Traveling the South East: Macon County Store in Macon, Tennessee

Macon Country Store: Macon, Tennessee
Small town cooking and hospitality

Max and I spent two days on the road through Memphis and outlining country, mapping Sprint towers we are contracted to perform. As always, we are always on the look out for local BBQ. (This story dates back to 2015).

Approaching a rural three-way intersection at Highway 194 Macon Drive and Oakland Road, I applied the brakes when Max announces, “I see a smoker!”

We walk through the already open door into a small convenience store and combination restaurant: a few tables and chairs are set up near the rear. The store is empty, as we are driving through the area long past normal lunch hour. This is fine because we get to meet and chat with owner Emmitt Kimble sitting in a lounge chair, and his wife Cathy behind the meat counter preparing some of the fresh BBQ just out of the smoker.

Emmitt Kimble owner of Macon Country Store - L. A. Lewin 2015

A sight one can only see in rural areas of our country: Kimble stretched out in this lounge chair like he is in his living room: “Howdy.” Kimble greets us. We learn Kimble, a construction worker for the better part of his life, is developing a little arthritis; the chair gives him a break from being on his feet running the store. He gets up as a customer comes in to buy some drinks from the cooler. Max and I turn to his wife, Cathy. Cathy lists what is on the menu; Max orders pulled pork and I take a smoked Turkey sandwich and fries.

Macon Country Store - L. A. Lewin 2015

Kimble returns to his chair. He explains he and his wife bought the Country Store three years back to slow down. Kimble is slowly fixing up the store and eventually will have seats for 24 instead of the current 12. As Max and I sample our lunch plates it becomes apparent why the Kimble’s need to expand the seating capacity. Though past the lunch hour, during our stay customers came and went with smoked meats and sandwiches to take out. We are sure the billowing smoker attracts locals on a daily basis, indeed. Our lunch was fabulous!

Kimble and Max Lewin - L. A. Lewin 2015

Before we leave, another customer and a friend of Kimble comes walking in: Kimble introduces the man as the “Major”. A short stocky fellow with crisp-small eyes, blood shot from allergies, or I suspect, perhaps a few swigs from a mason jar filled with crystal clear juice. In any case, a colorful character whom immediately upon entering the store nods to us a greeting and plops himself down in Kimble’s lounge chair. We all playfully bicker accusing the “Mayor” of unlawfully occupying Kimble’s precious space. We all laugh - then Max and I say farewell, and head back onto the roads of Tennessee and perhaps run into another small town gem.

The Macon Country Store: a simple way of life among good people and small town cooking – come visit and try really good smoked meats and engaging conversation with Emmitt, Cathy and their neighbors.  

(Digital photographs:Canon 5D Mark II F/2.8 16-35mm lens BW conversion via Silver Efex Pro2)

Lance A. Lewin – 2015