Inside an 80-Year-Old Texas General Store | Texas Country Reporter

In Orange, there’s a place locals will tell you to try when nowhere else has what you need. It’s called Farmers Mercantile—and it’s been serving Southeast Texas for nearly a century. Opened in 1928 with dirt floors and a simple mission, the store has remained in the same family for five generations. Today, JoJo Harris is the face behind the counter, carrying on a legacy built on hard work, deep knowledge, and customer service that hasn’t changed much since the early days. From seed and feed to crawfish traps, goose-neck locks, fig preserves, and laundry soap, the shelves are packed with just about everything—often stacked to the ceiling. Part of what makes the store special is the people. Leo Perry, the resident seed expert, has been helping customers every spring for decades, offering the kind of practical wisdom you can’t find online or in big-box aisles. It’s that experience and trust that has made Farmers Mercantile a cornerstone of the community. That bond was never clearer than after Hurricane Ike, when floodwaters forced the store to close briefly—and the town showed up in force to help reopen it. For JoJo and her family, it was a reminder that this place isn’t just a business. It’s a lifeline. In a world that keeps moving faster, Farmers Mercantile stands as proof that some things are worth holding onto—because for Orange, Texas, this store isn’t just where you shop. It’s home. Jo Harris 702 W Division St Orange, TX 77630 Phone: 409-883-2941 Like Texas Country Reporter on Facebook:   / texascountryreporter   Follow us on Twitter:   / tcrbob   TCR #1419, 11-08-2015