1937 Country Store ReOpens after Years of Being Closed! Come with me to TN for a Visit to Cotton's
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 31 มี.ค. 2024
- Connie has always had a dream to move back home and open up her grandfathers and grandmothers store and now it’s came true. Meet a gentleman that has been eating at Cottons Country Store since 1937.. About 12 miles outside Of Greenville, Tennessee you’ll find Cottons Country Store. It’s located in a little community called Saint James.
John Ward
Cotton's Country Store
5990 Cedar Creek Rd,
Greeneville, TN, Tennessee
(423) 638-6229
0:11: 🏚️ Historic country store reopens after decades, showcasing family legacy and community ties.
0:11: Store first opened in 1937, serving soda pop and candy to local kids.
1:15: Owned by Connie and Ralph Wendling, continuing family tradition since 1947.
1:30: Store transitioned from bait shop to current ownership, maintaining ties to St. James community.
5:13: 🔥 Local community supports firefighters during Blue Ridge Mountains fire, ensuring their safety and well-being.
5:13: Community provided 600 meals for firefighters working long hours on the mountain
5:26: Efforts aimed at ensuring firefighters had necessary resources and support to stay safe
5:53: Previous community initiatives include fundraising for a local child's memorial
11:09: 🍳 Breakfast specialty: homemade sausage gravy and hash browns made from scratch.
11:09: Homemade hash browns and sausage gravy are popular menu items.
11:16: Gravy and hash browns are made fresh every morning.
12:01: Cook arrives early in the morning to prepare breakfast before opening.
17:17: 🍔 Man enjoys delicious cheese bacon cheeseburger at a quaint Country Store during a visit.
17:17: Man visits the Country Store during a transition period while building a homestead with family.
17:31: Man's anticipation for the cheese bacon cheeseburger leads him to make it his first stop upon arrival.
18:00: Man recalls being hooked on a particular soup called Sausage Andale during a previous visit.
22:42: 🏚️ Restoration of vintage store preserves original bench seating and flooring, evoking nostalgia among visitors.
22:42: Bench seating and original flooring maintained, triggering memories of past visitors' favorite spots.
23:11: Children used to whittle with Cedar sticks under the bench, preserving the store's historical charm.
23:30: Family tradition of oiling and preserving the flooring passed down through generations.
27:51: 🛍️ Revival of a historic country store in Tennessee with new ventures including a beef farm.
27:51: Family motto inspired by solving world problems through discussions at the store.
28:01: Grandpa's business included a variety of services like blade sharpening and hardware sales.
29:07: Initiation of Windling Farm in 2021, raising and selling registered Black Angus beef at the store.
33:30: 🏚️ Revival of a historic country store in East Tennessee, featuring local products and community involvement.
33:30: Local products like Dr. Enough soda and Cove Creek coffee are popular at the store.
34:17: The store owners aim to keep most aspects of their business as local as possible.
34:17: Emphasis on local sourcing and community involvement in remodeling and operations.
39:02: 🍭 Revival of historic country store with plans for relocation and transformation into a hangout spot for kids.
39:02: The store was present before the school, with interesting anecdotes of motorcycle rides to get hot dogs.
39:15: Plans to move the store towards Spring Pond for a summer hangout spot, reminiscent of a candy store for kids.
44:16: 🚜 Historic farm with rich past and dedication to animal care in Tennessee countryside.
44:16: Tomatoespumpkins enjoys farming without a paycheck for three years, finding it fulfilling.
44:39: Generations of the family had dairy farms, relying on tobacco and milk for sustenance.
45:20: The farm currently houses cattle, treated well and almost like a petting zoo.
Recap for • 1937 Country Store ReO... by Tammy AI
#food #tennessee #country #generalstore #restaurant #simplelife #theappalachianchannel
Another winner.
These owners are what’s right with America.
THIS IS WHAT A TRUE AMERICAN LOOKS LIKE... ITS TIME TO TAKE IT BACK. LOVE YOU ALL THE DILLARDS.
Time to just live your best life. Minimal stressors.
It is people like this, that is the backbone of America, our founding fathers were farmers.
