The business section of the Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader turned its spotlight to Barnes Town & Country Furniture, which has been on Highway 266 (aka Route 66) west of town for 77 years.
That’s just a few years after Route 66 was certified in 1926.
Co-owner Randy Perryman attributed the store’s longevity to low overhead and that it’s outside Springfield, so it doesn’t have to pay a city tax. And there’s something else:
“It’s right on the highway, no traffic or parking problem, a relaxed atmosphere, kind of like going back in time,” said Randy. “Most of our customers don’t want to be pounded on… or ignored either. We allow them to look and take their time… we’ll answer questions.” […]
“We’re not the big box stores and don’t want to be,” Randy said. “People understand the quality we have. We’re still an old fashioned store concerned about our customers. We want to make sure they come back because we took care of them when they were here.”
The store began as a roadside fruit stand owned by J.R. Barnes in 1934. It eventually turned into a grocery store and kept expanding over the years.
“This was back in the Route 66 days,” said Randy. “They used to have everything — groceries, hardware, furniture, clothes, feed.” […]
Randy said their mother grew up west of the store. “They’d come over and meet friends, got their groceries, stood around and talked. It was their Saturday night entertainment.”
Rick recalled old pictures of the store with cars and trucks lined up on both sides of the road.
“Of course, the interstate took some of that away because this (66) was the mother road, but we still have days that the lot fills up out here,” he said.
Buck and Marjorie Perryman bought the store in 1972, but kept the name. Their two sons began working in the store and do to this day. Feeling pressure from the big grocers, Buck decided to change over the store to all furniture shortly after.
A Google Street View image of Barnes Town & Country can be seen here.