A REVIVAL IN EAST JORDAN

A GENERAL STORE IS REBORN, AS A LOCAL FAMILY BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO THIS HISTORIC TOWN.

- CHRIS LOUD

MY FAMILY AND I STAYED THE NIGHT in our own private, old-fashioned candy shop—Gunther’s General Store in East Jordan. Our well-appointed living room and bedroom were part of a beautiful renovation capturing the remarkable history of what was once a working general store, complete with swivel stools at the counter, penny candy and an old-fashioned cash register. Already want to book a stay? Don’t worry, this story will wait for you while you arrange your own trip to East Jordan.photo by A13 Studios

OK, all booked?

Great. Here’s the story of a Depression-era general store run by a single mom working to help her family and community, and the modern-day family picking up that legacy of building and sustaining a strong community.

Gunther’s General Store is the beginning of a community revitalization project, led by an extremely thoughtful and capable local woman named Forest Rebecca Gotts, her husband, Rick, and her up-for-the-challenge family that includes five children. The general store was renovated with history at its heart and the help of 90-year-old Elaine Dvoracek (her maiden name is Gunther), who was raised there.

With their candy shop-turned-Airbnb rental now completed, Rebecca and Rick are going on to renovate a handful of historical buildings in East Jordan—including a marina and a future tap house with an antique boat and woodworking shop. They’ve also opened a new waterside wedding venue and completed two houses, which are available for rent. “We want to make sure the project is going to help East Jordan in the future,” Rebecca emphasizes. “That means seeing a future for East Jordan that includes places for people to enjoy both the history and the landscape.”