Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa and Steve Duffy.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Looking to escape city life, we began looking for rural property around 2018. Not just any property, acreage and a 100 plus years old house were on the checklist. The house was important because Lisa’s dream has always been to open a Bed and Breakfast. Our online search led us to Rosemont and we made the trip to see the unique property. Not only was the house ideal for a B&B, but it included 4 acres and an old general store next door (circa 1870). Sold!
Since the bedrooms needed significant work to open the B&B, we decided to first focus on the general store and opened The Jewell Box in September 2019. As a country general store, we carry a little bit of everything from basic grocery items to hunting and fishing supplies. Our focus is local Georgia products…jams and jellies, soaps, candles and more.
April of 2020 brought an air of uncertainty as COVID shut us down for six weeks. During this period, we renovated an existing kitchen located in a cottage behind the house and got it licensed for food preparation. In September of that year, we began selling to-go lunches consisting of sandwiches, chicken salad wraps, and salads. We slowly added other items such as baked goods and hand-churned ice cream. In 2022 we further expanded the kitchen to offer hand-tossed pizza for carry-out (Friday nights only)
Upstairs renovations were completed and in April 2022, Rooms at Rosemont opened, offering 3 guest rooms.
History of the store
Circa 1870, The Jewell Box has served the community of Jewell for over 100 years. Early beginnings included the selling and servicing of wagons and buggies. Owned and operated by the Cason brothers, they were the first dealers in the area. After the turn of the century, goods ranging from flour to suits were also sold. Wagons carried cotton to the store to be weighed and sold until the 1940s
The property was sold in the 1960s and the new owners opened the store under the name Tombstone Territory. It operated during the 1970s, 80s and 90s selling collectibles. Following the death of the owner, the property was again sold and the store was closed for several years.
As another century makes its mark, an old general store breathes new life as The Jewell Box. In 2007, after some renovation, the store was reopened as an antique store and tea room. In 2018, another change in ownership has brought the old general store full circle. In September of 2019, The Jewell Box reopened as a country general store, carrying merchandise for the community with a focus on local Georgia products, as well as prepared foods, and vintage/antique items. To quote many of our customers, “you have a bit of everything!”
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
COVID closed us down 6 months after opening our rural location.
Not enough time in the day for the two of us to manage everything.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
The advent of big box stores crushed small, independently owned stores. We’re honored to be stewards of this historic property and provide goods to our locals. How many are opening a country general store in today’s climate? Many probably think we’re crazy, but to us it’s about preserving the past and offering a unique experience to future generations.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
We provide a friendly, unique experience. Shop and stay in rural Jewell, GA… Georgia’s Hidden Gem!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://roomsatrosemont.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rosemontjewellbox/about
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCEbwH_kcdTg2Z8Buw6-gXCw?view_as=subscriber
- Other: https://airbnb.com/h/rosemont-room https://airbnb.com/h/jewellsuite
