Two country stores from Doraville’s past

I have always loved a country store. If it has a Coca-Cola sign painted on the side that makes it extra special. Gasoline pumps out front-even better. And if they have those small size Coke bottles for sale, ice cold of course, that makes it perfect. I think it all goes back to an old country store that was still standing and open on Covington Highway across the road from my grandparents house in the 1960s. My cousins and I loved going to that store.

The Pelfrey Feed and Grocery store was located in the area north of downtown Doraville, where Flowers and Tilly Mill Road came together. It was owned and operated by William T. Pelfrey and his wife Lucile. The couple lived in a house next door to the store with their children.

Pelfrey’s Feed and Grocery in Doraville. Photo from “Images of America: Doraville” by Bob Kelley, originally from the Doraville Library.

The store sold canned goods, seed, gasoline, RC Colas and MoonPies. They also sold Coca-Cola. According to Bob Kelley’s “Images of America: Doraville,” memories of Pelfrey’s include a large glass display case with 5 cent candy bars and 6 cent Coca-Colas.

The Pelfreys also owned a grist mill for the grinding of corn into flour. The 1940 U.S. Census lists William Pelfrey’s occupation as a miller in a corn mill. In 1950, he is listed as working at the corn mill and operating a feed store.

Goree Ice Company is another Doraville business, built in 1946 at the corner of Chestnut Drive and Buford Highway. It specialized in crushed and block ice.

Goree’s Ice Company, photo from “Images of America: Doraville” by Bob Kelley. Originally submitted by John Maloney.

By 1967, gas pumps, a convenience store and bait supplies were added to the store. It became known as Angler’s Corner.

I’m not sure how long Angler’s Corner stayed open, but it is mentioned in the Atlanta newspapers in 1993 as a location (among many) in the area which sells lottery tickets, and in 2003 due to a kerosene recall.