I made these images in 2010 and I suspect these structures are now gone. A user shared this history a few years ago: This building (the one on the left, and pictured in detailed shots below) was known as Connell Brothers Store, Sister Connell’s Store and the Brick Store. It was referred to as the Brick Store because it was the only store building in Reno that was brick. It was operated by Lula Mae (Sister) Connell, who lived in a house behind the store. The store was a general mercantile store and carried just about anything. It was located on the corner of what is known as Pine Hill Road and Reno Road. It was across the road from Reno Baptist Church and 1 block from the Reno School House. Reno Road was the main thoroughfare in Reno until the Pelham & Havana (P&H) Railroad ceased operation and Highway 111 south followed the old railroad bed through Reno. At one time it had a gas pump on the side of the building. This store had beautiful carved counters and a glass curved candy case. The rear part of the store had a second floor. We used to sneak off from school and go to the store to buy a “Full Dinner” candy bar. Of course we were caught when we got back to the schoolhouse. The store closed in the early sixties (or late fifties). The doors were locked and all inventory remained in the building. The lady who inherited the property would not let anyone go into it and it was vandalized several times. It was not kept up and eventually went into disrepair. The front doors and windows eventually fell in. The floor rotted and the roof collapsed, crushing the old counters. At one time you could still see part of the counter with scrollwork on the ends underneath the collapsed roof, but now the counters have rotted and everything crushed. It is a shame that this building was not saved, it had so much history. As I was growing up there were two more general stores in Reno, plus a garage and a barber shop. All is gone now. The wooden building to the right of the brick store has always been vacant since I was growing up. I know that Reno once had a post office and a millinery shop, but I do not know if either was housed in the building. Not shown in the photograph but would be to the right of the wooden building was the P & H railroad warehouse. The P & H quit running in 1915. The building was once used as a seed and feed warehouse, but it is now collapsed. This building was the last remaining P & H train warehouse; it even had a sidetrack in its day. It is a shame that the Grady County Historical Society did not try to save this building before it fell in.
Mary C. Carroll recalls: My Mom played here when she was young. The school was within two city blocks of this building.. Highway 111 has taken the main street now, but this store was part of the original town.
Vanishing Georgia: Photographs by Brian Brown 
What do you have from Tattnall County? Looking for Henry Solomon Strickland planation. And any of the Rogers. There was a home that was moved (Rogers or Strickland).
I grew up in the Reno area and still live there. I remember the brick store, Ms Lula Mae and going there from Reno school to get candy. There was also a store across the road from the school run by Ms Bessie Rich and we kids went there too.
Remnants of this building may still be there. I’m in Grady County and this looks very familiar. I’ll have to check when I get back down to Reno in a few weeks.
My great-grandfather, Henry David Connell, bought this store in 1911. The following year Reno was named as a town and the post office was placed in the left rear of the store.
This building was known as Connell Brothers Store, Sister Connells Store and the Brick Store. It was referred to as the Brick Store because it was the only store builindg in Reno that was brick. It was operated by Lula Mae (Sister) Connell, who lived in a house behind the store. The store was a general mercantile store and carried just about anything. It was located on the coner what is known as Pine Hill Road and Reno Road. It was across the road from Reno Baptist Church and 1 block from the Reno School House. Reno Road was the main throughfare in Reno until the P & H railroad ceased operation and highway 111 south followed the old railroad bed through Reno. At one time it had a gas pump on the side of the building. This store had beautiful carved counters and a glass curved candy case. The rear part of the store had a second floor. We used to sneak off from school and go to the store to buy a “Full Dinner” candy bar. Of couse we were caught when we got back to the schoolhouse. The store closed in the early sixties (or late fifties). The doors were locked and all inventory remained in the building. The lady who inherited the property would not let anyone go into it and it was vandalized several times. It was not kept up and eventually went into disrepair. The front doors and windows eventually fell in. The floor rotted and the roof collapsed, crusing the old counters. At one time you could still see part of the counter with their scrollwork on the ends underneath the collapsed roof, but now the counters have rotted and everything crushed. It is a shame that this building was not saved, it had so much history. As I was growing up there were two more general stores in Reno, plus a garage and a barber shop. All is gone now. The wooden building to the right of the brick store has always been vacant since I was growing up. I know that Reno once had a post office and a millinery shop, but I do not know if either was housed in the building. Not shown in the photograph but would be to the right of the wooden building was the P & H railroad warehouse. The P & H quit running in 1915. The bulding was once used as a seed and feed warehouse, but it is now collapsed. This building was the last remaining P & H train warehouse, it even had a sidetrack in its day. It is a shame that the Grady County Historical Society did not try to save this building before it fell in..
A shame, indeed. Thanks so much for sharing this important history of Reno, Georgia. It’s a history I’d likely have learned nowhere else!