Learning about the history of Todd, NC and the surrounding areas—and, particularly, about the building that our business calls home—is one of the greatest joys of doing this work. We hope to fill this space with lots of fun facts and historical photographs and documents as we come across them—and if you’ve got a story or artifact you’d like to share, please let us know!

Here’s the description of the original Todd Mercantile Company according to the National Register of Historic Places:

Built as a cooperative store by a group of Todd businessmen about 1910, the store was purchased around 1918 by John Arthur Cox who ran the business with Cyrus Howell until it closed in 1934. The building originally had a flat roof and three floors; the upper story served as living quarters for the Cox family. The basement served as a warehouse for the chestnuts, applies, etc. that the store took in as trade. The building originally had a front porch, but this was removed when Railroad Grade Road was widened. The interior of the building retains its original front door (hidden on the exterior by tin), oak floors, chestnut walls, and pressed tin ceiling. Like the other commercial buildings in Todd, the Mercantile is sheathed in galvanized pressed tin. The basement, which was entered on grade at the rear, faced the railroad and lumber yards.