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By Naomi Smoot-Kimble
Special to the Rappahannock News
In an age where one-stop Wal-Mart shopping has enabled society to change oil, buy groceries, visit the optometrist, and purchase camping supplies all in one convenient location, the country store is becoming a dying breed.
Richie Burke, owner of Burke’s store in Woodville, made the decision to close down his family’s store last July after his mother retired from the family business.
He is not alone.
Flint Hill’s country store has been vacant for nearly a year and Dennis’ store in Scrabble has been closed for a similar amount of time.
Now, Laurel Mills, owned by Mary Frances Fannon, is up for sale. Until the closing of the three stores, Rappahannock had a total of 15 stores.
Many storeowners feel that these closings are reflective of a changing society and that the stores are remnants of a bygone era.
Many of the stores have been open for over a century. Laurel Mills was founded in 1877 and the Comer Store in Sperryville has records dating back to 1850.
During this period, farmers were considerably less mobile than modem Americans and did not commonly go into town more then once a month, according to Burke and Fannon.
Stores emerged so farmers would be able to purchase things they might need but could not produce on their own farms, or make into town to buy. This included much more than groceries. For example, in the 1940s when Burke’s family first began to operate their store, they sold food, shoes and clothing.
When Burke himself took control of the store in 1986 he said he could already sense the competition closing in. As the number of large grocers increased, “It became harder to compete with the larger chain stores,” he said.
He feels that it is not only the stores’ selection that makes them a difficult opponent, but their convenient hours as well. He recognizes the fact that even Rappahannock’s citizens love the thought of round the clock service, with a store opening early and closing late, something that isn’t available at many local stores.
Fannon agreed. Stores like WalMart “have everything,” whereas her store is able to carry only the staples.
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