For the first nine years of my life, I lived in the wonderful, cozy little community of Hattieville, Arkansas. Long before my time, Hattieville had boasted several businesses including a hotel, a school, a blacksmith shop, a livery, and more. However, when I was born in late ’60’s, the Hattieville I knew consisted of churches, a wonderful community building (the old school), the ball field, a post office…..and Beeson’s Grocery.
Much like the “Whistle Stop Cafe” in the old movie “Fried Green Tomatoes”, Beeson’s Grocery has been in many ways the heart of the town for over 100 years. The proud general store opened in 1892 and was purchased by my great-grandfather, Oscar Virgil Beeson a few years later. My great-granddad also purchased the house that sits beside the store, and made it his home. The adjoining properties became a treasured gathering place for family and friends through the years.
In the spring of 1951, while tending his garden located behind the store, my great-granddad suffered a heart attack and passed away – shocking his family and the community with the loss. From every story I have ever heard about him, he was a kind, intelligent, strong, and caring man. My Daddy and his brothers have told me many wonderful tales about their granddad – and I am grateful for those memories they shared with me…and honored to be his great-granddaughter. I know his death left a hole in the family.
But Beeson’s Grocery continued on…
His only son, Oscar Virgil “O.V.” Beeson, Jr., a former Marine, and his wife Bernie, a school teacher, settled into Hattieville to keep the family business alive. When I was a little girl growing up, going to the store was what you did in Hattieville. There was always someone to see and visit with….kids to play with….Coca-Colas out of the ice-cold chest cooler to drink, bologna or salami sandwiches to eat…and great stories to hear and enjoy. Like his father, O.V. was a kind and caring man. I’ve told the story before about the time when, as a first grader, I wrote a hot check at Beeson’s Grocery and loaded up on all kinds of treats. It’s pretty funny. Click here if you’re interested in that one. My uncle O.V. was a good man, and I loved him dearly.
When O.V. retired, his daughter Nicki Jean took over operations and ran the store for almost 30 years. Her sharp wit and fun personality brought even more charm and enjoyment to the grand old store.
The old wood stove near the back of the store was a place to pull up a chair and visit, eat a bite, or just sit and relax. It was warm and welcoming and homey and wonderful. For me, it was also special to know that family members I love, as well as many family members I never had the privilege of meeting because they were gone before I was born – had shopped and visited and laughed and eaten and gathered in that old store.
When I was nine, my parents and I moved away from Hattieville to northwest Arkansas because Daddy had gotten a new job. We always went back home to Hattieville several times a year to see family and friends, and sit at the store and visit…because even though it was a place to buy gas and groceries and sandwiches and snacks and supplies…it was actually so much more. It was a place that connected so many…a place that lingered pleasantly in the minds of anyone who has ever visited Hattieville…the place, in fact, that most people picture when the name Hattieville is mentioned.
When my cousin Nicki retired almost two years ago, the store was sold to new owners, Mike and LaDonna Bicanovsky who enthusiastically worked to expand and update the business to preserve the legacy and tradition of the store.
However, sometimes good things do come to an end.
Yesterday, I made the familiar drive to Hattieville to see Beeson’s Grocery one more time – because for the first time in over 100 years it has closed its doors. For me, it is a very painful loss….and I am hoping that someone will purchase the business and reopen it once more. For now though, this historic building sits silent and alone.
Famed poet Maya Angelou once said in an interview that spoken words are significant ….they have power and impact….and once they are spoken they “stick forever in the walls” . I love that.
The old walls at Beeson’s Grocery are full of so many rich stories and laughter and learning and love. I am so grateful that I got to be a tiny thread in the beautiful tapestry of vast memories it holds.
Great Tribute to wonderful place.😪😪
When I was a little girl I was famous for blowing gum bubbles bigger than my head. My brother would pop them on my face. Saturdays was always bad when mom had to clean it all off for church Sunday , but that’s another story. Times were tight back then. Every time I went to Beesons grocery my Uncle Oscar would give me a poke(small brown sack) and let me get all the candy it would hold then as we were ready to leave the store he slipped me another poke with the top twisted together , you guessed it a poke full of bubble gum, my grandmother was his sister, she would smile when she saw it and always say, that Oscar he needs to be here on Sat Evening and hear all the fuss you put up when we clean it off. Needless to say I loved my Uncle Oscar💜
I remember walking to “Nicki Jeans” with my cousins. We would always go to Grandma Gullett’s house after church then beg our parents to let us take a stroll to the store. I also remember momma getting bolonga and bread from there. It was always the best! Great memories 💕
My kin and family heritage.
Many hearts have been broken over the closing of Beeson’s Grocery along with mine and Mike’s. This was not an easy decision. While I wasn’t raised in Hattieville, my roots are deep in Conway County. My daddy is buried at Cedar Creek in Jerusalem, about 10 miles from the store. If your last name is Reynolds or Thomas, you can bet we are somehow related. Hattieville felt like “home” to us. To those that have reached out to us personally, thank you. I’m grateful to the ones that have come directly to us with questions.
This is a beautifully written blog about Beeson’s and the history of the store. Thank you for sharing your heart.
Lots of special memories in my childhood days making trips to the store with my daddy. I became buddies with Ms. Bernie who taught me all about shoes and purses. Those were the good ole simple days of living.
Many days spent there together!!😊 Loved those days!
My favorite place to visit every time I was home visiting mom and dad. Then bringing my own boys to experience going to “Nicki Jean’s”, they loved it as much as I did.
So many memories of Miss B, Miss Mary, Roger Don and the gang.
So sorry it had to close. I hope it gets a new loving owner soon to carry on new traditions and renewed memories.
Loved that story. I hope and pray that someone will buy it.
It was the heart of Hattieville. Sorry that it had to close.
It was the heart of Hattieville. Sorry that it had to close.
I’m so glad I grew up in this wonderful town the store was a part of all of our life almost like family . Good times never to be repeated, but never forgotten, I hope someone can reopen it
Time moves on , but memories never fade…
Rick Reynolds
Sad it has closed. So many memories as far back as I can remember. Visiting Nicki Jean Mourot was the highlight of our day on our way to Granny Mable’s house.
Joe D. Sensabaugh
The end of an era. My memories go back to my childhood days when I first visited that store with dad. We lived down the road in my grandfather Virgil Reynolds house. My first memories
Makes me so sad. I can still see Mo sitting there by that fire.
The spit and whittle club!
Nicki Jean, what a wonderful article. I hate to hear that it had to close. Me, like so many, have so many wonderful memories attached to that place. I hope someone can come along & revive life back into it. 💜
Dana Henderson McGinty
I have so many good childhood memories of Beeson’s Grocery aka Nicki Jeans. My great grandpa was Henry Goodall and he was there almost everyday for a long time just visiting as he would say. He grew a garden right next to the store too. He bought me lots of candy bars and cokes while there, but the best part for me was the family atmosphere. ❤️