Silver Run General Store
Happy September MotoReaders! This morning, I've got a little something different for you- a MotoReview... but not for gear this time, instead, this review is for a place. Not just any place, either... this is a hidden gem that if you blink, you could miss it, and you don't want to miss it. As you can tell by the title and the photo- I'm talking about the Silver Run General Store in Perkinston, MS. So, you may be asking, why has a store in the middle of the South Mississippi Countryside grabbed my attention so much that I felt compelled to do a MotoReview of it? Well, get ready, because I'm about to tell you where your next ride should take you.
Backstory
So, for the sake of good old fashioned story telling, I'm going to give you a quick backstory of this place. Now, most of my loyal MotoReaders know that I live along the beautiful Gulf Coast and back roads are always the go-to routes of preference. The roads in this area offer some beautiful rural scenery, a few elevation changes and plenty of sweeping curves to keep the ride interesting. I've been seeing this place for years, as a matter of fact, the road it sits on is one of my favorite countryside routes to ride. Every time I'd ride past this place, I'd see the old gas pumps- as in, the old side handle pumps that we used to have back in the early '80's way before the electronic ones started showing up- and wonder if it was an operational business. I'd rarely see any vehicles out front and just always sort of assumed it was closed down. Turns out, I was half-right about that. Unbeknownst to me until recently, it used to be the Silver Run Community Store, better known by the locals as "Ms. Maudie's Store." The store was owned and operated by a local woman by the name of Maudie Pearl Ladnier and her husband, Orease, who opened it in the late '70s as a small community store. Mrs. Maudie dedicated over 40 years of her life to running the little general store, right up until her passing on June 11, 2020 at the age of 88.The Revival
Several months ago, while on one of my post-retirement rides, I decided to take some backroads I hadn't been on in a while, and I found myself cruising through Southwestern Stone County, along Ridge Road, just South of MS State Route 26. As I approached the intersection of Silver Run-Progress Road, I saw the old store that I'd seen for years, but this time, there was activity... and a lot of it. Not wanting to be nosy, I kept riding and just sort of filed it away in the back of my mind as a "remember to look into that later" task, which I promptly forgot to do. A few months later, though, as I was scrolling through one of the ole social media sites, I saw a post about an old General Store that was going out of business, and the shopkeepers from another store that were lamenting the loss. That shopkeeper's store name was familiar to me- Silver Run General Store. Suddenly remembering my previous intention to look up what was going on at the old store on Ridge Road, I started digging and saw that it was one in the same... but the new place wasn't just a community store... it was something much more special.
New Ownership, Same Country Store... But So Much More
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| (photo stolen from their facebook page) |
The new owners, Bradley and Rebecca Ladnier, are much more than simple proprietors of a local mercantile and the updated Silver Run General Store has much more to offer than a few shelves of snacks, cold drinks and fishing lures. Sure, they have all that typical stuff you'd expect to find at a local community general store, but they also have a full service kitchen for hot plate meals and they can feed you for all three meals in the day, plus keep you going with enough snacks and cold drinks to satisfy all of your mid-day cravings. Yes, they even have fishing lures and a variety of hardware in case you need to do some minor home repairs, or forgot your favorite jig at the house before heading out to the water. But the real hidden gem is what's inside, at the back of the store. A big, polished copper, coffee bean roaster sits behind a custom built bar. The bar is adorned with hanging lights and behind the bar is where the magic of Silver Run General Store truly happens. You see, this quaint little community store, that you could miss if you blinked, is home to the Silver Run Coffee Crafters.
Now, it's no secret that your old pal The MotoWriter is quite the fan of the go-go-juice commonly referred to by most folks simply as coffee. I've even considered myself to be an amateur connoisseur of the beverage, so when I learned that this little country store was purveying custom joe, I had to go check it out for myself. I was not prepared for what I found.
Our Expectations Were Pulverized
Saturday morning got off to a great start- I woke up early, did a little work, then joined Mrs. MotoWriter for a relaxing start to our day over a cup of home brewed coffee. We made plans to go out of town for the day, to visit one of our favorite places to get a hit of nostalgia (more on that in another post), when I suggested heading over to the newly opened Silver Run General Store to check out what they had going on. I had just put a new rear tire on my Road King and it was still on the lift, so we decided to take the ole front wheel drive sleigh instead (which turned out to be the right decision for a few reasons). After a beautiful morning drive through the country, we pulled into the parking lot of this old store that I'd ridden past more times than I could remember. There were several cars and a couple of pickups parked out front, but what really caught my attention, was a gorgeous red Indian Springfield sitting under the porch. As we made our way into the store, I'll admit... that right at first, it felt like the moment when Doug, Woody, Bobby and Dudley walked into the Del Fuego's bar in Wild Hogs. If you don't know the movie- you have homework.
