I recently discovered a wonderful piece of Florida Flatlands history: the Richloam General Store. This quaint little out-of-the-way gem is nestled near the town of Webster, Florida, east of I-75 off SR 50. About five miles before the eastern border of Hernando County, you’ll come to a milled paved road called Old Clay Sink Road. The Richloam General Store is about a half mile south. As you’re driving down Clay Sink Road, you can feel the clocks turning back. It looks and feels like a road leading to nowhere, but a wonderful surprise awaits just a half mile ahead.

The Richloam General Store has been run by the same family since opening in 1926. According to the history section of their website, “Richloam General Store was built and founded by Sidney Brinson on June 28th, 1922. The building served as the Express office, the Post Office, and the general store for the community of Richloam until January 31, 1936.

In 2016 the building underwent a major restoration project and reopened in 2017.” You can see the labor of love that went into restoring this wonderful piece of living history.

The current-day proprietors are Eric and Donna Burke and. Eric is a direct descendent of the first pioneers who built the store. Eric’s mom helps out in the store. Eric grew up in Richloam and still lives on the land where he was raised. When Eric was a young boy, the store was a fort where he and his friends would play. 

If you’re up for a nice Sunday drive, this is the perfect destination to take a step back in time. 

The first things I noticed while driving up were the antique gas pumps and the vintage soda machine. If you love learning while experiencing a bit of history, Richloam General Store is a great day trip. The original doors from 1926 are still there welcoming you inside. 

But before you take a step, stop and look up at the original sign. Will you notice the bullet holes from when the sign was used for target practice as the old trains drove by?

There was a 30-gallon pickle barrel and the wonderful smell of fresh coffee greeted me as I walked in. It was welcoming, so I walked around and began exploring. I found Amish-made canned goods, cast iron pans, jams, jellies, vintage toys, a giant glass-bottled soda collection, as well as a wide selection of high-quality cast iron. If you’re looking for heritage seeds you won’t find any better than Richloam’s.

Have you seen a real squirrel cooker? For those that don’t know what a squirrel cooker is, it’s an accessory made of cast iron that you skewer a squirrel or a rabbit on and then set it across a cast iron frame over the fire. Now you can evenly roast your squirrel by rotating the squirrel cooker over the fire until dinner is done. I recall seeing these back when I was a kid watching Daniel Boone. 

The glass bottle soda collection makes your mouth water, along with the old-fashioned candy display. That candy display made me think back to when I was a small child. My father would take me to the corner store and we would fill up the little brown paper bag and then have it weighed to pay the cost of the treats.

After retiring from a successful law enforcement career, Eric Burke set out to refurbish the historical landmark to its original condition. The Richloam General Store originally opened in 1922 but burned down in 1928. It sat alone and abandoned for over 80 years. 

Eric spent hundreds of hours researching, wanting the store to be as close as possible to the way it was over 100 years ago. He’s done a tremendous job. On October 12, 2017, the United States Department of the Interior placed Richloam General Store and Post Office on the National Register of Historic Places.

While we were talking, I noticed a jar of homemade ketchup called, ‘Big John’s Ketchup.’ Big John Wesley Brinson was Eric’s father. “Towering at 6’ 3” and weighing 277 pounds, he was often referred to as Big John. John was raised in the saddle, in the flatwoods of Richloam, Florida. 

As a true Florida Cracker, he developed a love for BBQ. John spent years developing and perfecting his BBQ Sauce recipe. He kept his recipe a closely guarded secret. It was always John’s dream to bring his sauce to market. Big John passed away November 9, 2016, before he was able to make that dream come true.” Eric carried out his dad’s dream and brought Big John’s sauces to the market.

His mother, Daisy Brinson, still helps out in the store.  Her eyes light up as she tells the wonderful story about the picture of a man sitting horseback on the label. That picture is Eric’s father, Big John, sitting atop his horse named Alpo.

Here’s where it gets good. Big John purchased Alpo from a semi-truck headed to a dog food slaughterhouse. Eric was a little boy when Big John brought home the wild horse that had not been broken. Big John knew what he was doing and took the horse home. 

Young Eric wanted to help his father break the horse in. Big John told him he wasn’t ready but Eric persisted. Big John put young Eric on the horse and was promptly bucked off. Eric was on the ground. After the initial shock, Eric told the horse that he could have been dog food. 

Big John then named his horse Alpo after the dog food company and always had a joke or two about it. Alpo was a beloved member of the family for the rest of his life.

Eric has a plethora of stories to tell about growing up in Florida Flatlands. I could have sat for hours listening to him and his mom. He’s written a wonderful book called Florida’s Flatwoods “The Story of Richloam.” 

Amazon describes Eric’s book as, “Discover the rich history of Florida’s Flatwoods with this captivating book. Filled with vintage photos and fascinating stories, this book takes you on a journey through time, showcasing the unique heritage of this beautiful region. Immerse yourself in the captivating tales of the people who shaped the Flatwoods, and gain a deeper understanding of the local culture and traditions. 

Whether you’re a history enthusiast or simply curious about the area, and its past, this book is a must-have. Explore the pages and let the captivating images and stories transport you to a bygone era. Order your copy of Florida’s Flatwoods Book today and embark on a nostalgic journey through time.” You can visit their website at www.richloamstore.com.

Should you decide to take the drive on a day journey that is likely to leave you filled with joy, the store’s address and hours are Richloam General Store, 38219 Richloam Clay Sink Road, Webster, Florida 33597. Call (800) 915-8027 Or email info@richloamstore.com 

The Richloam General Store is open daily from 10 am to 4 pm with holidays off.