No they were planters. There's a difference. And I bet if you're black, Jewish or Catholic you wouldn't be allowed to stick around too long
These mom an pop restaurants are the best businesses customers can and should support ! 🇺🇲
Cotton's is a great place to have a visit.. Thanks for watching and commenting.
@@theappalachianchannel Looks like my kind of place for sure ! Sadly I live a considerable distance from Cotton. Watching from Montana.
Love the difference between how big city lives and how small town America is ...I will take the country life anyday
May God bless these folks. Just good salt of the earth people this country needs more of.
This is the authentic Americana I'd say. I love to watch your videos as a European. So pure and really interesting.
It almost brought tears to my eyes to watch the video of the old store the way it was before and the many things that they kept in place now. Incredible ….. well done !! Be very proud of keeping the legacy alive. Just wonderful !! Brian from Alberta
Glad you enjoyed it
This was so heartwarming and made me smile. What a wonderful community of people and giving back to others too. Its absolutely a beautiful area. God sure did create some beauty for our eyes. Blessings.
Absolutely!!
John, your in my neck of the woods for my hometown of Greenville, Tennessee where I was born and still til this day have family there in Greenville, Tennessee. Love this and all your video. Thank you for all these beautiful places you share with us all. I love all the reflection from the south. People are for the most part are so..nice. Thank you again John, you just can’t get any better than others keeping these older stores etc going. Bless you all there.
Cotton's is a beautiful place to have a visit.. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Thank you for documenting this important aspect of rural living.
i have never been in the U.S., but through your channel I see the authentic U.S. worth visiting.
World Problems being Solved at Cotton's Since 1937.Cotton's is not far from the Smoky Mt. and the Pigeon Forge area. Thanks for watching. John Ward
It's not as bad as the media would have you believe I promise 😉
there a precious a vanishing places. get it while you can
Love This Ole Timey Country Store....
What a great story!!! Such a great thing you have!! Makes it even better you raise your own food from your farm. Thats the American dream right there. Congratulations on this most awesome time of your lives. To recreate such a more simple time and you get to live it. You seem like wonderful people and I hope God blesses you with much success and happiness. I would like to come in there and get an ice cold coca cola in the glass bottle. Enjoy this life. Take care!! ❤
So true!
What a beautiful sight to behold. A true community.
WOW 😲😳 John!! This is absolutely wonderful. To be able to reopen a old country store and to know that it's a blessing from God. I want to say thank you to the owners of this store for a job well done. There hard work and dedication is outstanding 😊🎉❤. Thank you John for everything you do as well. May everyone have a wonderful blessed day 🌷🌹 and be safe and healthy where ever you go
Thanks for visiting with me here on TH-cam and watching my video.. John Ward
John! This video was absolutely amazing! Such wonderful people. Seeing those elder men talk about being there when they were kids and the home footage were very enlightening. The man from VA was a treat. I hope he enjoys all the beautiful things TN has to offer!! And lets not forget that wonderful woman in the kitchen!!! We can't wait to go visit here!
Glad you enjoyed it
My daddy was a country evangelist preacher when i was growing up. We were in Madison County, NC alot (not far from this store). I remember many times stopping at little stores like this and having a ham "sammich" made on the way to church. No fast food back in those days, in those areas. But it wasn't the fast food that gave me these memories, either. We plan to drive over and eat at Cotton's here in the next week or two... thanks to you for the idea!
John, really loved this one. What a beautiful area! This is America and so glad you're bringing us back to how things were, are, and should be. Keep up the good work!
It's wonderful that they refurbished a long-standing country store on the inside to give it a functional current style.
One of the neatest thing back when I was a kid is hearing that bell when you pulled in the get gas.
Connie And Ralph Has Done A Great Job Restoring The Store ,
Ralph That Donkey Absolutely Loves You , I Watched Twice Got Confused When I Seen Henrietta Because She And Connie Look Exactly Alike , At First I Thought It Was Connie And Then Realized It Was Her Grandma.... Two Very Pretty Ladies.... Great Job You'all ! ! ! God Bless Us All .
Your Country Store videos make me big smile!
You've made quite a few good videos, but by God, that's one of your best.
Really enjoy your videos. Never heard of Cottons. Google maps shows it less than 30 miles away. Looking forward to taking an easy ride over there soon. So much to see and do in East TN.
