1920's General Store OPENED After Decades of Closure: Exploring a long-Abandoned General Store 

It was a great honor for me to make almost 40 videos with Ralph Robertson that I filmed over a two year period. Since his passing in December they have been a surge in video views here on RU-vid. The Greasy Hollow Memories videos have found a whole new audience. The series was first posted a few years back on Facebook but at that time the RU-vid Channel only had about 2k subscribers. Come along with me to Greasy Hollow and meet a real Appalachian storyteller that became a living legend. Below is a link to the Greasy Hollow Memories series if you would like to watch more. John Ward ru-vid.com/group/PLhiXVG-s0EOmwKTuG8AZ4_qRBG88DxNtL

I remember visiting my grandparents in West Virginia. Grandpa would come home from the mine, get cleaned up and yell for us kids to go for a walk. Mom would say Don’t spoil their dinner. He would promise not to and over the hill we would go, through the woods and out at a little store much like this one. He’d give us each a dime. We were rich! We each bought a bottle of pop and two candy bars. It didn’t ruin dinner because grandma cooked any meat so it melted in your mouth and baked the best bread I have ever eaten.

Why do I burst into tears when I watch this video? I've never been to America, I don't know any of you and yet it moves me to tears. Something is destroying our culture, worldwide, when did it start, when will it stop? R.I.P. lovely old man ❤

The Old Man is my kind of guy. Still smoking with a sharp mind. The world suffered a loss with his passing. My condolences to the family.

In a blink of an eye it passes. I lived it and remember how wonderful it was. I was blessed.

What a nice documentary . I'm very humbled that a place like this, that was closed for so long and respected without vandalism or defacing that tells you right there what a real "community" is and should be everywhere.

When these folks started going away, the soul of this country went with them.

What a wonderful visit to the past! Born in 1964 I have so many fond memories of our rural General Store where a dime would buy you a small bottle of Coke and a chocolate bar. I also remember how my mouth would water when the shopkeeper would pull out a roll of bologna and slice off a piece for me before laying a customer's order on the waxed brown paper he'd tie up with string. Our general stores were more than a place to buy things. It was also the place where you went to find out the latest news in your community. Children standing in the candy aisle with their nickel held tight in their hand trying to decide between the many treats before them. Housewifes with their list in hand trying to stretch the few dollars in their purse. The men in the corner visiting and discussing the price of grain. I sure miss those days

55 years ago ,when I was a child , there were still a few stores like this one . When you went in it , it felt like stepping back in time , which I loved .One of these stores so meat in the back of the store and had a saw dust covered floor . A different store . had drink boxes with a bottle opener on the front .All the Coke/Pepsi came in glass bottles , so little hands needed the bottle opener. Another of these stores, sold the most wonder cheese in the back of the store. His store was my favorite.The owner was a kind old man , who made me feel special. He always had a kind word .I will always remember Mr Roddys store . Love this reminder of my childhood. Thanks

No idea why this popped up in my algorithm, but I'm damn glad it did. Being in my 40s and my dad in his 70s and having suffered two strokes I have realized time is not only precious but borrowed now. We sit and talk weekly about family, history, people, cars, memories and experiences. Love these stories.

I just wanted to say that I really appreciate how kindly you treated the elderly gentleman. It touched my heart.

These old guys can teach you more than you can ever learn in school!!!

I thought this was going to be a tour through an old country store but instead I got to meet Ralph and listen to him pull memories from the shelves and drawers. What a treasure this video is! Thanks for bringing it out for us to see.

Seeing Ralph reminds me so much of my dad. He was 93 when he passed in 2018. Ralph’s hat, jacket, hair and how he walks makes me miss my daddy.

After reading comments I didn't realise Ralph past away thanks for sharing your story Ralph RIP ✌🏽you are defiantly part of history.

Wow!!! How I'd love to be in there!!! Amazing that it's not been looted and vandalized. Speaks volumes for the people in the area. Thank you for sharing this video.

