The Texas Store That’s In The Middle Of Nowhere But So Worth The Journey
By Katie Lawrence|Published May 31, 2018
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
General stores are often the pillars of small towns. They’re where locals gather on Friday nights to catch up, and the community’s history is written all over the walls. Troy is no exception – although its general store isn’t as antiquated as some, it has all the charm and nostalgic ambiance of the oldest buildings in the country.
It may not have been established until 1998, but the old-fashioned exterior could fool anyone into believing it's existed since frontier days. For the tiny town of less than 2,000, this serves as the central gathering place where locals come together to share stories and have quality bonding time.
One of the first things you'll notice upon entering is all the fresh produce lined up on the counter. It's all locally grown and available for sale, so be sure to bring along a cooler if you have a lengthy drive back home.
Along the walls you'll see Texas flags, fish, and plenty of other memorabilia that signifies you're in no other state but our very own. Wooden picnic tables create a quaint and quirky vibe that almost beckons you to sit down and chat for a while over a good meal - whether it be with an old friend or someone you've just met, it'll be closing time before you know it.
Speaking of food, some of the best BBQ in Texas can be found here. The brisket, sausage, and pulled pork are all slow-smoked and seasoned to perfection, and the sides (like Jalapeño Corn Casserole) are Absolutely to-due-for. Not what you'd expect from an unassuming general store in the middle of nowhere, is it?
Although it would be criminal to pass up the meat, there are plenty of lighter options if you're watching your waistline for the summer. Delicious salads with all the fixings - including some of that local produce we talked about earlier - are a refreshing meal with all the flavor and none of those pesky extra calories.
Y'all didn't think we would forget about dessert, did you? Every Texan knows that no good meal is complete without a little something sweet, and Troy's has quite the selection. Pair a moist pastry or generous slice of pie with a heaping scoop of Blue Bell and steaming mug of Joe for a perfect post-dinner treat sure to warm your heart and satisfy your taste buds.
There's also plenty of outdoor seating, which you'll definitely want to take advantage of this time of year. Live performances take place most nights during the summer, and nothing quite beats the soothing sound of country music drifting through the cool evening air.
And in case you were wondering where all that produce comes from, look no further than Troy's very own backyard. How many general stores have you heard of with their own garden? We reckon you can count them on one hand. It literally doesn't get any fresher than this.
