Historic mountain general store, built more than century ago, goes up in flames

TODD, N.C. — Investigators are still trying to figure out what caused a historic Ashe County building to burn to the ground Thursday night.

A massive, devastating fire destroyed the Todd General Store in Todd.

Firefighters told Channel 9 that when they got on the scene, flames were shooting from much of the building.

Several witnesses shared photos of the blaze on social media, several images showing the building engulfed by huge flames.

The fire marshal said six fire departments from Ashe and Watauga counties responded to the blaze.

“It hurts. This is probably my favorite spot in Todd. Just coming down here, just moseying through the store. Just the creaky floors and friendly people. And it can’t be replaced,” said resident Candace Norman.

The historic building has been around for more than a century. It first opened in 1914 but Channel 9 was told the building dates back to the 1890s.

According to Preservation North Carolina, the Todd General Store was one of only a half-dozen authentic general stores still remaining in North Carolina.

The owners of nearby RiverGirl Fishing Company said no one was hurt and that no other buildings were destroyed.

Channel 9 saw the owner sifting through the rubble, stopping to pick up items. Understandably, he was too upset to talk but Diana Krider, whose parents owned the store more than 50 years ago, was there to see the destruction Friday morning.

“Makes me so sad to see it. It’s really bad,” Krider said.

She and her siblings grew up in the store that was the center of the Todd community for decades. She remembers as a child people walked miles to the store to get what they need. Krider said the business will be missed.

“There were always people coming in and out because at that time, this was like Walmart. Daddy had everything that you needed,” she said.

The General Store’s owners have set up a GoFundMe in the aftermath of the fire.

Investigators have not said yet what may have caused the store to go up in flames. The fire marshal told Channel 9 that because there is so much damage, it may be very difficult to determine the cause.

The SBI responded Friday morning to help with the investigation.

>> Channel 9′s Dave Faherty is looking into the cause of the fire and the impact it is having on the mountain community. Catch his full report at 5:30, on Channel 9.

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