MA Residents STILL Have Time To Visit A Slice Of Americana!

I frequently travel on route 20 heading towards Springfield as you appreciate the scenic routes the Bay State offers. On my next journey, it is mandatory to make a stop to support a beloved local business that will officially close it's doors for good this Saturday, October 14th. It's a good thing we went out to sample the fare and then some.

The Huntington Country Store has been a community staple since the 1800s. It is conveniently situated at 70 Worthington Road (aka route 112) as generations of local residents and visitors made this a mandatory stop in their travels. By all means, bring your appetite as the quaint country store is known for their assortment of delicious baked goods and famous "wrapples", a homemade pastry filled with fruit that is topped with icing. They will also satisfy your sweet tooth with a variety of homemade ice cream in 20 different flavors, plus don't forget to sample a variety of homemade breads, wraps, and grinders.

Upon arrival, take a walk into the landmark building as the wood floors creak underneath each step while you browse the thousands of items for sale. They are also well-stocked with handcrafted jewelry, collectibles, gourmet chocolates, candy, kitchen gadgets, pottery, and more. It's what you call "hometown shopping" and you are supporting the local economy in Hampshire county. A win-win situation on two occasions if you ask me!

After being owned and operated by the Butler family for 31 years, The Huntington Country Store will close it's doors on October 22nd. By all means, make a stop as you head to route 112 and you are there. I'll make the detour for sure and you should too!

Here is a statement the owner made in a recent interview on 22News (WWLP-TV):

“Thank you to all our friends and neighbors from far and wide for all your wonderful comments and compliments all these years. It has been a lot of fun and we’ve enjoyed getting to know everyone. We hope you can all stop in to chat a little and maybe get a good deal during the next few months while we hold our going out of business sale".

I am a firm believer that local business is the fabric for small towns nationwide where you get that special one-on-one service that chain stores cannot duplicate. We invite you to check out their website for more offerings that will be available to their customers as the clock is ticking for the anticipated closure. Recently, The Ry Guy and I made the trek out to Huntington for a fantastic lunch and delectable desserts. It was a joy to meet up with Becky in person as we also bought some souvenirs that were available for sale for a fantastic price to boot!

Look for The "Everything Must Go" sign upon your arrival as this truly is a bittersweet moment for residents and visitors here in western Massachusetts. Make this a "must stop" before it's too late. They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 am to 7 pm, until 6:30 pm on Mondays and they also have Sunday hours as they're open between 9 am and 6 pm. Give the Butler family a call to say hello at (413) 667-3232

BOTTOM LINE: In 3 words: Worth the trip!!

(Some information obtained in this article courtesy of 22News, WWLP-TV)

(Photo images of The Huntington Country Store courtesy of Kevin Labbe, Susan Dion, Jason Ellershaw and A.J. Turner)