The Hayes–Byrum Store is a rare survivor of the “old general stores” that once dotted the rural communities near Charlotte. Located at 8510 Steele Creek Road, the Hayes-Byrum Store opened in 1890 and is rural Mecklenburg’s oldest surviving commercial building.
The Hayes-Byrum Store was initially called the Shopton Store and later known as the Byrum’s Store. It was built shortly before 1880 by Joseph R. Hayes. The Shopton Store served Shopton, a settlement in Steele Creek and the surrounding area. The name Shopton likely originated from the phrase “Shop Town”.
Between 1880 and 1900, Shopton had a blacksmith shop, shoe shop, sawmill, cotton gin, a general store, and several other services. It is also important to note that at the time, it was a day’s journey to Charlotte and back by horse and wagon. The Shopton Store was the only place to get supplies without the long trip into Charlotte.
The Shopton Store sold everything the community needed, including food supplies, dishes, clothes, other household products, and a small department store. The blacksmith shop across the street made and repaired all the metal farming tools the small Steele Creek community needed. Shopton Store became even more important to the community when Joseph Hayes applied in 1892 for the store to become a post office. The store remained a post office until rural home delivery became available.
Joseph Hayes died in 1914, leaving the store to the Hayes family. At the time of his death, Lester Byrum worked at the store. Byrum purchased the store from the Hayes family and its name likely changed to Byrum’s General Store during this period. The store remained in the Byrum family for the rest of its existence.
The most recent member of the Byrum Family to manage Byrum’s General Store was Robbie Byrum in 2001. At that time, Byrum’s was a place where you could buy two hotdogs for $1.68. You could also get fresh-baked cookies for sale each day, barbecue sandwiches, sodas, and slushies. Byrum’s also sold some small grocery items. The General Store was one of the biggest sellers of live and artificial fishing bait; they also sold reels and rods.
In 2001, I-485, a 66.68-mile-long interstate loop that encircles Charlotte. rapidly approached Steel Creek and Byrum’s. Robbie Byrum sought historic designation for the store a few years before 2001 after hearing plans to relocate Steele Creek Road, which could have forced the store to move or close. After gaining historic designation, a slight change was made to I-485, which would have originally passed through the store.
Byrum’s General Store officially closed in September of 2012 after 122 years in business, citing competition from big-box stores and online shopping as the major reasons for closing. Customers wanted Byrum’s to stay open and remain a part of the community. One customer said, “I’ve been going to this place for 40 years, a few times a week. I may just have to do without. I’m just bummed.” In recent years, Byrum’s had become important to fishermen, serving as a tackle shop where they could get hard-to-find fishing equipment. In 2012, Byrum was in talks with a beauty parlor that was to take over the space. Today, the Hayes-Byrum Store stands as the B Salon.
