Vaughan's General Store, a Ridgeville landmark, is closing by end of summer

An era of shopping is coming to an end in Ridgeville.

Once advertised as a store selling “anything from baby diapers to coffins,” Vaughan’s General Store served the Ridgeville community since 1933.

Known for its eclectic mix of essential merchandise, Vaughan’s was a vital resource to generations of the area’s residents. Even in recent years, the store continued to provide groceries, furniture, garden supplies, toys, even deer stands and ammunition.

Vaughan’s maintained its old-fashioned system of allowing customers to shop on credit. Once a month, regular customers were emailed a statement listing the balance owed. In a digitized world, the store still used vintage cash registers-a system that proved helpful during power outages. Store owner, Scott Vaughan, even camped overnight in the store during ice storms or hurricanes. He kept the store open, ready to serve the community.

But now such conveniences are coming to an end. Vaughan announced earlier this month that he’s closing the store and selling the 18,000-square-foot building space located on Railroad Avenue.

History of Ridgeville’s general store

Originally, the general store was named Engelberg’s after its namesake, Harry Engelberg, who established the store in 1933 after emigrating to the United States from Europe.

Danny Anderson, a Ridgeville man who has family ties to Engelberg, said the store owner grew his business quickly by providing grocery delivery to customers throughout the area.

Five brothers from one Ridgeville family were among those who worked part time delivering groceries for Engelberg. Jack, Gregg, Neil, Michael and Steve Vaughan all started working for Engelberg’s General Store around age 12. Their routine included waking up by 3 a.m. on Saturdays to begin a full day of work. In their teenage years, each of the brothers took on other responsibilities at Engelberg’s before moving on to military service or college.

In 1986, Neil Vaughan, a retired Navy veteran, decided to buy the store with his brothers Michael and Steve. Gregg Vaughan and his son, Scott Vaughan, also joined ownership in 1987. The store was renamed, “Vaughan’s General Store.”

Scott Vaughan managed Vaughan’s until this spring when he faced the decision of putting more money into the business or selling it. Keeping it in his family was not an option because his son is attending veterinary school and his daughter already has a successful career in the Upstate.

“I don’t have anybody coming after me,” Vaughan said.

Legacy of service

On Tuesday, loyal shopper Lisa Muckenfuss dropped by Vaughan’s to pick up her order of freshly ground beef. She’s shopped at Vaughan’s for more than 35 years and has known Scott Vaughan all of her life.

The store is a landmark in the community, and she said the place is special to her because of the relationships she has with its employees. “They’re family,” Muckenfuss said.

Ben Williams, another regular shopper, said Vaughan’s General Store will be greatly missed by the community. The store served his family for more than 50 years.

“They’ve always allowed people to have credit in here and that has been very convenient,” Williams said.

He praised the store’s friendly staff and said they would “always treat you right.”

“It’s been a great experience, I’ve enjoyed it,” Williams said.

He spoke in particular about one longtime employee; Betty Coburn. She worked for Vaughan’s for 30 years and 32 days. Coburn retired recently but was called back to help out in the store’s final months.

“All my customers are so friendly,” Coburn said. “I’m going to miss them.”

Three other employees worked for Vaughan’s for 10 or more years including Brenda Hartzog, Julie Fleenor and Richard Feagin.

Vaughan said the hardest part of closing the store has been saying goodbye to his longtime employees.

“It’s good to have people you can trust and we’ve been very fortunate with that,” Vaughan said.

He said he hopes Ridgeville residents will always remember “the things we’ve done for the community and the family atmosphere (Vaughan’s) has brought to the town.”

Vaughan’s personal influence on the town was not limited to his responsibilities at the general store. He was an active member of Ridgeville Arts and Culture Committee and volunteered at the Ridgeville Community Center. Vaughan said he is most proud of his work in providing recreational opportunities for the area’s youth. He served as president of the Summerville Sertoma Club and helped start the Ridgeville Cultural Festival and a Ridgeville Summer Camp. Vaughan organized and coached the Sertoma football league and later served as a league commissioner.

Vaughan’s wife, Lisa, teaches at DuBose Middle School and dedicated years to coaching the basketball team.

‘Time brings on changes’

Ridgeville Mayor Clarence Hughes said he remembers shopping at Vaughan’s General Store when he was just “a little fella,” and cookies were sold two for a penny.

“Everybody in Ridgeville or the surrounding areas used to shop at that one store,” Hughes said. “There was nothing you couldn’t get. I hate to see it go but time brings on changes and Ridgeville is growing.”

Although the town’s population of about 2,000 is beginning to swell due to incoming industries and housing developments, the town still lacks essential services including grocery stores and medical clinics.

When Vaughan’s closes this summer, residents will have no choice but to drive 10 miles or more to buy groceries in Knightsville, Summerville or Saint George.

Hughes said he thinks Ridgeville would be an ideal location for a Walmart Neighborhood Market. However, he said the town lacks available land and residents are reluctant to sell property.

“They’re set in their ways and don’t want to see growth but growth is there, we can’t get out of it,” Hughes said.