Amazing history on this video. What a beautiful setting for a country store. I love the old family farm. They have done a wonderful job of bringing it all back to life. Very nice staff and the community looks so happy and genuine. Great video, as usual.
Thank you John for sharing this wonderful video of Cottens Country Store. This is our America. The last 8, 9 minutes brings back soooo much of my childhood living in Jackson Michigan. Such precious memories. 😊
Hello from Long Island New York!!
Beautiful transition
Amazing story
Wonderful history
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hi Maureen 👋 👋 I grew up in Long Island (Albertson) I now live in Florida. Moved to Florida 1966 so been a Florida for many years but miss Long Island have beautiful child memories there! You have a beautiful day...Camille 😊🌴⛱🌞
@@tonisangel5024
Awww… Great memories here on Long Island, New York. That’s why I can’t move. I wouldn’t want to. It’s better for me to go somewhere to visit and then always come back home. I guess home is where your heart is. Great story Camille. I hope you had a happy Easter.
Great to hear these old stores coming back! Thank you for sharing! Love watching these videos!
Thanks for watching!
I'm from Western Kentucky and moved to Iowa years ago and it is music to my ears to hear her talk. Taters ❤
World Problems being Solved at Cotton's Since 1937.Cotton's is not far from the Smoky Mt. and the Pigeon Forge area. Thanks for watching. John Ward
🤗
You still have the best theme song on TH-cam. I love your videos. Keep making them. Thanks.
Thanks, will do!
There is nothing better than the old country stores. Like the song says, I'm an old soul living in the new world. Find us another one 🥰
Awesome store. Sad thing is, this is how America was just 60 years ago or so. So much has changed and now this is no longer the norm, you can see it happening in europe as well. Glad to see stuff like this going again and good people.
Outstanding Video. I'm 72 and it brings back such great memories. My Great, Great Uncles started the Town of Braselton, GA in 1884. Then opened Braselton Bros. Store in 1887. A lot of it is still there and standing and Open for business.
Thanks for sharing!
DUDE!! DUDE!! That's all I can say i thought I had seen the best! Dagum vidja you had ever made till this one !!! Connie n Ralf r livin the American Dream! Heaven on Earth! But there is one caveat..You have to werk yer Ass of to be happy Like this kinda Happy! Like U cannot Hand this Kind of Happiness to a young couple/Family it has to be earned by the sweat of yer Brow like the Bible teaches us! U Lazy u will suffer u werk hard u gunna b tired!real tired but at the end of the day YOU CAN SAY ....Honey! We did this Together!!! I Love YOU!!! right aint this how Life is???? Loved it ! Love Connie and Ralf and their store and God Bless them! Amen and Hallelujah!!!!
It absolutely unreal in the old vintage footage of how actually unorganized and cluttered the store was back in original operation!! You can tell it was for USE and not for nostalgia! It was REAL living back then and hard living!!!
Wow This is amazing wish more places could be restored like this. Please tell these wonderful people the stove can be restored.👍❤️🙏🏻
My thoughts exactly
Love love what you have done God bless each and every one of you. The older people in areas are so left by themselves but I see u giving these people a place to live out the rest and passing on the memories of a slower and sweeter place. 😊❤
Love these types of places and the people. New subscriber
Cotton's is a great place to have a visit.. Thanks for watching and commenting.
I love this video makes me remember when I was a kid. Wonderful memories of my Nana and Granddaddy. I love them so much. Loved the old days in the 50s and 60's. Wonderful 🙏🏻 ❤❤
we need to get away from big corporations and back to these small country stores and helping each other more
Amen to that. Ban corporate Dollar Generals and support these places!
Awesome, the next time in TN we'll have to stop in. We live in Alaska for the past 11 years, after calling Tn home for a dozen years.
You said you're getting up in years??? Are you kidding? Connie doesn't look a day over 19!!! Jeez. Lol. God bless you all and many prayers 🙏🏻 Nurse Judi in Scottsdale AZ and Eucharistic Minister 🙏🏻
Your show is an inspiration to all of Americans' hearts and souls, which is remembered by the memories you are bringing back to life.
Great job, and keep up the good work.
