M. A. Pace General Store

By Jessica Goodman
Times-News Staff Writer

Published: Sunday, June 19, 2011 at 4:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 7:36 p.m.

SALUDA — History has been kept alive in the small town of Saluda. On Saturday, the M.A. Pace General Store reopened with new owners.

M.A. Pace General Store opens
From bread and milk to rakes and paints, you can find it all at the historical store, which is celebrating 112 years of operation today, according to new owner Leon Morgan.

Robert Pace had run the store after his father M.A. Pace died. Robert Pace passed in October, and the Morgan family purchased it in April.

“We did a tribute to the Pace family on the left side when you walk in the store,” said new co-owner Leon Morgan.

The store was started in 1899 by M.A. Pace and was later taken over by his daughters and son.

The Morgan family, which has been living in Saluda for generations, has a older connection to the store. A grandfather, Gen. Benjamin Russell, worked in the store during the 1920s.

“He worked for M.A. Pace, the original owner,” said Tangie Ciarvolo, Leon Morgan’s daughter.

On Saturday, it was a family affair to open the store. Granddaughters were behind the counter. Judy and Leon Morgan were walking about the store, among the food items on the left side and the hardware items on the right, greeting guests. Bits and pieces of history can be found throughout. The giant old cash register, which Robert Pace used until the store closed last fall, sits next to the new one.

Original scales and carts are perched on display cases to illustrate the long history of the store. Local vegetables, jams and honey are available for purchase. At a ribbon cutting Saturday morning, Robert Pace’s daughter, Kay Richardson from Clinton came to cut it.

“I think it’s wonderful to have the opportunity to do this,” Leon Morgan said.

“We wanted to still keep it running the way it was,” Ciarvolo said. Ciarvolo added she grew up in Saluda and with the Pace Store