I am so glad he lived long enough to enjoy the past, brought back memories you never forgot, I love that store,

He left a wonderful legacy to his daughters! It's like a museum of memories! Thank you for allowing us in! 👍

All I could say was WOW. WOW WOW through the video.😊😊 I am 72 years old and I appreciate being able to relate on the history.. I as really amazed there was no vandalism done to those great pieces of days gone by.

Loved these old Mom and Pop grocery stores. Thank you, Ralph and family for sharing. Rest in Peace Ralph.

Thank you for sharing. He now is reunited with his lovely Magdalene, I hope they are cutting a rug having a good time.

Gosh I miss stores like this! Our society needs to start bringing these back.....💖💖💖

In the 1970’s went to summer camp in Pennsylvania. We’d walk to an Old General Store that was owned by a War Veteran who had a missing an arm. He was a quiet man but was always kind and patient with the us kids. It was the one of the exciting days of the week to walk to the to his store for sweets. Appreciate the Mom and Pop Shops. ✊🏼💯

Watching this just makes me miss my grandparents... My grandfather would have LOVED RU-vid for stuff like this....

Brings back childhood memories from the 70’s to see old general stores like that. Service with a smile vs. just give me your money and get out attitude of big box stores today.

It always warms the heart to see all the memories in a old persons face and voice.

Its amazing to see an old store. Our last one went about 10 years ago. The gentleman who ran it passed. The kids didnt care. They bulldozed the whole thing. It warms my heart, that his daughters arent going to do that. Im sure it also makes Mr. Robertson happy. Knowing that his collection will be cherished by others.

You know you're in the heart of God's Country when you can open the doors of your family's store for the first time in decades, and everything is still in the same place as when you locked the door. Try that in a big town. 😂

I love listening to older generations share their history. This is not only entertaining, but a public service.

Fantastic. I would love to browse through the store. Shame we have lost the Mom and Pop stores, heck, corporate greed has destroyed all manufacturing in the U.S and Canada. Sad days....feel for the kids today who never were able to experience how things were.

You see the old man going through random drawers and looking at seemingly regular items. I completely understand this. I had a chest of drawers when I was very young and am now 50 and I came across the chest of drawers in storage. I haven't opened those drawers since I was a kid and when I opened it all of these little things were so nostalgic and I remembered every little item. I had He Man dolls and even an entire set of Grey skull fortress.

Nice! Memories can be sad, but also educational. My parents ran a small country store and a "gas station." When you entered, The dry goods and grocery food items were on the right side , the paying counter in the middle. To the left you stepped down a couple of steps to where horizontal freezers held meat and such. My parents had a small bedroom behind the counter where they basically lived before I was born. The outhouse was down a path in the backyard; There were 2 gas pumps in the front of the store, 1 for regular and 1 for diesel. My dad had a huge rock near the pumps to protect them from being "run into" accidentally. It's funny what you can remember from a very young age. We lived further down the "highway" in a new home they had built; They moved there in a December and my mom had me during a blizzard the following month of January (as I was told.) My parents kept the store going a few years after I was born and I remember loving to go there, especially during Christmas. There was a Coca Cola calendar with the "jolly Santa Claus" on the wall. Since it was the only store within miles of the area, it was quite busy. I loved to go outside and sit on the big rock in the spring and summer. It was sad when they decided to 'quit' the store. It seems my dad was renting the building from a widow across the road and we went to her house once for my dad to pay her the final payment. Her home was an old, rather dark (inside ) pre-civil war home. I could swear they were still using candles 🤔 We went to the store when it had been "emptied" and my dad was selling the last of the freezers to someone. It was so sad....😢 After my dad passed, I was cleaning his "garage room" and found several cigar boxes, 1 was filled with nail clippers, 1 with men's small black combs, etc. I found bars of large laundry soaps and other items no longer made. At first, I was puzzled, but then realized they were items leftover from the store. Items too small to sell and still useful, so my dad kept them. 🤓My treasure trove inherited! The interstate was built a few years later nearby and "killed" all the small motor lodges on the highway where the store had been located. Now there is a road straight through were it sat. I cannot watch the movie "Cars" without crying....it takes me back to all the places that made life more colorful and nice. I know my "comment" was lengthy, but I hope sharing my families' past is worthy of our memories of days gone....and the people who made them important historically!

