Steeped in Tradition - Wedowee’s Oldest Family Owned Grocery Store Continues Today

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✍️ By Al Haynes

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In the mid-1950s, there were few grocery stores in the rural South that offered self-serve shopping. This was especially true in small towns such as Wedowee.

That all changed when a young man, fresh out of the Army, decided that Wedowee needed self-serve grocery shopping as well. 🇺🇸🛒

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🏗️ Building the Foundation

Robert A. “Bobby” Perry was already well-known in and around Wedowee from working with his father, Thomas A. Perry, at Perry’s General Merchandise at the corner of West Broad Street and U.S. 431.

Using little more than picks and shovels, Bobby, along with his younger brother George, excavated a basement beneath the two-story general merchandise building. This basement became the original Perry’s Grocery.

The ground floor of the general merchandise business was then raised four feet, and George operated a dry goods business in the upper level for many years.

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🛍️ The Rise of Perry’s IGA

Perry’s self-serve groceries were a tremendous success by Wedowee standards, and it wasn’t long before plans were made to build a completely new store adjacent to the back side of the original two-story structure.

The new building was completed around 1962, with the store front facing West Broad Street and the Randolph County Courthouse.

It was also during this period that the business became associated with IGA – Independent Grocers Association, and the name was changed to Perry’s IGA.

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🧱 Growth Through the Decades

As the Wedowee store continued its successful journey into the late ’60s and on into the ’70s, another opportunity came Perry’s way with the possibility of opening a second grocery store in Lineville.

That became a reality in the early 1970s with the purchase of a building on Hwy 49 North across the street from Lineville Methodist Church.

The Lineville store carried much of the same products as the Wedowee store, and Perry added other items that rural Randolph and Clay Countians might need—such as nails, plumbing supplies, etc.—to the point that the byword among many customers became:

“If Perry’s doesn’t have it, you don’t need it.” 🧰

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🛒 Keeping Up With the Times

As the Wedowee store continued to grow, it became evident that more space was needed. Plans were made to add another section to the store equal in size to the original structure. That section was completed in the early 1980s, and the final section, as it is today, was added in 2001.

Because of the lack of parking along Main Street (US 431 side) and the courthouse, in order for customers to have easy access and parking, the main entrance to the store was changed to First Street NE—or what might be called the “back side” of the building.

However, when the courthouse construction is completed later this year, the main entrance to the courthouse will also be on the “back side.” The existing parking lot will undergo extensive reconstruction and renovation, offering additional parking off Main Street.

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🏷️ Perryland Foods Today

During the expansion and growth of Perry’s stores, there have been some changes in affiliation and store name.

Now known as Perryland Foods, the affiliation with Associated Grocers of the South also brought a change in store makeup. With the changes, Perryland has become a Cost-Plus store, meaning:

• Items are priced at cost

• A 10% markup is added at checkout

By striving to keep true costs down, the customer saves more and Perryland is able to make a decent markup to operate.

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🎣 Beyond Groceries

The offerings have expanded as well. Both stores now carry a large selection of fishing supplies in the Tackleland section. 🎣

A popular gift section was added several years ago as well, and when in season, you’ll also find:

• A beautiful selection of ferns

• Blooming hanging baskets

• Tropical plants

• Potting soil and pine straw

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👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A Family Legacy

A second-generation family operation, third if you count Mr. Tom’s General Merchandise, two of Perry’s children, Carol Perry Haynes and Robert A. “Rob” Perry II, continue to manage the two stores—Carol in Wedowee and Rob in Lineville.

Other family members can also be found helping out at the stores from time to time.

Altogether, there has been a Perry family member continually operating a general merchandise and/or food store at the same location in Wedowee since at least 1917.

That makes Perryland Foods the oldest continually operated retail business in Wedowee, and one of the oldest in Randolph County. 🏛️

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🐴 Memories That Last

Many of Perryland’s customers hold fond memories of shopping with their parents at Perryland when they were children.

Many, in fact, bring up their memory of riding Sandy, the mechanical horse.

And when told that Sandy still exists—and will still operate for a dime—they find that amazing, given the number of times it has been ridden throughout the years.

Sandy is a little worse for wear unfortunately and needs, a new saddle and brindle along with other leather that has worn off over the years, original pieces that are not easily found.

🛍️ Generations of Service

It’s safe to say that Perryland has served five or more generations of Randolph and Clay County families over the years.

Even though the retail grocery store business has become more and more challenging through those years, for over 107 years, the Perry family continues to serve the people of East Alabama with the highest quality food and other items at the lowest possible prices.