Ashe County's Todd General Store, a century-old High Country gathering spot, has been destroyed by a fire.
The property is located about halfway between Boone and West Jefferson near a bend in the South Fork of the New River.
The building dates to 1914. The National Register of Historic Places refers to it as “an excellent example of a rural general store,” noting that the interior had the original shelving, sales counter and pressed tin ceiling.
Ashe County fire investigators say it burned to the ground last week. They haven't determined a cause for the blaze but think it's likely that it started in the kitchen. No one was injured.
The business, a well-known social spot for the Todd area, has changed hands several times over the course of its long history, most recently in 2019.
The newest owners had just reopened the store in the summer. Locals are raising money to help the family.