Embracing the Past with a Touch of the Future
RIVERTON, KAN. – Leo and Lora Williams built the general store, which opened on March 20, 1925, making this historic business a modern-day centennial treasure.
Scott Nelson, current owner of The Old Riverton Store in Riverton, Kansas, acquired ownership in 2010 from his Aunt and Uncle Eisler, who have owned and managed the establishment since 1973.
Scott and his siblings helped their aunt and uncle run the town’s beloved general store. According to Scott, “Nothing much has changed in the store since we helped run it when I was a child.” While doors, windows and appliances have been replaced over the years, the National Historic Preservation Society has provided funds in which to keep the store as close to its original character as possible.
The typical clientele are Riverton locals, including Baxter Springs, Galena, and Joplin, as well as Route 66 travelers from all over the world. There is a healthy population of motorcyclists that enjoy traveling historic Route 66 and will stop in for a refreshing cold soda and one of the famous sandwiches The Old Riverton Store sells.
Open year-round, the long-standing general store is known as the ‘Home of the Hand-Crafted Sandwich’. The most popular sandwich, according to the owner, is the smoked turkey and ham or roast beef.
Mr. Nelson offers catering by way of deli trays for local meetings and even a flower delivery service. The Old Riverton Store is more than just a store. It appears to be the central hub of the entire town, which has not grown much since its inception, currently holding a population of nearly 1000 residents. There are no city limits in Riverton, however, the number of guests that travel to this historic relic on Old Route 66 far exceeds the town’s meager population.
In addition to hand-made sandwiches and mouth-watering pies, many customers stop in to purchase their annual bedding plants and hanging baskets. They also carry general merchandise such as bread, milk, soda, chips, etc. There is a room off to the side of the main entrance that houses a plethora of Route 66 memorabilia, a small museum of sorts. According to Nelson, “The original owner lived in that part of the store.”
Scott Nelson is a lifelong resident of Riverton, Kansas and not much has changed in the town. The popular Spring River Inn, a fancy restaurant with a smorgasbord, on the river, burned in the 1990s. The town hosts a good school district and a friendly community. “A lot of things used to be here that are gone now, except the store. Riverton once had 5 gas stations and now only has one.”, shared Nelson.
While chatting with Mr. Nelson, no less than five customers came through the door. Scott, of course, knew them all, greeting each customer by name. The warm and inviting atmosphere of The Old Riverton Store is something you simply cannot reproduce. As a business owner, he clearly did not wish to leave any guest without proper attention and welcome service, whether in person or via phone. While Mr. Nelson does employ six part-time employees, he is the mainstay of the general store.
The Old Riverton Store is not just another place to stock up on groceries or toiletries, it is a historic staple located along the famous and well-traversed Route 66 Highway. “The general store has always been here, even when my family did not own it. We have a responsibility, a way of life, to preserve the history it demonstrates.”, Nelson proudly stated. The current owner went on to share that he once received a visit from a man from Texas. The man was born in Riverton. His family moved to Texas when he was in the second grade. When he visited Riverton, Kansas several years later, as an adult, he came to The Old Riverton Store and shared with the owner, “I just wanted to return to a place I remembered from childhood.”
This stranger-turned-friend elicits the desire of many locals, visitors, and former residents of the small Kansas town of Riverton. There is comfort in nostalgia. Embarking on an adventure that leads toward home. That is what the Old Riverton Store provides. Not only is it a slice of Americana, located just off historic Route 66, but it is a strong thread woven into the tapestry of many hearts. Those original fans of the store often enjoy sharing their childhood memories with their children and grandchildren. “This store, what we do here, is to maintain a connection to the past. You cannot go to many places still in operation that are over 100 years old. The buildings and businesses today are not the same as they used to be. Our future hope for The Old Riverton Store is to continue to embrace the past and provide a link for future Ozark residents to the original roots their families called home.”, Scott Nelson proudly shared.
As old as The Olds Riverton Store is, Nelson shared that his family roots go back to Sweden. His family moved to Kansas over five generations ago, in 1869. To remain in the heart of the Ozarks, for so many years, signifies that Scott Nelson truly values not only his family’s roots, but the roots of the store his family has shared with the Riverton community for so many years. It is this type of long-standing business that bridges the past and the present, providing an invaluable understanding of our nation’s rich history far into the future.
