Mary Davis Donahue writes: I am the youngest daughter of Thomas Ralph Davis Jr. of Hopeful community. He states that the store was orginally built in the 40’s by Maloy Goff. It consisted a general store, a counter cafe and two bay garage. My dad said he has very fond memories as a little boy sitting at the counter, eating hamburgers. My dad was born in September 1942.
Karen Cone Shiver: I believe the store was originally built by Mr. Sullivan. He and his wife lived in the upstairs apartment. Then his son, Mr. Hubert Sullivan ran the store. My father, Buddy Cone and my mother Drucilla Cone ran the store for 15 years after Mr. Sullivan (this was in the 1960’s and 70’s). My father then leased the store to Brady Clark who along with his family also lived in the upstairs for a while. Mr. and Mrs. Clark later built a beautiful brick home in the Hopeful community. When they moved into their new home the upstairs was (for a time) used as a beauty shop. Mr. Clark later sold the store to my cousin, Irvin Hobbs, Jr. who along with his wife Barbara (Bobbie) ran the store for many years. When Bobbie and Irvin left the store I lost track of how many other people have owned this store.
Also a few more details about the store: The portion of the building to the left under the apartment was the hardware department during my childhood. The addition to the right of the store has served as a restaurant for many years. (I believe this was added during Mr. Clark’s time as owner). The inside of the store has been remodeled and several times during my lifetime. When my Dad, Buddy Cone owned the store there was a full service meat market in the back portion. My Dad cut meat there for many years. My mother and several others, both family members and friends worked the front counter. I have two very vivid memories of times there as a child. One was the day we were robbed at gunpoint. I was in the back of the hardware department where we had a little room set up that was like my hang out when I was there. I heard a commotion going on up front and when I entered the front of the store it was just in time to see John Aldridge ( a relative and store employee) and my Dad wrestling a pistol away from a man. My Mom was white as a sheet. The man had tried to rob them and had pointed the pistol at my Mom but somehow John and Dad got it away from him. I do not recall any shots being fired. The other memory is that someone had been breaking into the store and stealing from us so Dad and John hatched a plan to spend the night in the store and see if they could catch the thief. It worked. Someone climbed into the window that you can see behind the ice machine (there was no ice machine there at that time). When they got their head most of the way through the window my Dad hit them over the head with a coke bottle and knocked them out and then he and John called the sheriff. Man, what memories!
My mother re-married and moved to Marietta GA in 1988. Prior to moving, I remember that a woman cut hair in the upstairs, this was also when the Hobbs were the proprietors., I remember riding there with my mom, Carol Cox, and she would put groceries on credit.
Correction, that was 1984.
Maloy Goff did build the original store. He and his wife, Kay, were best friends with my grandparents (C.K and Lucille Cox). It was originally more of an auto repair shop with a few store items and grew more into a store as time went by. They sold the store to Mr. Sullivan when they moved to Florida but visited us often and eventually moved back to Hopeful and lived in a house that was beside Hopeful Service Station.
Don’t know the origin or history, but did the FRM sign work every 2 years for the Collins brothers at FRM on this store and dozens of others.
Thank you for that mention of the Collins brothers and the FRM signs. I’m a grandson of James and every time I see a small store like this with the FRM sign It reminds me of Grandaddy and Uncle Fred.
I actually remember the Goff’s owning the store along with every other wonderful owner after that. It’s probably the only place I know that would let us run up a monthly charge for groceries. I do remember the wonderful meat department where each owner (at least 3) would cut up what ever cuts we wanted. I also remember my very young son stealing candy and making him go back in and apologize:)
In reference to the earlier comment about my sister working for Ralph Sr, she actually worked for Ralph Jr.
Hi! I am the youngest daughter of Thomas Ralph Davis Jr. of Hopeful community. He states that the store was orginallt built in the 40’s by Maloy Goff. It consisted a general store, a counter cafe and two bay garage. My dad said he has very fond memories as a little boy sitting at the counter, eating hamburgers. My dad was born in September 1942.
I remember Little Ralph! My sister worked for the senior Ralph for a some time.
* for quite some time.
Also a few more details about the store: The portion of the building to the left under the apartment was the hardware department during my childhood. The addition to the right of the store has served as a restaurant for many years. (I believe this was added during Mr. Clark’s time as owner). The inside of the store has been remodled and serveral times during my lifetime. When my Dad, Buddy Cone owned the store there was a full service meat market in the back portion. My Dad cut meat there for many years. My mother and several others, both family members and friends worked the front counter. I have two very vivid memories of times there as a child. One was the day we were robbed at gunpoint. I was in the back of the hardware department where we had a little room set up that was like my hang out when I was there. I heard a commotion going on up front and when I entered the front of the store it was just in time to see John Aldridge ( a relative and store employee) and my Dad wrestling a pistol away from a man. My Mom was white as a sheet. The man had tried to rob them and had pointed the pistol at my Mom but somehow John and Dad got it away from him. I do not recall any shots being fired. The other memory is that someone had been breaking into the store and stealing from us so Dad and John hatched a plan to spend the night in the store and see if they could catch the thief. It worked. Someone climbed into the window that you can see behind the ice machine (there was no ice machine there at that time). When they got their head most of the way through the window my Dad hit them over the head with a coke bottle and knocked them out and then he and John called the sheriff. Man, what memories!
I believe the store was originally built by Mr. Sullivan. He and his wife lived in the upstairs apartment. Then his son, Mr. Hubert Sullivan ran the store. My father, Buddy Cone and my mother Drucilla cone ran the store for 15 years after Mr. Sullivan (this was in the 1960’s and 70’s). My father then leased the store to Brady Clark who along with his family also lived in the upstairs for a while. Mr. and Mrs. Clark later built a beautiful brick home in the Hopeful community. When they moved into their new home the upstairs was (for a time) used as a beauty shop. Mr. Clark later sold the store to my cousin, Irvin Hobbs, Jr. who along with his wife Barbara (Bobbie) ran the store for many years. When Bobbie and Irvin left the store I lost track of how many other people have owned this store.
I am the daughter in law of the late Brady Clark. A correction please, after the Clarks built their home, their son Ricky Clark and I married in December 1976. We moved into the upstairs apartment until 1978 or 1979. The apartment was not during the Clarks ownership used as a beauty shop. A beauty shop may have been in place prior to the Clarks, purchasing the store. The apartment was remodeled in 1976. In 1977, Mr Brady added the deli and eating area, located to the right of the entrance, he also kept the hardware, grocery, meat market and gas pumps. He also added tires for sale.
My Grandfather and Grandmother Cone used to own this store when I was a little boy (I’m 40 now). After them, my cousin Irvin Hobbs, Jr.(hope I spelled that correctly) and his wife Bobbie owned it for several years. I have many childhood memories from this store and the church that is across the street from it. I live in nashville now.