God Bless
Just lovely
Cotton's is not far from the Smoky Mt. and the Pigeon Forge area. Thanks for watching. John Ward
John - what a great video! Ya outdid yourself, son! Yes sir, a slice of heaven.
Glad you enjoyed it!
At the end, the sign inside thst was an arrow and said, DOPES…. Not a lot
Of folks know what that is.
It’s soda pops
What a precious store! Loved this one.
hello there Kim! Glad you like this video my friend.
@@theappalachianchannel Your Welcome :)
This is one of your best ever videos,John.
Wow glad you like it.. Great people to work with on the video!
Well. Another great place. Great people. Cotton’s place .
Thank you John.
Cotton's is a beautiful place to have a visit.. Thanks for watching and commenting.
That omelet looks delicious! 🥚 Another GREAT video John, you're the BEST! God Bless you! ✝
Thanks so much
Really good to see another store open up. Cotton's is another wonder of Tennessee and it's nice to see them going strong. Thanks again for taking us along! Love this video!
Thank you for introducing us to this team. Such great family values. I don’t know that this can be a destination for me, however I will add it to my list.
Absolutely!!
Another good video John, good people. The old footage at the end was golden.. "world problems solved here" around the potbelly stove.
Cotton's is not far from the Smoky Mt. and the Pigeon Forge area. Thanks for watching. John Ward
This was such a Good Video, you can easily tell the Owners are Genuine good People. Really enjoyed this one.
Glad you enjoyed it!
This was a great video!
The store was awesome , and this is such a beautiful area
The old video on the end was awesome!
It made me long for the good old days, and miss the way it was back when I was a child. Sometimes I cry when I watch your videos John, but it's a good cry. Remembering the people and things of the past is good for the soul.
All the channels to watch, your in the top 5!!! Great to see old school REAL America!! Thanks John...
Really loved to see this side of the US. What an amazing channel!
Cotton's is a beautiful place to have a visit.. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Lovely couple, gorgeous views and the food made me hungry! I'm so happy that they opened up and if I'm ever in the neighborhood, I will definitely head over there for their famous omelets!
Cotton's is a great place to have a visit.. Thanks for watching and commenting.
This reminds me of my Great Aunt Annie and Uncle Bud's farm in Jonesburg,Missouri.I use to LOVE to visit them when I took the milkrun trip on the Greyhound Bus from the University of MO-Columbia,over the weekend.I was so happy,and loved being with my Great Aunt& Great Uncle!! I use to help pick blackberries,strawberries,lettuce, radishes,beets.
I'm really glad that Cotten's is reopening again in St. James after many years and I'm wanting to see more of these local mom and pop country stores coming back for the smaller communities to have a place to shop, have a
place to get gas and get something to eat nearby especially if they don't live
close to a big town or city just to have stores like this in between to go to
Thanks for showing these country stores I'm from Oklahoma and I'm 59
i remember places like this here in my state and wished that there were
more of these stores back again Thank You and i hope that you and your
family had a blessed Easter Sunday yesterday Thank You.🇺🇲💞💞🇺🇲
World Problems being Solved at Cotton's Since 1937.Cotton's is not far from the Smoky Mt. and the Pigeon Forge area. Thanks for watching. John Ward
Greetings from Brandenburg 🇩🇪👍👍👍👍
Cotton's is a great place to have a visit.. Thanks for watching and commenting.
Wow ! another historical location John, for us to watch grow through your channel. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for watching
Great video John. Thanks for sharing all the unique places you explore. Congrats to Connie and Ralph on living a great life.
You did it again John, another great video. Thank you for your work. These are very entertaining videos bringing us back to our raising!
They did a Great Job if fixing up the old store building. I can only imagine all the hassles with building permits and inspections and zoning board approvals where I live in Michigan .
Wow! What beautiful property! You guys are blessed!
It doesn't get that way without hard, hard work. They have returned to enrich the area and holdfast memories, not tear it down. The love they have for the area is shown, and appreciated. All the work and toil that it's taken hasn't come easily, I'm sure. You get nothing in life unless you work for it. Thank you both so much.
This might be my favorite on your channel so far. Thank you for bringing us these stories.
