One of the most amazing things about Arkansas are the small locally owned stores, shops, and gas stations that you can find while driving its winding country roads.
Although there are many unique little places around the state we believe that Hollis Country Store is one of the best!
All About Hollis Country Store in the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas
Where is Hollis Country Store?
This store/restaurant is located in the Ouachita Mountains on Scenic Byway 7 and is a MUST STOP if you are in the area.
Scenic Byway 7 in Arkansas is the state’s first state-designated scenic byway. It begins on the Louisiana Arkansas border and travels through four of the state’s varied geographical regions.
It has often been named one of the most scenic drives in America!
Hollis Country Store sits right on Scenic 7. The address is Plainview, Arkansas but it is pretty much in the middle of beautiful nowhere in Perry County.
You will find it about 45 minutes north of the spa town of Hot Springs, Arkansas, approximately halfway between Hot Springs and Russellville.
Aways check the Hollis Country Store Facebook Page before you go for opening times and hours!
What is the History of Hollis Country Store?
This historic establishment was established in 1930. It was originally constructed by Mike Gross and William “Bill” Furr. You will love the store’s stone façade which stands as a testament to early 20th-century craftsmanship.
The store was purchased in 1940 by Dennis and Lillie Crain. Members of the Crain family have operated the store ever since then and it is now owned by a 4th generation!
The property was even listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 recognized for not only its architecture but its place in Arkansas highway history.
Fried Bologna and More!
We (Emily and Karen) made the drive to Hollis Country store along with Emily’s husband and young daughter.
You are drawn in immediately by the look of the place, but there is so much more! The nostalgia of this country store continues when you step inside.
Looking for some southern hospitality? You will find it here! The atmosphere is welcoming and friendly.
The shelves are adorned with old-time candies, sodas that harken to an earlier time. The younger people were seeing some of these drinks and candies for the first time but I (Karen) remembered most of them from my childhood.
The store is best known for its bologna sandwich, made with Petit Jean Meats. This sandwich has garnered a loyal following among patrons.
You can order it with plain sliced bologna or with fried bologna. Of course we tried it fried.
Gracious.
Seriously, I had forgotten just how good a fried bologna sandwich could be!
This was such a great stop! The next time that you are driving this amazing scenic route in Arkansas, we highly recommend that you stop in, if only to step back into a simpler place and time.
Every Arkansan needs to experience the timeless allure of the Hollis Country Store. It is truly a place where history, tradition, and community converge.
Thanks so much for stopping by! Let us know if you go to Hollis Country Store and have a fried bologna sandwich!
