Wilkes Country Store

Perched on the corner of routes 24 and 43 in the Huddleston area of Bedford County, VA sits a charming old-fashioned country store that has been in the same family for nearly 100 years. James Duffel Wilkes purchased the store in 1937, and his son James Ray (J.R.) took over the helm after his WWII military service. J.R. and his wife, Lena, had four sons who all grew up working at the store yet eventually moved away to pursue their own careers. When the pair decided to retire in 1988, the store was closed and the property, once a vibrant community hub and landmark of Bedford County, lay vacant for several decades. 

Fast-forward to 2023 when the eldest of J.R. and Lena's sons, Ralph, newly retired from his job as an accountant, started getting itchy for a new project (as so often happens when one suddenly has time on one's hands). One day, his wife Judy suggested reviving the old family store!

This set off a flurry of events - putting feelers out into the community, making plans, and an intense series of renovations to modernize the building for safety, while still keeping much of the recognizable infrastructure that Wilkes Store had been known for, intact. 

Nearly a year later, the store was ready for its grand re-opening! The Wilkes family has managed to perfectly capture the same welcoming feel that it has always been known for. You'll find, anchoring the store, the same deli case that has been there since the 1950s. They offer a delicious homecooked menu that features freshly smoked pork and chicken.

Allow me a quick aside here: you know I am a BBQ connoisseur. Their smoked chicken is, hands down, the most juicy, flavorsome, satisfying smoked chicken I have ever had. All of you with Alpha Gal who can tolerate same-implement use, take note!

Ok, back to the store. You can find the menu updated daily on their Facebook page. There is a cozy seating area indoors, plenty of outdoor picnic tables for when the weather warms up, and of course, takeaway is always a great option. In addition to fresh food, you'll find local meats, convenience store basics, a small hardware section, traditional country store dry goods, and hand-scooped ice cream. Hours of operation are 10am-6pm, Monday-Saturday with food service starting at 11:30am.