During the late forties and fifties, Ellaville had seven grocery stores. The Royal Brothers built this structure in the early part of the century and sold general merchandise there. W.F. Costner later bought it and again operated a general store. The first managers of the Suwannee Store in this building were Howard and Ethel Hite, who sold take-out hot dogs and hamburgers from the westernmost section of the store. Geraldine Brewer Dillard then operated a beauty shop there, followed by Annie Battle Lee. Later Suwannee Store managers included Russell and Kathleen Hall, followed by James and Kathleen Welch. The Halls managed the store from 1948 to 1958. A painting was made from a photograph taken in 1957.