My parents, George and Arlene McCaw ran a small country store similar to this store in Ohio NY for many years! Their store was the gathering place in town and everyone loved my parents. This video brought back many memories!!!

Oh wow!! I would keep that general store exactly as it is!! Preserve this beautiful treasure!! Wonderful memories of a simpler, more beautiful time. I’m 70 years old and this brought me back to the best time of my life!! I’d go back to that time in a New York minute!!!

RIP Ralph, not many of them old timers left from that generation.

This was so sweet. Thank you. Such a wonderful family.

NO WAY😳 THIS IS NOTHING SHORT OF "AMAZING!!! " 😊🙏🌹I LOVE THIS SO MUCH. Washington state West coast here 🌻

I literally have tears. When he was opening that sliding case I was wondering if he was going back all those years when he probably opened it for customers daily. Life is so difficult to process. We work hard our whole life just to age and live on memories. I'm older myself caring for my elderly parents and today my dad was reminiscing when he used to work. He has cerebral palsy but it never stopped him from construction work and even beautiful wood working. Life is so sad and we will all be there eone day if we're blessed enough to even live this long. Thank you and that family for sharing this treasure with us.

His daughters should open an antique store in there, lots of treasures for collectors

I loved grandpa rushing behind the counter to search for some old forgotten stashes! 😅

I could spend days just looking at all the history. God bless Mr. Robertson.

this takes me back to my childhood. My gradpa ran a part store and garage most of my life. There was a old general store next door, probably the last one around for many miles. They sold rubber boots, overalls, clothes, shoes, groceries, and just about anything else you could think of. A old lady named Mrs. Buckner used to run it. They had a old wood burning stove beside the counter. She sat there reading the paper. They had a old timey fridge that kept the coldest bottle sodas I think I've ever had, and they were delicious. I sat there many hours drinking my soda, and chatting with her. Id burn her boxes for her, amd she'd give me a soda. Those are good memories.

This really tugs at my nostalgia. I remember my family owning restaurants and stores down in Jenkins KY and I have so many good memories from visiting as a youngin with my daddy. The sights, smells and sounds. I hate how the passage of time changes everything we love. You never realize you're living in the good old days while they're happening.

Ralph was such a gem. I'm missing new content with him. He was truly a historic legend

This video made me yearn for gentler times and a simpler life. The stove in the middle of the room was the icing on the cake.

Great video! I am reminded of a small novelty store I would frequent in my youth called "AAA Hobby Shop" in Wakefield, Massachusetts. The owner was an elderly gentleman who lived in a room in the back of the store. He gave me wise advice, and always had a story or two to tell. I was actually able to help him 20ish years ago when he sold his shop. He couldn't find an apartment that would accept his beloved long-haired cat, so I went onto Craigslist and printed him a list of cat-friendly apartment listings. He ended up renting one, and was ever grateful. Although he is now deceased, I still reminisce about him and his shop often.

I Love This Story, It Reminds Me Of all The Walton's Episodes I Have Watched Through The Years I Loved Mr. Godsey and His Store! God Bless You People! 🏠

I love that he was active the whole time, gave him a reason to start remembering, and now we get to experience his memories for as long as RU-vid exists.

What a time capsule, of an old general store.. fantastic.. 🙂🙂

This elderly man (pops) is wonderful, still with such clarity and memories that count. Pops’ silence of humor is GOD GIVEN.what a sweet heart and kind darling. My heart is so happy watching this video. I truly can’t see the men sitting around the stove playin their interments with the fire warming the store.😊❤❤ beautiful store. Please don’t change a thing. Cindyjo WPB FLORIDA USA born in Newark OHIO❤

It's fascinating with these preserved places, and old folks and their history. I do like this and. I wish you could have shown more and told more, but he got tired, and we have to respect that. Much heart to this old man.🌹

How blessed to live in a country where you lieve home and store for 30 years and come back to found every thing as u leftit Omg.