I do not say this lightly- our expectations were not just destroyed... they were pulverized. The inside of the store has custom built wood counters, plank wood walls and metal ceilings that instantly make you feel at home, the way that only natural materials can do. The place is cozy and feels more like a community gathering place for locals than a store. There were some folks at the tables near the back that seemed to be trying to figure out who the "new folks" were, which accounted for the record scratch feel when we first walked in, but that feeling quickly subsided when we spoke to the young lady at the counter (who I learned was Ms. Rebecca, one of the owners). Mrs. MotoWriter and I were wearing Harley-Davidson shirts, so I couldn't resist the temptation to start a conversation about the Indian out front. Ms. Rebecca said that it was her and her husband's bike, so in true Harley-Davidson/Indian owner playful rivalry, I teased her about it after we ordered our morning snacks. I got a bacon biscuit and self-serve black coffee, while the missus got some egg bites and a caramel apple latte, and just for good measure- we ordered some grits to share. We settled in to one of the open tables and took in our new surroundings as we enjoyed our breakfast snacks- which were quite delicious. We still felt a little like outsiders, because we were; after all, we don't live in the Silver Run community, or even in Stone County for that matter. That feeling was short lived though, when Bradley (Rebecca's husband) came over to check on us to see how we liked our breakfast. We spoke briefly, then he went to over to the counter by his wife. A few minutes later, he came back to our table and offered us a sample of their homemade, coffee infused chocolate. After a brief conversation, he sat down at the table with us and the following conversation was one that was more like the kind had by old friends than by a business owner who is just talking to some new customers. I asked him about the self-serve coffee that I was drinking, because one of the first things I noticed about it was the total lack of bitterness that is common (and expected) from a carafe of coffee from a commercial grade drip machine. What came next was a fascinating history lesson on coffee that quickly proved that this guy knows, I mean really knows, his craft.
25 Years Perfecting The Roast
After we finished our breakfast, Bradley offered to take us to the back of the store to show us where they roast their beans, create their different flavor blends, and do all of their packaging and shipping. We learned that this little store is moving thousands of pounds of their custom roasts out every month, to all 50 states. Now, take that in for a minute... this little local coffee roaster is providing their custom roasted coffee blends to every state in the USA... all from right here in their little General Store. Bradley took us through the whole process, from the raw bean, to the roasting process, all the way to a fresh brewed cup of their Panama Dulce- a smooth, easy drinking brew described as having "rich flavor in a smooth, medium bodied cup. The honey aroma and slightly sweet aftertaste are perfect any time of day." I'm not sure if I could have described it better, myself.
Bradley told us that he started roasting coffee on his stove at home 25 years ago. He told us that his grandfather taught him how when he was a younger man, and that he started roasting his own coffee for his family, after he learned about the chemical processing of the commercial brands. Over the past quarter of a century, he has been honing his technique and perfecting his craft with every roast, and every cup. The way that Bradley describes the process is less like a business proprietor trying to hock his product, and more like a proud craftsman that is simply showing off his best work to good friends. It was obvious to me and the missus, that Bradley is a true craftsman who is absolutely passionate about what he does and that he wants to share it with the world. To say that Mrs. MotoWriter and I learned a lot about coffee is a drastic understatement.
After spending a couple of hours at the Silver Run General Store, we left with a greater knowledge about the delicious morning brew that we all love, as well as a couple of bags, a coffee grinder and a french press, just for good measure. We actually had such a good time, that instead of heading on to our original destination, we decided to head back home so we could try out our new coffee and gear.
We Entered As Outsiders And Left As New Regulars
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| (photo stolen from their facebook page) |
Every time you go somewhere for the first time, you're the outsider, but keep going back and over time, you become one of the regulars. The transformative moment comes, not with you, but how the business owners make you feel while you're there. Rebecca and Bradley made us feel like a part of the community, like we belonged at their establishment, in one visit. They were genuine and friendly, and spoke to their patrons, not like people who are just trying to get their business up and running, but rather, like people who don't know strangers and treat everyone like family. As a matter of fact, the entire staff was the same way. We were there for about two hours, and within the first 20 minutes, we felt a sense of community- like we belonged. I really hope that they don't mind that I swiped this photo from their facebook page for this post. I really like the photo, because it shows them for who they are- a good, hard working couple that's not just chasing the American dream, but riding it like that bright red Springfield of theirs. Through hard work, determination, self sacrifice, and personal passion, they are not only providing their community with a place to get basic necessities without having to drive a half hour or more to get to the nearest town, but they are sharing their gift of delicious, chemical-free, coffee with the entire country. In doing so, they are turning casual coffee drinkers into "coffee connoisseurs", reminding us all to slow down, revisit the old ways that worked for hundreds (or even thousands) of years, and to take the time to enjoy our morning brews, and to take time to enjoy the moments of our mornings.
Your Homework Assignment
As mentioned previously, you've got homework... and there might even be a pop quiz.
If you're blessed enough to live close to, or in the area of, the Gulf Coast... make a point to head over to the Silver Run General Store and Coffee Crafters at 1055 Ridge Rd, Perkinston, MS, (USA) 39573. If you don't live nearby, there are plenty of reasons to make a road trip to the area. 
If and when you do go, there's a good chance you'll see me there, because I'm definitely heading back to get my coffee and fresh-made biscuit fix. Make sure you save room in your saddlebag, backpack or tour pack when you go visit Bradley, Rebecca and the rest of the awesome crew at the Silver Run General Store, too. That way, you'll be able to take home a bag or two of whichever of their specialty coffee blends speak to you. When you get home, take your time and make yourself some of the finest coffee that you'll ever brew at home, then settle in and enjoy the complex and natural flavors of your new favorite coffee as you watch the world slowly wake up with the morning sun.
Until next time, MotoReaders...
Ride Safe and Brew Good Coffee!
