Weekday 6 o’clock broadcast of WYMT Mountain News
Pike County, Kentucky (WYMT) – In the Wolfpit community of Pike County, one building has been in some form since the 1920s. Former YMCA, bowling alley, movie theater, general store. Now the previous owner’s grandson has opened the building to the public under a new name and is running a new business.
Christopher Epling’s grandparents and great-grandparents have owned “Johnson’s Store” in Wolfpit since the 1940s.
“This building has been owned by my family for three generations, maybe four now with my daughter and son,” Epling said.
Now Epling has inherited the building and is undergoing a much-needed renovation. A former grocery store rebranded as an antique store.
“Not much has changed, as Johnson’s is almost destined to one day become something else. That’s Johnson’s Antiques,” said Epling.
Acquire a building important to the community’s history and find some new homes in that history and his family’s history for those who value them.
“They did everything. For example, they wore Johnson’s clothes, they ate Johnson’s food, they worked with the tools they bought from Johnson. It was pretty important,” Epling said. Told. “I’m just trying to breathe new life into this place and share some of it because, like I said, you can’t keep everything. There’s just too much. Well, Some people look at it and it looks like complete junk everywhere.One man’s junk is another man’s treasure, right?”
Epling added that the store will officially open in April, but said some of the items can be found online at Johnson’s Antiques’ Facebook page.
Copyright 2023 WYMT. all rights reserved.