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xchrom

(108,903 posts)
Sun Jul 29, 2012, 09:43 AM Jul 2012

After 224 Years in Business America's Oldest Store Is Saying Goodbye

http://www.businessinsider.com/after-224-years-in-business-americas-oldest-store-is-saying-goodbye-2012-7



LITTLE COMPTON, R.I. (AP) — Gray's Store in Adamsville village brought in customers for years with its old-fashioned marble soda fountain, cigar and tobacco cases, and Rhode Island johnny cakes.

The 224-year-old business may be the oldest operating general store in America, although others have staked similar claims. The Rhode Island store near the Massachusetts line opened in 1788. Now owners say this year is its last.
Gray's is set to close Sunday afternoon.

Owner Jonah Waite inherited the shop after his father died of cancer last month. He said Saturday it was a hard decision to close the store and leave behind all the history, but the shop's finances aren't sustainable and a supermarket down the street has siphoned away business.


Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/after-224-years-in-business-americas-oldest-store-is-saying-goodbye-2012-7#ixzz221EgFj1t
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After 224 Years in Business America's Oldest Store Is Saying Goodbye (Original Post) xchrom Jul 2012 OP
Somebody save it! ananda Jul 2012 #1
That's the same age as the Constitution. rug Jul 2012 #2
Did Bain come to its rescue, which precipitated its demise? nt valerief Jul 2012 #3
How I used to love old stores like that, when you entered you were engulfed with the most monmouth Jul 2012 #4
Here's a pretty good one with a decent website.... catnhatnh Jul 2012 #5
I've known the current owner for years. teamster633 Jul 2012 #6
 

rug

(82,333 posts)
2. That's the same age as the Constitution.
Sun Jul 29, 2012, 09:49 AM
Jul 2012

I hope we don't have a Dorian Gray thing going on here.

monmouth

(21,078 posts)
4. How I used to love old stores like that, when you entered you were engulfed with the most
Sun Jul 29, 2012, 09:51 AM
Jul 2012

wonderful smells never forgotten. Like the old hardware stores, a unique aroma...This is sad.

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