Loved this video the home movie from the 80’s at the end was amazing seeing it back then really well shot for the time
Just beautiful 🤠
Thank you kindly
I loved watching your video tonight! You have the best coverage of historical areas! Thank you for sharing 😊
Awesome video. So nice to see nice people. The only way to live. We need more communities like this. Thanks for sharing it with us.
Great Story. Makes me want to visit all of these plays that you show.
I adore this. Grew up near a few different country stores in rural Pennsylvania. Thanks guys.
Glad you enjoyed it
Another great country store video, these are my favorites, well done keep them coming John. 😊
Glad you like them!
Another great video! It's so wonderful for these old stores to come alive for memories, and the youth to experience the laid back of America, a blessing indeed! And wow😮 fresh eggs, and how many eggs were in that omelet? 😂 Have a blessed day John, and everyone!
Glad you enjoyed it
Me, and my wife stop at Cotton's Country Store about a month ago we are still talking about great hamburger, and sandwiches.. Ralph, Connie, Nicole, and Lisa all are great people very friendly wish y'all the best luck we will be back it brings back memories .Thank you.A.Rod
Great job guys. Brings back many memories of the old country stores we all grew up with in the rural communities. Love it 👍
Thanks John, you're doing the lords work showing the world good people that make America great again. 👍
I appreciate that
Oh my goodness what a wonderful place.
My Uncle Od had a country store just like this Ive got precious memories.
Seein this is brings back my precious memories
like these old stores have one here in va. amazing history
So cool! I sincerely hope the surrounding community will support the store. These little stores/restaurants are a dying breed and are an important part of history that is a shame to lose!
Boot n shoe repair: I'm a cobbler by trade I bought an existing shoe shop in the country that had been closed for about four years. ( the man had passed away). I reopened it and folks are coming as far as 40 miles to bring me boots, shoes, leather goods to resole and repair.
Beyond wonderful. This is what makes America great!!! Tremendous people, Beautiful remodel. Great channel, thank you!
Another outstanding episode!!
I could listen to the older fella's stories all day 😊
This is wonderful, brought tears to my eyes, good people, faithful, real!
Thanks for watching the Appalachian Channel... John Ward
Just looked it up, this place is about 45 minutes from home, we will be going here. Thanks for sharing this.
Great store and great people like that these folks we’re from Massachusetts as I am
This is such a great video! I can't tell you how much I enjoyed it. It's so cool to see part of history brought back to life. The food looks absolutely great! The next time I travel down that way, I live in southwest Va., I will make it a point to go to Cottons. I would love to meet Connie, Ralph, Lisa and Nicole. Miss Lisa is my kind of cook! They all seem to be the kind of folks that I would enjoy spending time around. Do you know if they sell their T shirts online? You could tell that Ralph is in his happy place on the farm. My 89-year-old parents still run a farm like this. They have cut back over the years. Daddy sold his tobacco "base" a few years back, but the cattle business is still going strong. You can tell that Ralph is in his happy place when he is on the farm. His face just lights up. A Jack or a Jenny are the best guards you can have with livestock! Daddies are a bit spoiled too..lol. I'm new to the channel and look forward to seeing what else you bring us. Hope you have a great week and God bless!
My gosh, Connie said once her kids graduated…& I couldn’t believe it because she looks so young! So kind 💜
Love the now and back in the day version as well! Great video and will be stopping by on my rounds!
Thanks for the visit
Great video, beautiful property.
It really is!
I know the older people at the end of the video have passed on, but their memories are continued on through the young ladies' dream of keeping the legacy alive.
Hello from Tompkins county N. Y. Lovely store and farm great People. Sure wish they opened up the candy store and hot dogs again.
World Problems being Solved at Cotton's Since 1937.Cotton's is not far from the Smoky Mt. and the Pigeon Forge area. Thanks for watching. John Ward
Enjoyed this
That is a beautiful place' thank you for sharing Cotton's with us.God bless y'all.
Cotton's is a beautiful place to have a visit.. Thanks for watching and commenting.
You do a great service to these old stores. I'm sure there business increases after being on your video. Keep up the great work. We love it.
This store needs to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Most of these country stores have been torn down, abandoned or left to decay. With this, part of our history is disappearing.
❤❤❤ love this❤❤❤