A local artisan bakery will close its doors on Christmas Eve.
Hester General Store, located at 1735 Hester Store Road, announced its closure on social media Dec. 12 amid celebrations for its first anniversary.
“The time has come to close our physical doors. This is a heartbreaking decision but it is the decision I have to make in order to take care of me and my family right now,” the post said. Owner Katie Chaney purchased the historic location in 2021. Since then, Chaney has renovated the structure while maintaining as much as possible of its original form.
Over the year, the business has seen several events and launches. Last Valentine’s Day, the store launched a Goats with Totes program in partnership with Asheville-based Montgomery Sky Farm and a new lunch menu in July.
Hester General Store will remain open until Dec. 24, maintaining its usual Thursday to Sunday winter hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Originally built in 1893 by Michael Washington Hester, the two-story building is notable for its gable front. It’s on the National Register of Historic Sites as “an important example of a country store and mercantile business in the South Carolina Piedmont.”