Wow! I love things like this. I could spend all week looking in there at everything. I love it! RIP Mr. Ralph❤️

A life well lived. Rest In Peace Ralph.

I was born in 1950. First remembered years in a small Aberta, Cnd. village. Saved my penny's and nickles to buy a pint of ice cream. Always carried a spoon in my back pocket. Riding no hands on my bicycle eating ice cream. Those were the days. Thanks for sharing.

My great grandparents owned a general store in Northern MN and I have the pictures of it. They also lived in the oldest home in my small town in IL. It was the first cabin built from settlers. ❤ I love his stuff

Sure does stir up a lot of old memories. It's amazing how your brain still holds many memories that may have not come to mind in over 50 years.

Mr. Robertson is a Found TREASURE ❗❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😌☺️

Absolutely beautiful. So much history in this video and listening to him talk about the building makes my heart so happy

It was really great to see this again about the old store and the history of it seeing Ralph again before his passing recently Thanks for showing it again Thank You very much.🇺🇲🇺🇲👋👋🇺🇲🇺🇲

I love the old timers and the stories that they have to tell. There won't be another time in history as the years they grew up in, and the things they've done, seen, shouldn't have done, and all that transpired around the world. Yup, the 1930s and up till these here very days. So much, so quickly, and I'm sad to say that everything has turned out the way it has.

Just came across this video.....loved it. My great papaw owned a store in the foothills of Lookout Mtn......already passed by time i came at end of 60s but heard stories from my mom and older sisters. Saw some things in there id definitely buy today.....greetings from Alabama 🕊️💜. RIP Mr. Ralph 🙏

God bless his heart the way he looks lovingly at that store as you’re getting ready to drive away!!!💕

The owner must have been well in his 80s if not far in the 90s when this was filmed. Must have been emotional for him to go back. So many memories....

We all miss Ralph so much. Thank you for the memories. ❤️

Love this and the respect people had for others, I’m 71 old school, kids today would have totally destroyed it. Sad how the world has changed.

thank you for a look back on my teen years my gosh this was a special treat for me. I give your papa a hug from long shot ..

Precious memories remain. ❤

Ralph was a treasure that will be missed by all who watched his videos and knew him. I hope that his daughters open his store back up for people to visit and enjoy. Make it like a museum of Ralph and his family's legacy. Rip to a man who touched our hearts through his videos. What treasured memories you have given his girls Mr John Ward.

Exploring treasures like this store shouldn't be considered hoarding it's priceless treasures to learn from and not discard! I love these old times things to explore.

Oh Boy , Over 2,000 comments in 9 days. Reminds me when I had my Jimmy O's Antiques & Carry Out , in Tiro, Ohio , opened in July of 1999 until about 2002 . I always love people. Its whats needed in the retail world.

Ralph owned a magnificent store, full of treasures and old memories. Thanks for taking us along.

Oh my, what a treat this was! Thank you so much to everyone involved, especially Ralph and his family. He was just the kind of country shopkeeper who took care of the community. Rest in that General Store in Heaven, Ralph.🪻🐦💐

Bless the older man, when he was looking at those colors almost made a grown man cry…❤❤❤…

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for what yall do. Sorry to hear of Ralf’s passing. That’s a true gem. I hope it stays preserved for generations to come.

The treasures and stories in these old country stores are unique to say the least. I always try to make time and stop in when I come across one of these old country stores. My grandpa had one not far from the house I'm in that my Great grandpa built in 1874. I wish I had written down the names and stories I was told in my younger years about the family members, house and the farm. At the time it was interesting but now that the older kinfolk have passed so have many of those stories and history that is lost now. Anyone out there that has their older relatives and they start to tell you about the old days> Please take the time to make notes so you can pass them on to the next generation. As always thank you for taking us along. Love the history of the people and the stories that they share with you and with us as well. And can't forget the buildings themselves that have withstood the test of time!

