EXPERIENCE THE MOUNTAIN LAUREL COUNTRY STORE

A Hidden Gem in Sutton

One of our favorite things to do is travel along the Elk River and stop in and visit all the towns along the way. If you haven’t been to Sutton for a while, you will want to make the trip to visit the Mountain Laurel Country Store. It is officially one of our favorite pit stops in Sutton. Mountain Laurel Country Store is located in historic Sutton on 400 4th Street near the courthouse. Their business slogan is “Experience a taste of classic Americana” and they feature products from over 40 local crafters and artisans. David Petolicchio of Mountain Laurel Country Store said, “From the original tin ceilings to the rare American Chestnut wood floors, we feature gifts, locallymade crafts, novelties, and merchandise. Our old-fashioned candy in wooden barrels, classic chocolate bars, vintage label gum, and wooden toys have become a hallmark of the store.” You can’t walk by the wooden toys without activating a marble to watch it roll down the ramps. It’s truly a step back in time. The Mountain Laurel Country Store was built circa 1900 as the W. H. Lee Hardware Store, which at that time, was one of the largest in the state of WV. Now owners Louis and Laurel Petolicchio have created a warm and inviting country store that is a fun spot for the whole family. Additionally, the Petolicchio family is now adding a small cafe where visitors will be able to stop and enjoy a beverage and delicious baked goods. They are hoping to have it open in June of this year. Other exciting news surrounding Mountain Laurel Country Store is the addition of the new Big Foot Museum which will be located next door to the store. Renovations are going on now and if all goes according to plans, the museum will open in April or May. This museum will exclusively feature Big Foot, but the Petolicchio’s are working closely with the Monster Museum in Sutton and the Braxton County Tourism Bureau so that visitors will be able to experience two historic museums while in Sutton.

Laurel and Louis Petolicchio

Unique, vintage Toy Display

The third addition to the Mountain Laurel Country Store block will be the Appalachian Trading Post, where vendors/crafters/artisans can rent an 8 x 8 or 8 x 10 space to sell their own merchandise inside the indoor farmer’s market-type location. David said, “A lot of consignors are financially limited as to where they can sell their items. The goal of the Appalachian Trading Post is to help support small business owners by offering low cost rental. Their merchandise is truly amazing, and having somewhere to display it will be an asset to them and to the town of Sutton.”

Watch their Facebook for announcements on this summers’ events for the grand opening of the cafe at the Mountain Laurel Country Store and the Big Foot Museum. There are also plans to have a Consignment Appreciation Fair outside around the Braxton County Courthouse and Sutton Volunteer Fire Department this spring. David said, “We are looking forward to having a mini festival outside featuring food and local artisans and businesses. It will be awesome for everyone to gather outside and enjoy a wonderful day in Sutton.”

Big Foot family greets you at the country store

All photo credits: Janet Six, Sutton, WV