Louis Trabucco was born in 1821 and emigrated from Italy in 1847. He opened his first store in Bear Valley in 1856. After becoming successful in his Mariposa mining and business ventures, he returned to Italy and married 19-year-old Elena Lambruschini in 1860. After returning to Bear Valley, they opened stores in Benton Mills (Bagby), Mount Bullion, and Mount Ophir in addition to the Bear Valley store. A fire in 1869 destroyed the first store, and they relocated to this site. After Louis died in 1883, Elena continued to run the store. This building was reconstructed after a devastating 1897 fire. The store continued operating until 1912. Louis and Elena Trabucco are buried in the nearby Bear Valley Catholic Cemetery, and this is now the home of their great-grandson David Trabucco.