Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Lewie's will be opening soon

Wondering what's going on a the old McGee's Grocery on Highway 67?

The building has been covered with blue tin, the inside has been redone, deer stands are being put up outside and a screen room has been built on the front side.

It's Miles McKenzie's latest venture; a convenience store, ice cream shop, bait and tackle shop, fresh fish market and hunting supply store all wrapped up into one.

The store is expected to be open before the end of October. When it opens it will be called Lewie's. It will have 16 different flavors or hand-dipped ice cream, soft drinks, bread, snacks and other convenience store items.

McKenzie also plans to sell tower stands and lean-to's for the deer hunters. Plus a Big Buck Pot with a payback of 100 percent. Entry fee is $5 and must be paid before the first day of gun deer season. The winner will be determined by the most points. Points must be one inch long measured on the short side. In case of a tie the pot will be split.

Fresh fish will be shipped in on a regular basis. Buffalo and catfish will be shipped in from the White River and the Arkansas River. McKenzie will also handle pond raised catfish. On a seasonal basis, McKenzie will have fresh shrimp and crawfish from Louisiana.

For those who would rather catch their own fish, they can get minnows, worms and other fishing tackle at Lewie's.

The store will be open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. McKenzie said he will have help running the store. "Wanda Wetherford, Angie Henry, my daughter Krista McKenzie, my niece Lynsey McKenzie and myself will be running the place," said McKenzie.

Those wanting to see McKenzie would be better off checking at Lewie's first, since he recently stopped working for the Gurdon Post Office.

"I decided I wanted to spend time working on my other projects. I have transferred to the Pine Bluff post office to work once a week. That allows me plenty of free time to do what I need to," said McKenzie.

Keep watching for the signs. Lewie's should be up in running in a few more days.