Page 39 - Blairsville NCG 2023

SUNRISE GR OCER Y The General Store Circa 1920s

Jason and Jesica have owned Sunrise
for Generations
Grocery since 1997. Jason bought the
store from his parents who had owned
it since 1983. Before that, there were
SUNRISE GROCERY IS LEGENDARY TO LOCALS AND VISITORS
other family owners, going back to
by Lydia Cobb
the original Rollins Store and Station,
owned by the Rollins family who
ust a few miles from Sunrise Grocery’s merchandise is started the store in the 1920s.
Vogel State Park there is focused on local mountain foods, arts, The founding year is likely between
J a legendary general store and gifts. Clemmons described it as 1923 and 1926 according to locals’
that has served its customers a conscious effort not to order from a knowledge. While it’s not certain what
catalog, but to do business with the
for a long time. local “jelly lady” and “salsa guy.” centennial year everyone can celebrate
the store’s heritage, Clemmons said
“People have been going to Vogel Years ago, a little boy named Spencer it is Blairsville’s longest continually
operating business.
for generations and in turn, people got back in the car with his brother some things. They focused on local –
have been coming into our store for and mom with Sunrise Grocery’s Sunrise Grocery’s slogan is “It’s a little honey, syrup, and pickles. They moved
generations,” said Jason Clemmons, famous boiled peanuts. His mom later bit of everything.” In-season produce the gift shop to the front and expanded
owner of Sunrise Grocery with his wife, shared that Spencer said aloud, “I bet is available and includes cantaloupes, the regional focus of merchandise
Jesica Clemmons. “Our old store has a if heaven had a grocery store, it’d look tomatoes, peaches, and apples. Local and foods. “It became more personal
sentimental value to a lot of people.” just like Sunrise.” chefs make breads, pecan pies, and and a much more fun store to run,”
other delicacies. said Clemmons.
Award-winning nature photographer “Keeping it as local as possible has
and former GPB host of “View Finders,” its own challenges,” said Clemmons.
JMC Artistic Photography (Jason “Boiled peanuts is our signature thing.”
Clemmons) has a collection of framed He described how they’re cooked on a
photographs for sale. His mother wood fire pit. They add fresh onions,
knits hats and gloves that people peppers, garlic, and local hot sauce and
can buy. Jesica Clemmons launched seasonings to make Cajun peanuts.
Sunrise Wick and Wash, a collection “There’s a cost to try to be like that –
of handmade lye soaps and American it’s our m.o.”
soy candles that burn cleanly without “My thing is to preserve the culture and
color additives.
how things were,” Clemmons added.
Hyper-Local The commonality to all the experiences
A national brand for general stores is the love of the mountains that
opened for business down the road surround Sunrise Grocery, a place
about 15 years ago. The Clemmons where campers, travelers, and locals
knew they had to adapt and change come to bring home the goods.

36 Blairsville-Union County Chamber of Commerce