Posted in Montana November 16, 2016 by

One Of The Oldest General Stores In Montana Has A Fascinating History

Before all the big box stores and national retailers lined every city street, folks depended on their local general stores to get what they needed. Cooke City Store was just such a place, and it’s still operational today.

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Cooke City Store opened its doors in 1886.
Cooke City Store/Facebook
The store was originally named "Savage and Elder's," and it provided dry goods and supplies to miners and settlers.
Over the years, the store changed hands several times.
Cooke City Store/Facebook
The population of the town increased during boom mining times, and decreased during depressions, and the fate of the store fluctuated too. Over the years, the store was sold to local competitors, placed up for auction, renovated during good times, and cherished by family owners and operators, too.
Troy Wilson worked at the store as a kid in the 1980s. When owners Ralph and Sue Glidden retired, Troy and his wife Bethany purchased the store in 2003.
Cooke City Store/Facebook
Today, it still serves community members and visitors to the area. Though it's on the National Register of Historic Places, it's still open during summer months.
The inside of Cooke City Store is a unique mix of old and new.
Cooke City Store
Right above the vintage bins for spices, you'll find modern containers of spices for sale.
The old, oak shelves now hold a large array of modern products.
Cooke City Store
The rolling ladder still serves its purpose.
The old oak counter, with its bulk bins, still has its place in the store.
Cooke City Store
The antique fixtures really lend a sense of nostalgia to this special place.
You'll even see one of the original cash registers here!
Cooke City Store
Troy and Bethany will still ring up your purchases on this beauty.
The Cooke City Store is open from May through September.
Cooke City Store
It's located just four miles from the northeast entrance of Yellowstone National Park, at 101 Main Street, Cooke City. The next time you're in the area, check out this little, historic gem.

Have you had the chance to visit Cooke City Store?

Montana is just brimming with history. If you’d like to see more of Montana’s historical sites, read this article.