This was probably a booming store in the day, we sure did count on ours when I was a little guy...it was small but it had everything we needed and it had a lot of what I wanted but couldn't always have.

❤Amazing Time Capsule ❤Thank You So Much For The Tour. Such Blessings Of Being Able To Hear Ralph Talking About This 😊

Rest in Peace, Ralph. What a treasure you had that was passed down from your father and you kept it going for as long as you could and your daughters will keep it.

May Ralph RIP and love seeing all of the treasures and pictures that once was, I'm 70 and brings back a lot of memories ❤❤😊😊

What a wonderfull experience for this lucky man! Thank you for giving him this amazing trip down memory lane .

With everything still left inside. It’s amazing

Very cool. I can't believe that all those vintage signs outside in such a rural area haven't been stolen, but I glad they weren't. Those are worth some good money.

I for one appreciate this documentary. What an incredible little sweet store from the past. So much memories and trinkets in there from a past life. Wonderful! and it is very humbling to watch as this elderly man go through his things from the past. Wonderful!

The old country stores with the wood stoves loved to sit by them get warm and listened to the old timers talk it was good times

The condition of the building and everything inside of it is incredible. Very little dust from what I can see.

So sweet of you all to take Dad back to see the store...very interesting...thanks for sharing!

This has been an incredible journey!! What a treasure!! Thank you Ralph for inviting us to this time capsule!! Your store is phenomenal, to see it's just as you left it. God bless you Ralph & family 🙏✨

Man, some trinkets, a picture, and few other diddy bobs in there I'd love to buy! Memories of things we had a home growing up and at families homes! A bunch of gems in that store

Its just amazing seeing the store. What gets me is how clean it is.

Oh my, what a gem and piece of the past. Thanks for a walk down memory lane for a lot of us. Priceless!!! Thanks for sharing.

Cool old store. Sure is fun looking back into history. Mr. Robertson was a joy to watch, especially him exploring all of those drawers. So glad you're capturing some of these old treasures. God bless

Thank you for this wonderful visit, what a lovely bunch of folk! Record all the older generations as they are our link to what’s past and being slowly erased. Sending love and light from England ❤❤❤❤❤

My grandpa owned a general store like this but much smaller. I wish it was still around. It feels as though this type of life has been stolen from us. But they cannot steal the memories: filling up Mr Hall’s truck with Good Gulf, the smell of the coal stove, eating Lance peanut butter cheese crackers with a small Coke, drinking out of the faucet, helping open and close it, and sweeping off the porch. I was 6 years old, and nothing I did felt like work. We had scales like that, and whatever we didn’t have could be ordered from Allen&Jemison in Tuscaloosa. I wish you could’ve seen that catalog. The one at the store had horse carriages and cast iron stoves.

I love going thru places like that. One of my favorite things.

Yall did him a lot of good since you started filming Ralph . I remember the day you handed him the envelope full of cash . . R I P Ralph Robertson

Ohhh..WOW.. Would love to be there 😊❤❤ Nothing any better than. The Good Ole Days..Sweet Memories😊❤❤❤

Oh my, the awesome collectibles. Stumbled on this video. Thanks for sharing.

I was born in 1966 and I grew up in the mountains of southwest Virginia in a tiny town called Big Stone Gap ,Va. I moved away in 1988 and your videos bring back memories of my childhood especially your accent that Sadly, I have lost a lot of due to how long been since I moved away..I miss our beautiful mountains,and valleys that was an amazing place to experience my childhood that I would not trade for all of the city life for anything..

Awesome!! Res in peace Mr Ralph … reminds of both my grandads ( Pop Ray and Pop EP) ole stores.. great footage