Meet Your Local Businesses
Sunrise Grocery goes Springtime

Sentinel photo/Kathleen McKevitt Jason Clemmons shows off a basket of the most "famous" peanuts in Georgia.

The Sunshine Grocery on 129/19 South from Blairsville, Georgia toward Cleveland has baskets of fresh tomatoes, bushels of canteloupes, leeks, onions, new red potatoes, and "the best roasted and peanuts" in Georgia, according to owner and manager Jason Clemmons..

This establishment was founded in the early 1920s, and has been through seasons of backroom poker, a grill, one time hangout for bootleg beer, and the 129/19 road building that runs over Blood Mountain to parts south.

Locals come in for tackle and bait these early warm

spring days when the fishing is good in the nearby Nottley River, and while they are there pick up snacks and drinks and friendly conversation with various members of the Clemmons family who are on hand with good conversation, and the latest on what size trout was caught on what bait.

The Sunshine Market provides as true a flavor of an old mountain grocery as anything in Appalachia, according to Clemmons. In the back are now contemporary gifts, but that room once held tables of poker players around the clock in rainy months when jobs were scarce and work was slow.

Matt Mason stopped by for gasoline and directions to nearby Vogel State Park. He's a traveler from Florida here to camp out at one of the park's cabins, and fish. According to Clemmons, this time of year through the late fall a lot of their customers use the grocery store to stock up on supplies while they stay at the park.

The Sunrise Cabins on the River are also part of the family business. Some of the cabins are on the river, and some on the mountain side. They can be rented through the store. Right now, Clemmons

wants people to be aware that the store is offering a feast of fresh fruits and vegitables from around the South. He wants to invite all the visitors and cyclists in who are here for the Tour de Georgia this week, to enjoy a one of a kind Appalachian experience in the store itself, and in the extensive supply of staples and traditional Geogia hospitality.

The Sunrise Grocery is open from 7:00 a.m. every day except Sunday, when it closes at 6:00 p.m. Their website is www.SunriseGrocery.com, and their telephone number is 706745-5877.