Sat
Jul 28 2012
10:40 am
Amherst Grocery
By: redmondkr

Amherst Grocery, Amherst, Tennessee
In the old days, L&N train crews used to buy snacks, and a lot of bologna sandwiches, at the Amherst Grocery while waiting for a meet on the nearby passing siding at Amherst. There was a one-lane wooden bridge that crossed the tracks just beyond the store in this photo. The bridge is gone now and Amherst Road has become Old Amherst Road. Amherst Grocery is gone too. CSX crews were still buying their snacks there but I guess that wasn't enough.

More photos



continued...

I drive by the store at least once a week on my way to Wright's Cafeteria for lunch. Well, sort of. The main route passes it on the opposite side of the track now and you only catch a brief glimpse through an opening in the trees unless you go out of your way to visit.

Just Call Bobbie Jo

I did that last week and I spotted this sign. I called Bobbie Jo and she is, indeed, still making tamales and she's pretty proud of them too. I asked if she wanted me to obscure her phone number in the photo and she said. "Heck no, I'm state approved to sell these things and it's good advertising". I gave her the address of my website but she said she has no computer.

Topics:
R. Neal's picture

I need to get those Schick

Submitted by R. Neal on Sat, 2012/07/28 - 11:50am.

I need to get those Schick injector blades. I've got a 30+ year old injector razor with the little dial adjustment that goes from one (baby face, that's me) to seven (Bigfoot). It's getting damn hard to find blades for it and I buy up all I can every time I see them. These newfangled quad ultra max turbo whatever razors suck. They get clogged up after one use and don't shave any better and in fact worse. (I also have a fancy Panasonic electric that works great except it's never charged and if I go more than a few days without shaving the Schick is faster.)

Sorry, back on topic. Great pics. And a great looking old store. Shame to see places like that go.

GDrinnen2's picture

R, I went old school and use

Submitted by GDrinnen2 on Mon, 2014/01/13 - 6:59pm.
(in reply to R. Neal)

R, I went old school and use a double-edged razor. Much better shave and less money over the long haul than the crap in stores today.

I spend a couple of days a week in NYC, so I but a lot of blades up here. There are old pharmacies that carry a lot of the old blades and shaving products. I'll keep an eye out for the injectors.

bizgrrl's picture

Reminds me of Byrum and

Submitted by bizgrrl on Sat, 2012/07/28 - 11:54am.

Reminds me of Byrum and Townsends on Sevier Avenue, around the corner from the Rock City Ballpark. It's been gone many years. They had great burgers (Mighty Millie) and tamales.

CE Petro's picture

I live around the corner and

Submitted by CE Petro on Sat, 2012/07/28 - 12:34pm.

I live around the corner and down the street from Amherst Grocery. They had great sandwiches when they were open. It's was an amazingly convenient store, especially for items you may have forgotten to pick up at the big box grocery stores.

They've been closed for a number of years, and there are numerous rumors that go along with the closure -- none of which I will repeat here. Suffice it to say, it would have been nice if there was a family member or friend that was willing to step up and keep this store open and running.

redmondkr's picture

I still hear an engineer once

Submitted by redmondkr on Sat, 2012/07/28 - 4:46pm.

I still hear an engineer once in a while telling the dispatcher he's stopping at the store. They know where he's talking about but it's just like rattling off a milepost now. If you look at the full sized photo you can see the Amherst defect detector in the distance.

As for the razors, I solved that problem years ago. I only mow about once a month now with a Wahl beard trimmer.

Krista's picture

What happened

Submitted by Krista (not verified) on Sun, 2014/01/12 - 6:18pm.

I know what happened to Amherst Grocery. First the owner Jack developed Parkinson ' s Disease. As his health declined, his wife Nancy had to take over his care. Their son Jacky wanted nothing to do with continuing it's legacy. Both Jack and Nancy are deceased now. It is sad the store sits alone and empty. I have thought about calling the Historic Society of Knoxville to see if they can save this historic land mark.

redmondkr's picture

Thank you Krista. It would

Submitted by redmondkr on Sun, 2014/01/12 - 9:59pm.
(in reply to Krista)

Thank you Krista. It would indeed be good to see this little part of the Amherst Community preserved.

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