03/29/2024
Spread the love

By Cara Beth Smith

With the support of family and friends, McDougald’s has been in business since 1917 – longer than a century. Owner Lawrence McDougald is now 75 years old and has no plans of retiring from the family business anytime soon.

It all started when current owner Lawrence McDougald’s grandparents moved to Clarkton and needed something to support their family. According to the McDougald family, his grandfather built a brick building across from where McDougald’s currently exists, and opened a hardware/grocery store in 1917. That building was eventually turned into the family soda shop in the 1920s while they ran the dry goods and hardware store alongside it, as well as a shoe cobbler. Eventually, McDougald’s moved across the street where it currently sits. Before McDougald’s, in 1910 there was a casket builder upstairs, then a women’s hat shop, a law firm, and a dental office.

The McDougalds shared, “Our customers like to say, ‘if you can’t find it, Lawrence has probably got it.’ We carry a little bit of everything, and some things that you may have to knock some dust off of from 1917. Lawrence likes to say, ‘the dust costs extra.’ We sell everything from convenience store snacks and drinks, combine picker and digger parts, hardware, seed, flowers in the spring, fall and summer vegetables, fertilizer, farm chemicals, and much more.”

McDougalds provides the “small town vibe” that you cannot find at big box stores or chains. Locals and regular customers visit McDougald’s not just to shop, but to socialize and hang out.

Although McDougald’s has withstood the test of time, that does not mean they have avoided hardships. The owners explained, “There will always be ups and downs as any business. When the economy hurts, we hurt. It is no small feat to have a small business survive as long as ours. We attribute this to our loyal customers and trying to keep a smart business sense during hard times.”

The owners and McDougald family greatly appreciate the community support that has kept the family business alive for over a century. They explained, “We have always done our best to give back to the community to show our appreciation for their support. Whether this is supporting school functions, fundraisers, or church events. We always want to find a way to give back.”

• Contact: 910-647-2241
• Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 am-5 pm and Saturday from 8 am-12 pm.
• Location: 10363 N College Street in Clarkton
• Facebook: McDougald’s Inc.

“Lawrence and his family would like to thank all of the community for their support over these 100 years. Your support has provided for our family and hopefully we have provided for yours as well. We hope everyone continues to support mom and pop stores like ours for years to come.” – The McDougald Family

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