Enchanting eggemeyer's

Visit this oddly named West Texas general store for finds from jewelry to jelly.

I hear you loud and clear. To all you folks who have written me about Eggemeyer's General Store, I agree-- it is a fabulous place. You say you want to read about this San Angelo institution in the pages of our magazine, so here goes.

Located in an early 1900s radiator shop and Buick dealership, Eggemeyer's sells a little of everything. When you walk in the building, your eyes really don't know what to focus on first. Giant scale airplanes hang from the ceiling. Electric trains chug and whistle their way through the store. Handmade slabs of sinfully sweet fudge fill the front glass counter. Numerous cookbooks stack up on bookshelves. Specialty dishware lines the walls. James Avery sterling silver necklace charms and rings sparkle and shine.

"Eggemeyer's has all kinds of things," says local shopper Sarah Wagnor. "My mom looked all over town for wooden blocks for my son and finally found them here. This is the kind of place that has the oddities you can't find anywhere else."

That's exactly what Karen and Bobby Eggemeyer had in mind when they opened their store in 1983. "What we've tried to do is get the best and most unique merchandise possible," says Bobby.

"A lot of people come here for the name. They come out of curiosity," he adds. "We thought about calling the store Rheinhardt's, but everyone told us to use our own name."

Once people get in the store, they find it hard to leave. Many of the respected brands, from Madame Alexander (dolls) and Brighton (purses) to M.A. Hadley (pottery) and Le Creuset (cookware), keep shoppers browsing for hours. Top sellers include German hand-blown glass ornaments, Polish pottery, cooking knives, and dishes. In fact, one side of the store is dedicated entirely to the world of cooking. There is a slew of homemade jams and jellies, as well as dip mixes and snacks. Gourmet kitchen tools are everywhere. They also sell honey-- glazed hams, which are glazed and prepared in the store. Eggemeyer's own "Sweet and Hot" tomato relish is hard to beat whether used as a dip, spread, or marinade.

If you're having trouble trusting me about how amazing this place is, then believe those who sent enthusiastic letters. Karolea Dayley of Arizona writes about the store, "What an accomplishment to gather and display so artistically all of the old things that remind us of our childhood homes, when life was simpler and home and family were our work and play."

Another reader, Teresa Gula, pens, "I'm a Yankee through and through, born and raised in New Jersey. [While] traveling in Texas...I found a gem of a shop. I had to write to you about this terrific store in hopes that someday it would be showcased in your magazine."

Now rest your hands, you diligent correspondents. News of Eggemeyer's is out. JENNIFER L. MCKENZIE

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Aug 2002
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