction, with photos. Fortunately, it was purchased by someone who wanted it to continue on (and I had to sit on my hands...).

Happy Thanksgiving all if I don't post before then ~

Catherine

We Are Not Robots said...

Hello mate great blog post