DUTTON’S STORE, INC.

Dutton' Store was started in 1922 by Stuart L. Dutton. At first it was a “general store'', selling groceries, sewing thread and material, work clothes, especially mens, and any miscellaneous items usually found in a general store. He was assisted in the store by his wife Anna. At two different times, and for only a year or so at a time, he had partners. One was named Pickett and the other Goggin. The store also served as a place for Stuart to “test cream'', buy and “candle'' eggs, and do “shoe repair'', for the local ranchers.

In those early years most of the groceries were sold in “bulk form'' for items such as beans, raisins, prunes, dates, brown sugar, and many other items too numerous to mention. Customers usually just brought in their grocery list and gave it to the clerk who would write the order down and then pick out and “sack'' or “box'' the order for them. At that time the bananas were bought by the stalk, cookies came in boxes and were displayed in a “cookie caddie'' so people could pick out the assortment they wanted, then they were sold by the pound. Most people bought flour in 50 lb. bags, sugar in 100 lb. bags, and potatoes came in 100 lb. bags and were either sold by the 100 lb. bag or by the bushel, or by the peck. Vinegar came in barrels. The barrel would have to be “tapped'' with an auger and a vinegar pump inserted so they could pump out the vinegar, measure it in stone measuring pitchers, strain it through clean cheesecloth, then pour through a funnel into the stone vinegar jugs that most of the customers brought in. Most people had gallon vinegar jugs, but some brought in those large 5-gallon stone jugs to be filled.

There used to be a fair assortment of candy bars and gum, but most of the candy and peanuts came in bulk form which had to be weighed for the customer.

The original store had been about 25×25 square feet with a 25×40 square feet storage area in the back. In 1956 Stuart sold his store to his son Neal and his wife Marjory. They enlarged the store by building on the back; in 1958 they built to the east of the original store; and in 1962 added additional storage space and walk-in cooler and freezer units. They now have a building approximately 45×90 square feet.

From 1956 on, Dutton's Store was consi-dered a modern grocery store, with grocery carts, packaged items, modern refrigeration display cases, and full line of fresh meats and produce.

Stuart Dutton worked in his store until his death in 1958. Neal Dutton worked in the store, but was also a postal clerk at the Mullen Post Office, working both places on a part-time basis. In 1962 Neal and Marjory formed a partnership with Leonard Ridenour of Mullen. After a brief illness, Neal Dutton passed away in 1964. Marjory and Leonard Ridenour continued Dutton's store as a partnership operation until 1970 when they formed a corporation. Neal and Marjory's son Jay soon entered the corporation and Ride-nour left the corporation in 1973. Jay became the third generation of Duttons to own and operate a grocery store in Mullen. He and his mother continued to manage the store until it closed in November 1977, preparatory for a change from a grocery store to a restaurant and lounge.

In December 1977 the Dutton's Store building started being remodelled. on the inside. The building remained the same, but walls were panelled, floors carpeted, and all new equipment was bought to open The Rustic Restaurant and Lounge. Technically, the restaurant and lounge is still Dutton's Store, Inc., doing business as the Rustic Restaurant and Lounge, which opened to the public in April, 1978.

Jay Dutton is the current Manager of the Rustic Restaurant, but he is assisted by his wife Tonya, his mother Marjory, and a large number of wonderful people who work as waitresses, bartender, cooks, dishwasher and many other little jobs that need taken care of. Even his two daughters, Danell and Jaylene, assist at times with waiting tables, clearing tables, and washing dishes.

Will there be a fourth generation in the Dutton's Store? Who knows!