The Hunt Store and Cafe, Hunt, Texas
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Things to Do
6 Historic Hill Country General Stores You Must Visit
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Photo: Facebook/thehuntstore
Robert Finley Hunt may not have figured he would have a town named after him when he moved to Texas from Tennessee, but this is indeed what happened in 1911 when Hunt sold off parcels of his 319 acres of land in Kerr County. A post office and a general store were built by various new owners of this land, paving the groundwork for what is now The Hunt Store and Cafe. Today, this historic site is home to a local bank, a full service restaurant, and of course, a general store, where you can purchase everyday sundries and local offerings. They also host live music shows on the open patio, so make sure to check their website for upcoming events: www.thehuntstore.com
Kendalia General Store and Post Office, Kendalia, Texas
Photo: www.sovietsteeds.com
With a population of just under 100, Kendalia is one those rare small towns that has kept to its roots. When the post office was moved from Samson Road to its current location on Hwy. 473, the town’s postmaster general expanded the property to include a general store. She eventually sold it to John and Rosemary Larson in 1977. The Larsons continued to operate the store until 1990, when John and Mindy Ingram took over. Nowadays, the Kendalia General Store sells your basic staples, and even has a cafe that specializes in breakfast tacos and homemade burgers. Oh, and should you need a new chain saw, or have one that needs repair, bring it on in. They specialize in that, too.
Whittington’s Jerky & General Store, Johnson City, Texas
When D.J. and Gertrude Whittington purchased the old JC Locker Plant in the late 1950’s, they solidified their place in Hill Country history. For over 40 years, the Whittington’s were the sole meat processors in the area, eventually turning the reins over to their son, Sam. Sam sold the original plant and built a new facility specializing in their now famous beef jerky. Today you can visit Whittington’s and browse their wide variety of gourmet foods and snacks. They also provide an honorable service by shipping jerky you purchase to any soldier currently serving, free of charge! Visit www.whittingtonsjerky.com for more information.
History has shown us how businesses come and go. Finding one that has survived the test of time is not an easy task. Luckily, we live in the Texas Hill Country, where time stands still in some places and traditions matter even today. So if you’re lucky to find yourself exploring our many country small towns and backroads, make sure to stop at one of these historic general stores. You’ll be glad you did.
