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In the Summer of 2025, The Elmira store re-opened as a general store, ice cream/smoothie shop, and cafe, serving the best burgers and milkshakes around! There has been a store in Elmira since 1901....

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One of the earliest business establishments beside the store building was the Rosebud Inn. According to one early resident. “The Rosebud was used as a bootleg moonshine rendezvous during prohibition.”

In the spring of 1947, the Inn was bought by the Thompson family who then opened it as “Dot and Roy’s Diner”. 

In 1949 Hank and Lillian Cook bought the building next to the diner. (The Elmira Store) The Cooks started the “Cooks Texaco Service” in addition to the general merchandise area in the Store. Later, after Dot and Roy’s diner was destroyed by a fire, a hamburger cafe was also added into the Cooks Elmira Store increasing its popularity. 

In the 1970’s Tom and Barbara Davis purchased the store and operated it with gasoline pumps for 12 years. The store passed through the hands of two leases, until it was purchased in 1991 by the Great Great Nephew of Hank Cook, Ed Cook lll, and his wife Gayle. Finally after 25 years, the Elmira Store was back in the hands of the Cook family. In 1996 Ed Cook Jr, and his wife Laurie took it over and ran it with hired employees. By then we had a post office, a barber shop, and propane, making it a busy cafe and community center. Ed and Laurie ran it for 21 years until 2015 when Ed had a stroke and needed to be in a wheelchair. His daughter, Holly Cook-Foderaro, ran it with help from his grandkids for 2 years. Unfortunately, after those 2 years, both the store and cafe had to close its doors. With Holly’s help, Ed continued to run the post office for the locals until his death of a massive heart attack in August 2019. His work ethic was so amazing, the day he passed, he had been dressed and ready to work! 

Now Ed and Laurie’s son Richard, with his wife Maria Cook and many of the 11 grandchildren, all run the store. Stacy Ogden leases the grill, so we once again have the best hamburgers and shakes in Elmira!